Spotted Ray
The spotted ray (Raja montagui) is a small, bottom-dwelling skate found all around the British Isles. It turns up regularly in catches from shore and boat, particularly in the English Channel, Celtic Seas, and around Cornwall and Wales.
Most anglers encounter it as an incidental catch rather than a dedicated target, but it's a recognisable and common part of UK inshore sea fishing.
Scientific Name: Raja montagui
Also known as Montagu's ray, spotted skate
- Diamond-shaped disc with a short snout and rounded wingtips; pale sandy or yellowish-brown upper surface scattered with dark spots that stop short of the wing margins — the clear spotless edge is the key ID feature separating it from the blonde ray.
- Central row of 20–50 thorns running from the midline to the first dorsal fin; juveniles carry additional spines along the disc edge and tail.
- Typical adults run around 50–60 cm disc length; maximum recorded length is around 80–100 cm, with weight reaching roughly 4 kg at the upper end.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to UK waters; recorded all around the British Isles from Shetland south through the North Sea, English Channel, and Celtic Seas to the west coast of Scotland and southwest Ireland.
- A bottom-dweller on soft sandy or muddy seabeds, typically between 8 and 250 m depth, though it can go considerably deeper.
- Juveniles use shallow coastal nursery grounds — often mixed rocky and sandy areas — while adults move further offshore into deeper water, especially in winter.
- One of the three most frequently encountered skate species in the English Channel; also common in Cornish and Welsh inshore waters.
Key Locations
- English Channel — one of the three most common skate species here; Cornish ports landed nearly 60 tonnes in 2024, reflecting its abundance in southwest waters.
- Plymouth Sound and the wider Devon and Cornwall coast — shallow sandy and mixed ground supports good numbers, including nursery areas for juveniles.
- Welsh inshore waters and the Bristol Channel — regularly caught by both boat and shore anglers alongside other ray species.
- West of Scotland and southwest Ireland (ICES Subarea 6 and divisions 7.b/7.j) — documented as a managed stock in these Celtic Sea grounds.
Specific Spots
- Sandy or muddy patches of seabed are the primary hunting ground — spotted rays rest and forage directly on the bottom, so presenting bait hard on the deck is essential.
- Shallow inshore sandbanks and bays hold juveniles and smaller fish, particularly in spring and summer before they push deeper in autumn and winter.
- Mixed ground edges — where sand meets rock or reef — concentrate the crustaceans and small fish that spotted rays feed on, making these transition zones worth targeting.
Spotted Ray FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Spotted Ray?
Peeler or soft crab is a top bait, it closely matches the crustaceans spotted rays actively forage for on sandy ground. Fish strip (mackerel, sandeel, or bluey) and whole or half squid work well, especially when combined with crab on a cocktail bait to add scent and bulk.
When is the best time to fish for Spotted Ray?
Present in UK inshore waters year-round, but juveniles and smaller fish are most accessible close to shore through spring and summer. Adults tend to move into deeper offshore water in autumn and winter, making boat fishing more productive for larger fish in the colder months.
How do you catch Spotted Ray?
Most spotted rays in UK waters are caught by boat anglers fishing bottom rigs over sandy or mixed ground, and by shore anglers working sandy beaches and bays.
What do Spotted Ray eat?
Feeds mainly on crustaceans (crabs, shrimp), small fish, and molluscs foraged directly from the seabed, whole crab, peeler crab, or fish strip baits presented on the bottom closely mimic this natural diet.
Where do Spotted Ray live?
Native to UK waters; recorded all around the British Isles from Shetland south through the North Sea, English Channel, and Celtic Seas to the west coast of Scotland and southwest Ireland. A bottom-dweller on soft sandy or muddy seabeds, typically between 8 and 250 m depth, though it can go considerably deeper.
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