All species
UK shore species
Spotted ray
Raja montagui
Nightledger
Habitat
Cleaner sand and mixed ground, often a little more depth than a typical thornback flat.
Season
Peak: Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Also possible: Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
A neater, more regularly spotted ray than a thornback. Mixed and slightly deeper sand, more a south and west fish, but they turn up widely.
- Many dark spots of similar size, stopping short of the wing edge
- A paler, smoother disc than a thornback
- Fewer, smaller thorns — not the heavy central row of a big thornback
- Snout more pointed than a thornback
Usually smaller than a big thornback. 50–60 cm disc is a good shore fish.
- Colour
- Brown with even dark spots that fade before the wing edge.
- 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
- 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.Good target
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.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
- Pulley PennelA pulley lead with a Pennel hook length. The standard ‘I mean this bait’ rig for a winter or a ray session.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
Hooks: 1/0–3/0