If you happen to’ve achieved any quantity of surf fishing in Southern California, likelihood is you’ve hooked right into a ray. And for those who’ve hooked into sufficient of them, you’ve most likely observed that not all rays are the identical. The three species of rays you’ll mostly encounter from the seaside right here in So Cal are the stingray (particularly the spherical stingray), the guitarfish (or shovelnose shark), and the bat ray. Many anglers can’t inform them aside, and actually, that lack of understanding can get you into hassle. Extra on that in a second.
On this article, we’re going to speak particularly about bat ray fishing, what they’re, when and the place you’ll discover them, easy methods to inform them other than the opposite rays, easy methods to deal with them safely, and what gear you’ll want if you wish to really goal them on objective (sure, some folks do, and with good purpose).
What’s a Bat Ray?
The bat ray (Myliobatis californica) is a big, highly effective elasmobranch, which means it’s in the identical household as sharks and rays. What units the bat ray aside visually is its distinctly wing-like pectoral fins that flare outward from an outlined head, nearly like a mini manta ray. Their coloration is usually darkish brown to black on the dorsal (prime) facet and white on the underside. They’re a novel wanting fish, and actually, they’re spectacular creatures.
Bat rays are constructed for the underside. They scour the sandy flats and muddy bay areas utilizing their broad heads to uncover clams, worms, sand crabs, and crustaceans from beneath the sand. If you’re surf fishing with sand crabs, squid, or reduce bait, it isn’t unusual for a bat ray to seek out your bait.
| Authorized Restrict (#) | Discuss with CDFW (I consider 10 bag restrict) |
| Authorized Dimension (in) | Discuss with CDFW (I consider N/A) |
| Report Dimension | Can exceed 200 lbs (wingspan to six ft) |
| Preventing Power (-/10) | 9/10 |
| Vary | Oregon to the Gulf of California |
| Habitat | Sandy/Muddy bottoms, bays, surf zone |
All info is unofficial. All the time check with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife for present rules.
Bat Ray vs. Stingray vs. Guitarfish: The right way to Inform Them Aside
That is a very powerful factor it is advisable know, and I imply that. Complicated these three species once you’re making an attempt to deal with one on the seaside can lead to a visit to the hospital, or at minimal a variety of pointless panic. All three are widespread within the So Cal surf, all three get lumped collectively as “rays” by most learners, and all three require a special strategy in terms of dealing with. Right here’s easy methods to inform them aside rapidly.
Bat Ray
- Has a distinctly outlined head that protrudes ahead from the pectoral fins. The pinnacle appears to be like separate from the “wings,” nearly like a smaller model of a manta ray
- A lot bigger general. Grownup bat rays usually hit 50+ lbs and might push effectively over 100
- Darkish brown to black on prime, white on the underside
- The tail is lengthy and whip-like with a venomous backbone, although it sits additional down the tail than on a stingray
- From above, the physique appears to be like diamond-shaped with the pinnacle jutting out on the entrance
Spherical Stingray (Urobatis halleri)
- Nearly completely round physique with no outlined head protruding from the disc
- A lot smaller. Sometimes just some inches throughout, as much as a couple of foot in diameter
- Tan to brown in coloration, generally with faint spots
- The barbed venomous backbone sits proper on the base of the tail, very near the physique. This is the reason spherical stingrays are liable for so many ankle and foot accidents on So Cal seashores. You step on one buried within the sand and the backbone drives straight up into your foot or ankle
- If one thing small, flat, and disc-shaped comes up in your line, that is what it’s
Shovelnose Guitarfish
- Instantly recognizable as soon as what to search for. The entrance half of the physique is flat and ray-like, whereas the again half transitions into an outlined, shark-like tail with dorsal fins
- The snout is elongated and shovel-shaped, coming to a degree. Nothing else within the surf appears to be like like this
- Coloration is usually sandy brown or tan on prime, whereas the underside is whiter
- No venomous backbone. That is the one of many three you possibly can deal with most confidently, and as lined within the shovelnose guitarfish article, they’re genuinely enjoyable to catch and surprisingly good consuming
- They will get giant. The document sits at 61.5 inches and 40 lbs, and an enormous one on mild deal with is a severe struggle
The brief model: if it has wings and it’s large and darkish, it’s doubtless a bat ray. Whether it is small and completely disc-shaped with no head, that may be a spherical stingray, and the one to be most cautious with on the seaside. If it appears to be like like a shark-ray hybrid with a pointed shovel nostril and a shark tail, that may be a shovelnose guitarfish, and you may breathe simple as a result of there is no such thing as a backbone to fret about.
If you happen to’ve been surf fishing for any size of time and also you’ve achieved the stingray shuffle, you already know the drill for avoiding the spherical stingray.
