Blonde Ray Fishing UK
By Tackl · Updated 30 October 2026
Raja brachyura
The blonde ray is one of the largest rays regularly caught from UK shores. It prefers deeper water with strong tides, so it is mostly a target for anglers fishing deep beaches and rock marks in the south and west, where a big blonde on a summer night is a real prize.
Photo: Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Typical size
- 8–15lb from the shore; a fish over 20lb is a specimen.
- From the shore
- Deeper beaches and rocks
- Found in
- sea
- Peak season
- Spring and summer
How to identify a blonde ray
Blonde rays have a broad, diamond-shaped body with a short snout and light brown or sandy back. The whole upper side is covered in small dark spots that extend right to the edges of the wings, often with paler blotches between them. The skin has small prickles but lacks the big thorns of the thornback. Spotted rays look similar but are smaller, and their spots stop short of the wing edge. Small-eyed rays have pale stripes along the wing edges and tend to live on surf beaches.
Where it lives
Blonde rays favour sand and gravel in deeper water, usually close to strong tidal flows. Shore anglers catch them from steep beaches with deep water close in, from rock marks onto clean ground and occasionally from piers. They are most often caught from the shore in south-west England, the Channel coast, the Bristol Channel and Wales, and are scarcer on the North Sea coast. Marks where clean sand meets deep tide runs are the best bet.
What it eats and the best baits
Blonde rays eat sandeels, small fish, crabs, prawns and shrimps, hunting along the seabed in strong currents. Fresh sandeel is a natural food and probably the best single bait for them. Mackerel gives a strong, oily scent trail that draws big rays from a distance, and a sandeel and mackerel cocktail combines both appeals.
- Sandeel
- Mackerel
- Squid
- Launce
- Bluey
Best time of year
- Jan – quieter
- Feb – quieter
- Mar – quieter
- Apr – good
- May – good
- Jun – good
- Jul – good
- Aug – good
- Sep – good
- Oct – good
- Nov – quieter
- Dec – quieter
Typical best months for shore anglers in England and Wales. What's in season
How to catch blonde ray
A pulley rig or pulley pennel rig with two 3/0 to 5/0 hooks is ideal, keeping the bait on the bottom and the lead away from the fish during the fight. Big baits of whole sandeel, mackerel fillet or a cocktail, bound with elastic, work well. You will often need a 6 to 8oz grip lead to hold in the tide, cast from a powerful 13 to 15ft beachcaster with strong line and a shock leader. Many fish come at night, with the slacker water around the turn of the tide often productive at deep marks. Bites start as gentle nods while the ray covers the bait, followed by a heavy pull. Wait for that pull, then wind down and lift steadily.
Size and bag rules
| Area | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| North Western IFCA | Minimum size 45cm wing tip to wing tipApplies to any skate or ray. | Official page |
Other areas (no confirmed number for this species yet): Northumberland IFCA, North Eastern IFCA, Eastern IFCA, Kent & Essex IFCA, Sussex IFCA, Southern IFCA, Devon & Severn IFCA, Cornwall IFCA, Isles of Scilly IFCA, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
Rules last checked 23 October 2026. Rules change, especially for bass: always check the official source before keeping a fish. All sea fishing rules
Handling and release
Blonde rays are large, slow growing and late to mature, so release is strongly encouraged. Never lift a ray by the tail or eyes. Support it flat with both hands under the wings, unhook with long-nose pliers, and keep it wet. Return it quickly and gently, ideally lowering it into the water rather than dropping it.
Where to catch blonde ray in the UK
We don't have venues confirmed for blonde ray yet. Browse all venues.
Tackle for blonde ray
Shimano Aerlex 425cx Tublar 3 Piece Beach / Surf Rod Fishing Rod
£99.00
Korda Armakord extreme leader weedy green
£10.00
Korda Armamord sinking leader
£15.00
MAP quick change system frameless method mould small
£2.00
Nash zig screw red
£4.00
Nash hook link sleeve short
£2.50
Nash silicone sleeve d_cam
£2.00
Nash hook kickers
£3.00
Blonde Ray guides
Blonde Ray fishing questions
Where can you catch blonde ray from the shore?
Look for deep water close to the shore with clean sand or gravel and a decent tide run. Steep beaches and rock marks in south-west England, along the Channel coast, in the Bristol Channel and in Wales are the best areas. Night sessions in late spring and summer produce most fish.
What is the best bait for blonde ray?
Fresh or good-quality frozen sandeel is the top bait, either whole or as part of a cocktail with mackerel. Mackerel fillet on its own also catches plenty. Use big, well-bound baits on a pulley pennel rig, as blondes are large fish with wide mouths.
Should I keep a blonde ray?
Most anglers release them. Blonde rays grow slowly and take years to breed, so the best thing for future sport is a quick photo and a careful release. If you are thinking of keeping one, check the size and bag rules for your area below first.
