Ray and Skate fishing

[Shivaan]

Hi guys

Not sure if anyone has started a thread like this before but here goes...
Any info on this type of fishing would be great.
eg. What type of structure to look for to fish in, weather, baits used, traces, etc.
Show us your proud catches although each catch should be a proud one .

Happy fishing guys 

[Half-Pint]

Shivaan most of the time you wont be specifically targeting rays. Generally you will pick these fish up while sliding baits. Therefore your standard slide trace of 150lb-200lb steel and 2x 8/0 or 10/0 hooks.

However at certain times of the year the diamond rays do come to zululand beaches in huge numbers. At this time of year it is probably worth specifically targeting these fish. What most anglers will use is a single 8/0 hook and a mono trace of .8mm to 1mm. This is fished as a fixed throw bait trace. If you like you can also add a short steel bite trace of 10-15 cm of 60-90lb. This is because the milkies, greys andspinner sharks tend to enjoy the same areas and tend to wreck your trace line. You will also want to change your sinker if possible. When the ray feeds if it lands on your sinker and feels the prick og your wires it may swim off. So if current allows go for a cone.

Most non eds will tend to feed best after 2or 3 days of NE wind in summer. You want some colour in the water at least. The best is when the colour comes from the sea not muddy river water

[Half-Pint]

Oh and baits. I like to use head baits  lot. Particularly if you use the head as base and wrap them with some nice fleshy fillets. Generally I think of rays as the scavengers of the sea so any bait stands a chance of being picked up

[WalkersKiller]

I have successfully targeted Blue Rays in the Eastern Cape during daylight and night time hours and caught quite a few. My best success has been on Mullet head and mullet fillets. When I throw for these fish I throw over a sandbank adjacent to a hole, sometimes just a small rip, havent caught massive fish but my biggest blue is 8kgs and it was awesome!

[Shivaan]

Thanks Half-Pint... some really useful info. waiting for some good weather here in durbs to get some line out. its been a case of good weather during the week and as weekend approaches... 


@walkers... nice ray there 

[REEFMAN]

If you're targetting Skates and Rays in KZN, a softbait often is best because of their soft mouths... not talking about Black Pylies here, rather Brown Skates, Blue spots, Diamonds, Honeycombs...

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=703.0

[Shivaan]

Thanks Reefman.
Are the Black Pylies the huge ones?


Which are the ones without the Barbs?

[Ray Hall]

Skates have no barbs. Rays does, and are filled with potent protein poisen, in other words dont touch.

I dont know ur area at all unfortunatly. Our prominent species here in cape area ar
e black , blue stingray and eagle and duckbill rays, and the spearnose skate en biscuit skate.

[Weedeater]

I rate the best bait for a flatfish is a fresh fish head, mackrel/bonnie will work very well. I use a throw bait with a steel snoot and a 8/0 hook through the lips of the fish head, just in case something big and toothy picks you up. A mackie flap-bait caught my biggest sandy at Kosi last November, so that's my preferred bait.

[Shivaan]

Hi Weedeater
Would the throwbait not be too heavy to cast?
Would a fish head wrapped in fillets also be a good bait to use?
Also, how well does chokka work for flatfish?

Sorry for all the questions, really want to fight a ray or skate.


Thanks for all the info guys

[Lofty]

this blue of 11,3kg was caught yesterday on a kob bait...pillchard&chokka combo...think they'll take most flesshy baits...

[Shivaan]

nice one Lofty   

[Half-Pint]

Shivs I think Weedeater is refering more to throwing smaller head baits. Mackie heads, smaller shad and bonnies etc. You could throw a medium bonnie head but sliding would be better

[Ray Hall]

Dear Shivaan,


This is what you do.


1) Identify the species in your area. --> ask around in the tackle shops, anglers on the beach etc. Rob Kyle, on the forum  (the person asking for fundraising) is a good person to start off with he knows that area very well.


2) Once you have the species, ask for what conditions they feed on, the spots etc --> ask the anglers on the beach


once you know what you are going to target and when and where, you must decide on what tackle and on which bait. No use sliding for a blue rays etc .


This is very important, know what you are targeting first! then you commit 100%


I believe you guys also have the brown skate? again ask rob. And I am sure you should also have some diamonds? I dont know???


anyways.... here are some tips.


Blue ray --> soft bloody baits. Red eye works great! pilchard soft tjokka etc. 6 /0 hook with 0.55mm / 0.65mm nylon strop depending on terrain. Small mullet heads works great as-well! or mullet skin.


Brown ray --? dont know buddy ?


Diamond ray --> mackeral the fresher the better. also water color depended. Clear water - clean cut bait presentation (silver side of bait must shine) murky brown water - bloody oily bait presentation. You can get away with nylon stroppe, but rather using biting trace with 8/0 hook.


Spearnose --> any big bait, seriously ANY!!! biting trace once again, they have nasty nasty jaws bru!!!!


Black ray --> here in cape town almost all big baits !! full steel trace!!! and a chiropractor :)


Duckbill --> tjokka , whole tjokka, octopus leg, whole octopus.


eagle ray --> love tjokka!!!!! trace same as blue ray.


Sandbanks buddy sandbanks, that where you throw! Also look for the warmer water!

[Ray Hall]

spearnose skate

[Ray Hall]

fat blue ray

[Ray Hall]

eagle ray

[Ray Hall]

duckbill

[Prego]

Now you just showing off 

 

First time I hear and seen a pic of a spear nose skate

[Ray Hall]

promise prego i wasnt trying to brag, wanted to cut the head head out in the pics but time would not allow. :) hehe


just wanted to show the different species, wil still cratch around for pics, but the internet at works get cut off at 2pm each day :(