When and The place to Discover Bat Rays within the Surf
Like many of the larger species you’ll encounter within the So Cal surf, bat rays comply with the heat. Their peak season runs from roughly June via August, although they’re current year-round like sting rays. And time of day doesn’t matter a lot.
You’ll discover them in the identical sandy, shallow zones the place you’d anticipate finding corbina, guitarfish, and leopard sharks. Backside line, for those who let your bait sit on the market lengthy sufficient on a sandy seaside, you’re giving your self guess at catching a bat ray.
What Do Bat Rays Feed On?
The identical baits that work for all the things else from the surf right here in So Cal work for bat rays. Nonetheless, one of the best bait for bat ray fishing is squid. Different baits that sometimes catch bat ray as bycatch embody sand crabs, and reduce bait. They’re opportunistic feeders and so they’re not choosy. What they’re is powerful, which leads me to the following part.
The Battle: What to Count on
If you happen to’ve by no means hooked a bat ray earlier than, let me put together you. They’re one of many hardest-fighting fish you’ll ever encounter from the seaside, pound for pound and size-wise generally.
From the second a bat ray takes your bait, your rod will doubtless be bent over and your drag might be screaming. A bat ray doesn’t go on sporadic, facet to facet, forwards and backwards burst-type runs like a leopard shark or soupfin shark. You can say it’s barely slower than soupfin and leopard sharks, however it’s endurance is unmatched and it’s nonetheless very quick. When it feels resistance, it planes out and makes use of these large pectoral fins like wings to push down and in opposition to the present. Consider making an attempt to reel in a kite that’s preventing again. The drag will sing, the rod will load up, and for those who’re not on a setup able to dealing with it, you’re going to lose.
On a light-weight deal with setup, a mid-sized bat ray within the 20-30 lb vary goes to place you thru it. It’s winnable, however it’s going to take time and persistence. On a heavier setup (which I cowl within the shark fishing gear part), you’ll have a significantly better deal with on a big one.
A bat ray maintains constant, grinding stress from the second it feels the hook. There’s no relaxation throughout the struggle. It’s relentless. Which is actually a part of what makes them so thrilling once you hook up on one unexpectedly.
The right way to Deal with a Bat Ray Safely
That is the place most anglers get nervous, and for good purpose. Right here’s the important thing factor to recollect: bat rays have a venomous backbone on their tail, identical to stingrays. It’s not positioned fairly as dangerously because the spherical stingray’s (which sits proper on the base and stabs straight into waders’ toes), however it’s nonetheless there and you continue to have to respect it.
Right here’s easy methods to deal with one safely:
1. Convey it to both very shallow calm water or up above the place the waves crashing might be a distraction. I do know everybody likes to say it is best to preserve the fish within the water, however security first. Don’t let a shock wave put you in a weak place. As unhealthy because it sounds, the easiest way to maneuver batrays out and again into the water is by gripping it’s booger holes. Simply be as light as doable.
2. Don’t flip it over for those who don’t must. Bat rays are giant and powerful. Making an attempt to flip one on its again to show the stomach is pointless and places your fingers close to the tail. Simply depart it the place it’s.
3. Use a long-nosed pliers for hook removing. Like with leopard sharks, get the hook out as rapidly and effectively as doable.
4. Moist your fingers. If you happen to’re going to the touch the fish in any respect, moist your fingers first. Their slime is protecting as we realized in my fish slime article and dry fingers aren’t doing you or the fish any favors.
5. Don’t attempt to lip it. These are usually not bass. They don’t have any lip to seize. A bat ray’s mouth is on the underside and their jaw construction isn’t one thing you wish to check.
6. Maintain it within the water as a lot as doable. Bat rays are usually not constructed for air. In order for you a fast photograph, get it achieved within the water whereas the fish remains to be submerged or proper on the fringe of the surf. Get the fish again rapidly.
Right here’s a fast video on easy methods to unhook a sting ray safely.
Gear for Bat Ray Fishing
If you wish to goal bat rays deliberately and be geared up for them, step as much as a heavier setup just like what I take advantage of for leopard sharks:
Technically the wire shark rig just isn’t wanted for rays however you’re prone to catch leopard shark, soupfin and bat rays when focusing on any of the three.
The Backside Line on Bat Rays
Bat rays are going to seek out you earlier than you ever go searching for them. They’re part of surf fishing in Southern California whether or not you need them to be or not. Understanding what they’re, easy methods to inform them other than different rays, and easy methods to deal with them safely is data each surf angler on this zone ought to have.
If you happen to’ve bought questions otherwise you’ve had a wild bat ray encounter of your personal, drop it within the feedback. And for those who’re trying to get on the market and expertise a few of this firsthand, ebook a guided surf fishing journey and we’ll put you on all the things the So Cal surf has to supply.
