Common Stingray
The common stingray is one of Ireland's rarest and most unusual shore catches — classified as endangered here, with a patchy distribution and a single known consistent population in Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry.
Shore anglers do target them there during warm summer conditions, and all are released. Catching one is a genuine rarity, not a routine session target.
Scientific Name: Dasyatis pastinaca
Also known as Stinger, Stingray
- Diamond-shaped disc, slightly wider than long, with a short snout; upper surface plain brown to olive, white underside with a broad dark margin around the edges.
- Long whip-like tail — roughly 1.5 times the body length — carrying a single venomous, serrated spine up to 12 cm long. Handle with extreme care.
- No dorsal fins; skin mostly smooth, though larger individuals develop a row of small tubercles along the midline of the back.
- Disc width typically around 45 cm, though Irish fish can run much larger — the Irish record exceeds 70 lb.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Classified as endangered in Ireland; distribution is patchy, with the only known consistent seasonal population in Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry.
- A coastal, bottom-hugging species of sandy and muddy ground in shallow water, also entering bays, estuaries, and lagoons.
- Generally found in water shallower than 60 m, with most activity in the shallows — big fish can be caught in just two or three feet of water over warm sand.
Key Locations
- Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry — the only location in Ireland with a known, consistent seasonal stingray population; shore marks inside the bay have produced fish for decades.
Specific Spots
- Shallow sandy beaches adjacent to estuaries are the key habitat — stingrays follow the flooding tide onto sand that has been warmed by direct sun during low water.
- Fish the surf tables and the shallowest water on a flooding tide; rays move in as the warm tide covers sun-heated sand, so the first two to three hours of the flood are prime.
- Marks inside Tralee Bay have produced the most consistent results in Ireland — sheltered, shallow, sandy ground close to tidal influence.
Common Stingray FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Common Stingray?
Peeler crab is the top natural bait where available; whole or half crab presented on the bottom on a running leger rig is the proven approach for Tralee Bay stingrays.
When is the best time to fish for Common Stingray?
Summer, warm, settled weather with mild winters and early springs historically produced the best conditions; cold or unsettled years see far fewer fish. Flood tides on hot, sunny afternoons are the most productive window, when the incoming water warms over sun-heated sand flats.
How do you catch Common Stingray?
Shore fishing from sandy beaches inside Tralee Bay is the established approach in Ireland, fishing natural baits hard on the bottom during the flood tide on warm, calm summer days. All fish are released after capture.
What do Common Stingray eat?
Bottom-dwelling crustaceans, crabs and shrimps, make up the bulk of the diet, supplemented by molluscs, polychaete worms, and small fish. Whole crab, peeler crab, and large ragworm or lugworm are the natural bait matches for shore fishing.
Where do Common Stingray live?
Classified as endangered in Ireland; distribution is patchy, with the only known consistent seasonal population in Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry. A coastal, bottom-hugging species of sandy and muddy ground in shallow water, also entering bays, estuaries, and lagoons.
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