Small-Eyed Ray
Ray
A grey-brown ray named for its noticeably small eyes relative to its body size, with a relatively smooth, lightly patterned back compared to the thornback ray.
Facts
- The small eyes that give it its name are thought to relate to hunting by scent and vibration over sight.
- Prefers clean sandy ground, often found on open beaches rather than around reef or rock structure.
- Less commonly caught than thornback ray from most UK shore marks, making it a notable catch.
UK fishing rules
No statutory UK-wide recreational size limit currently applies — check local IFCA byelaws for any regional ray-specific rules.
Where to catch Small-Eyed Ray (9 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crooklets Beach | South West | May–Sep | Fish bait cast beyond the breakers on the making tide over clean sand. |
| Praa Sands | South West | May–Sep | Fished at anchor over clean ground with sandeel or fish strip, mid-to-late flood through high water. |
| Sandymouth | South West | May–Sep | Fish bait or sand eel cast beyond the breakers on clean sand, best on the making tide. |
| Saunton Sands | South West | Apr–Oct | Fish bait fished at range on a rising tide. |
| Selsey Bill | South East | May-Oct | Fish bait on a pulley rig cast beyond the boulders |
| Slapton Sands | South West | May–Sep | Sandeel or fish bait fished at range on a flooding tide. |
| Wanson Mouth | South West | May–Oct | Long-range beachcasting with a running leger and mackerel or sandeel bait over the sandy troughs, best from low water up after dark. |
| Widemouth Bay | South West | May–Sep | Fresh sandeel, night flood tides |
| Woolacombe Beach | South West | Jun–Sep | Sandeel or mackerel strip cast beyond the sandbar on a big low water at night. |