Small-eyed Ray Fishing UK
By Tackl · Updated 30 October 2026
Raja microocellata
The small-eyed ray, also called the painted ray, is a handsome ray best known from surf beaches in the south-west of England and south Wales. It is a classic summer night target, feeding hard on sandeels in the breakers, and rewards anglers who fish fresh bait on clean sand with a powerful, dogged fight.
Photo: NicoDesSables, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Typical size
- 4–8lb from the shore; a fish over 10lb is a specimen.
- From the shore
- Surf beaches (south-west)
- Found in
- sea
- Peak season
- Late spring to early autumn
How to identify a small-eyed ray
As the name suggests, the eyes are noticeably small for a ray. The upper side is greyish-brown to fawn, marked with pale creamy lines and spots that run roughly parallel to the edges of the wings, giving a painted look. The underside is white. The snout is short and the wings fairly rounded. Blonde and spotted rays have dark spots rather than pale lines, while thornback rays have a rough, thorny back with large thorns and a mottled pattern. Undulate rays carry dark wavy lines edged with white spots rather than the small-eyed's pale lines.
Where it lives
Small-eyed rays favour clean sand in shallow, often surf-swept water, and are mostly a fish of the south-west of England, the Bristol Channel, south and west Wales and the Channel coast, with good numbers around Ireland too. Open surf beaches and sandbanks near rocky headlands are classic marks. They come close in to feed in the surf zone, especially at night, and are rarely found far from the sandeel beds they depend on.
What it eats and the best baits
Small-eyed rays feed on sandeels more than most rays, along with small fish, shrimps and crabs living in the sand. That is why a fresh or good-quality frozen sandeel is the bait of choice. Whole sandeels or a pair of eels on a pennel rig give off a natural scent and silhouette in the surf. Mackerel strip or squid can be tipped on to add extra scent.
- Sandeel
- Mackerel strip
- Squid
- Sandeel and squid cocktail
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 small-eyed ray
A pulley pennel rig or a pulley dropper rig with a single 2/0 to 4/0 hook holds a sandeel neatly and helps it cast well. Pair it with a 13 to 15ft beachcaster and 5 to 6oz grip leads to hold bottom in the surf, using a strong shock leader. Many fish are caught at short to medium range, sometimes just behind the third breaker, so huge casts are not always needed. Fish after dark on a flooding tide, with the hours around high water often the most productive, and a moderate surf is ideal. Bites usually show as a few gentle knocks and a slight pull, then the rod tip nods steadily or the line falls slack as the ray moves off with the bait. Lift into the fish and keep steady pressure, as rays use their wings to hold against the pull.
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
Small-eyed rays are slow growing and late to mature, so please return them. Wet your hands, support the ray under the wings and avoid lifting it by the snout or tail. Watch for the thorns along the tail and back. Unhook quickly with long forceps, keep it out of the water as briefly as possible and let it swim away from shallow water.
Best shore marks for small-eyed ray
Where to catch small-eyed ray in the UK
We don't have venues confirmed for small-eyed ray yet. Browse all venues.
Tackle for small-eyed 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
Small-eyed Ray guides
Small-eyed Ray fishing questions
What is the best bait for small-eyed ray?
Sandeel, either fresh, live-caught or good-quality frozen. Small-eyed rays are sandeel specialists, so a whole eel on a pennel rig is the classic bait. Tipping it with a strip of squid or mackerel can help in coloured water, but the sandeel is what they are really looking for.
Where can I catch small-eyed rays from the shore?
They are mainly found on clean, sandy surf beaches in the south-west of England, the Bristol Channel coast and south and west Wales, with good populations around Ireland. Beaches near rocky headlands with sandeel beds are often the best. Night tides in summer are most productive.
Can you keep small-eyed rays?
Most anglers release them. Like other rays they are slow growing, mature late and produce few young, so they are easily overfished. Please check the size and bag rules for your area below, and consider returning every small-eyed ray you catch.
