Spotted Ray
The spotted ray turns up in the southern North Sea, making it a genuine bycatch possibility for Dutch sea anglers fishing sandy coastal ground. It's not a primary target species here, but bottom fishers working the North Sea coast do encounter them.
Dutch fishing guidance lists it as a saltwater species with a catch-and-release recommendation.
Scientific Name: Raja montagui
Also known as Gevlekte rog, Homelyn ray
- Diamond-shaped disc with yellow to pale brown upper surface covered in scattered dark spots that stop short of the pectoral fin margins — the clear unspotted edge is the key ID mark.
- Pectoral fins form near right-angles, giving the disc a squarish look; a central row of 20–50 thorns runs from the midline toward the tail.
- Common length around 50 cm; maximum around 80–100 cm total length. Juveniles carry small spines along the disc edge and tail sides.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the eastern Atlantic; the southern North Sea sits within its natural range, putting Dutch coastal waters well within reach.
- Lives on soft, sandy or mixed sandy-rocky seabed from very shallow water down to around 530 m, though most fish are found above 250 m.
- Juveniles tend to stay in shallower coastal areas; adults range deeper. Nursery grounds use coastal zones with a mix of sand and rock.
Key Locations
- North Sea coastal zone — the sandy nearshore ground along the Dutch coast is the primary habitat where encounters occur.
- Offshore sandbanks in the southern North Sea fall within the species' documented range for the region.
Specific Spots
- Sandy bottom patches and shallow offshore banks along the North Sea coast — the ray's coloring blends directly into this substrate, which is where it hunts.
- Transition zones where sand meets harder ground or shell debris concentrate both the ray and the small invertebrates it feeds on.
- Slightly deeper gullies and channels running through nearshore sandbanks, where tidal flow pushes prey into predictable holding areas.
Spotted Ray FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Spotted Ray?
Ragworm and lugworm are the go-to bottom baits for mixed North Sea ground, they release scent and match the invertebrates rays naturally root out of the sand. Fish strip (mackerel, herring, or sandeel) laid flat on the seabed works well, especially on a long-trace running leger that lets the bait settle naturally.
When is the best time to fish for Spotted Ray?
Juveniles are more likely in shallow nearshore water during warmer months when inshore water temperatures rise.
How do you catch Spotted Ray?
Dutch sea anglers encounter spotted rays as bycatch while bottom fishing from the beach or from boats over sandy North Sea ground. Fishing a scent-releasing bait hard on the bottom, ragworm, lugworm, or fish strip on a running leger, is the standard approach.
What do Spotted Ray eat?
Feeds mainly on small bottom-dwelling fish, shrimp, crabs, and worms buried in or moving across the sand. It detects prey using electroreception, sensing the faint electrical fields animals produce, so bait sitting on or just above the seabed is the right presentation.
Where do Spotted Ray live?
Native to the eastern Atlantic; the southern North Sea sits within its natural range, putting Dutch coastal waters well within reach. Lives on soft, sandy or mixed sandy-rocky seabed from very shallow water down to around 530 m, though most fish are found above 250 m.
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