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Overview

How to target

Undulate Ray
Species ID: undulate-ray

Undulate Ray

Undulate rays are a south-coast speciality, most reliable from Dorset through the Solent, Isle of Wight and Hampshire/Sussex shores, with the Channel Islands a standout. They favou...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: calm 📅 Peak: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Wind

calm

Max weight

14 kg

Day vs night

Day 50%
Night 90% (best)
Undulate rays are a south-coast speciality, most reliable from Dorset through the Solent, Isle of Wight and Hampshire/Sussex shores, with the Channel Islands a standout. They favour clean-to-mixed ground: sand or fine shingle with patches of shell, light weed and adjacent rough. Target shallow surf beaches, gentle bays and estuary mouths, especially where a gutter runs parallel to the beach, at the edge of sandbanks or where clean sand meets reef. Fish the flooding tide up to and over high water on neap to mid-range tides; a settled sea or light ripple is ideal. Dusk into dark is prime, but they’ll also feed in daylight if water is coloured. Use static bottom baits on pulley or up-and-over rigs with a long trace (60–100 cm). A strong 3/0–5/0 pennel helps present larger baits and copes with abrasive skin; 60–80 lb mono for the trace/rubbing leader is sensible. Classic baits are squid (single or double), squid-and-sandeel cocktails, mackerel or bluey fillet, launce, and peeler crab in spring—fresh and oily with plenty of scent. Cast to the near and mid-range features first; undulates commonly patrol close in on a flood. Once fishing, avoid frequent recasts—let scent build. Handle with care: do not lift by the tail, support the wings, and use a T-bar or long-nose pliers to unhook. Check local byelaws—catch and release is widely recommended for this species in the UK.

Temperature

10–18°C

Depth range

1–60 m

Baits

  • Squid 9.2/10
  • Sandeel 8.7/10
  • Bluey (Pacific Saury) 8.3/10
  • Mackerel Strip 8/10
  • Peeler Crab 6.8/10

Rigs

  • Pulley Pennel Rig 9.2/10

    Classic ray rig for mixed/rough ground. Pennel carries big squid/mackerel baits and improves hook-ups; pulley action lifts fish clear of snags on the retrieve.

  • Up and Over 8.8/10

    Clips for long casts yet fishes a long trace hard on the seabed. Ideal on clean/mixed surf beaches and tidal gullies where undulates forage with large static baits.

  • Pulley Dropper 8.6/10

    Gives distance with a clipped-down pennel, then drops to a long flowing trace near bottom. Great for casting over bars into channels for undulates in surf or tide.

  • Long & Low 8.3/10

    Long snood pins bait tight to sand for wary rays in gentle–moderate tide. Best on clean ground with sandeel or squid cocktails; minimal hardware near the bait.

  • Rotten Bottom Pulley 8/10

    Use around reefs/kelp edges. Pulley lifts fish; weak-link releases the lead if snagged, saving fish and trace when rays kite into rough ground.