All species
UK shore species
Small-eyed ray
Raja microocellata
Also Painted ray
PopularNightledger
Habitat
Open sand and surf beaches, especially the south-west and Wales.
Season
Peak: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Also possible: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov
A pale, ‘painted’ ray of clean surf beaches on the west and south-west. Small eyes, pale rings, and a fish of open sand rather than estuary mud.
- Small eyes, as the name says
- Pale disc with large oval cream rings, often dark-centred
- A fairly short snout
- Cleaner, sandier look than a thornback
A good shore fish is a proper weight. They grow well on west-country sand.
- Colour
- Sandy with large pale, often dark-centred rings. Small eyes.
- Fins
- Ray disc.
- Mouth
- Underside.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- SandeelHead-hooked so it swims, or a Pennel through the head and the middle. Bind if you are casting far.Strong target
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Good target
- Peeler crabPeel it, leave the catch-legs if you like, bind it on a Pennel so it survives the cast. Half a crab for wrasse, a whole for a hound.Good target
- LugwormThread the worm so the hook is hidden and the tail still moves. A bunch for bigger fish; a single for dabs.Possible target
- Black lugThread so the hook is hidden. A bunch, often bound, for a long chuck. Tougher than blow lug, so it survives the punch better.Possible target
- Pennel rigTwo hooks on one bait — one in the head, one in the body. The way to fish a crab, a squid wrap or a big worm.Intermediate
- Single-hook clipped-downThe bait is held against the leader with a bait clip so it flies as one and releases in the water. The way to punch a bait into a headwind.Advanced
- Pulley PennelA pulley lead with a Pennel hook length. The standard ‘I mean this bait’ rig for a winter or a ray session.Intermediate
Hooks: 2/0–4/0