Small-eyed Ray
In Ireland, the small-eyed ray goes by painted ray — a name that suits it better than the scientific one. It's a shore angler's fish, found along the south and southwest coasts from Wicklow through Wexford, Cork, and into Kerry.
Ireland sits at the northern edge of its range, which keeps it a regional target rather than a nationwide one. Summer and autumn are the productive window, with sandeels drawing fish into the surf.
Scientific Name: Raja microocellata
Also known as Painted Ray
- Greyish-olive to light brown on top, with distinctive pale bands running roughly parallel to the wing edges — the 'painted' look that gives it its Irish name.
- Conspicuously small eyes are the definitive ID feature: the gap between the eyes is more than twice the length of the eye-to-spiracle distance.
- Underside is white; spines run down the centre of the body and tail but lie nearly flat against the skin.
- Shore fish in Ireland typically run 3–7 lb; a 10 lb fish is a genuine specimen, with a maximum around 20 lb.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Irish waters; found along the south and southwest coast from Wicklow through Wexford, Cork, and Kerry — Ireland is at the northern limit of its range.
- A shallow-water, inshore species that stays close to the coast throughout its life, rarely going deeper than 100 m.
- Prefers sandy and mixed sand-rock seabeds; also ventures onto light shingle and into estuaries.
- Tagging data from Tralee Bay shows these fish are highly localised — 76% of tagged fish in the Marine Sportfish Tagging Programme were caught within a few kilometres of where they were first tagged.
Key Locations
- Tralee Bay, Kerry — the most documented concentration of painted rays in Ireland; the majority of Marine Sportfish Tagging Programme fish were tagged here.
- County Cork surf beaches — open sandy beaches with adjacent reef ground along the Cork coast are consistent producers through autumn.
- County Wexford to Kerry coastline — the species' Irish range runs this entire southern arc, with the southwest corner holding the best numbers.
Specific Spots
- Gutters running parallel to the tideline on surf beaches concentrate feeding rays as the tide floods — fish the deeper channels at range.
- Corners where cliffs or rocks border clean sand are consistent producers; rays push into these sheltered pockets with the flooding tide.
- Patches of clean sand adjacent to rough or reef ground hold fish that use the hard bottom for cover and move onto sand to feed.
- Mussel and sandeel beds draw rays in to feed; beaches that back onto reef are worth prioritising over featureless open sand.
Small-eyed Ray FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Small-eyed Ray?
Fresh sandeel, whole or in sections, is the top bait from June through autumn when sandeels are present inshore along the Cork and Kerry coast. Ragworm and lugworm account for fish throughout the season, particularly on mixed-ground beaches where worm forage is available year-round.
When is the best time to fish for Small-eyed Ray?
June–August: fish begin appearing inshore as sandeels establish; numbers are building but fish tend to run smaller. September–December: the prime period for both numbers and larger fish along the Cork and Kerry coast. January–May: largely unproductive; consistent catches are rare during the colder months.
How do you catch Small-eyed Ray?
Painted rays in Ireland are almost exclusively a shore target, fished from open surf beaches and mixed sand-rock marks along the south and southwest coast. Long-range casting with baited bottom rigs on the flooding tide is the standard approach, with the best fishing typically after dark through the autumn months.
What do Small-eyed Ray eat?
Sandeels are the primary draw inshore from June onward, when sandeel shoals establish along the southwest coast, painted rays follow. Long sandeel baits or launce are the natural match.
Where do Small-eyed Ray live?
Native to Irish waters; found along the south and southwest coast from Wicklow through Wexford, Cork, and Kerry, Ireland is at the northern limit of its range. A shallow-water, inshore species that stays close to the coast throughout its life, rarely going deeper than 100 m.
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