Stingray fishing in the UK

[Catfish Paul]

Perhaps a little premature considering that the country is in lock down...
And the temperatures haven't risen significantly yet for the Stingrays to visit our shores

I have been researching fishing for stingrays for a period of time now.

I have identified some areas/marks to focus upon.

I'm thinking of using an Up and Over rig with worm as the bait. But open to ideas.

Have any of you guys got experience of these beasts??

I've never caught or tried to catch them off the shores of the UK but have targeted them successfully in tropical countries. Reasonably experienced regarding handling and unhooking them.

I'm planning on my first trip around late June, temperature and Corona dependent. Maybe a tad early but want to give it a go. Might pick up a Smoothie while trying.

Any tips and ideas on rigs, set ups greatly appreciated

[Mike J]

Pulley rig and crab
Plenty of big stingers about but nobody submits claims to protect the locations.
The smoothies will be pupping and shadowed by tope so ensure you have plenty on your reel.

Refuse to mention my locations as they are top secret!

[Catfish Paul]

Hi Mike

Thanks for the response.

I did read somewhere that Pulley rigs may not register the bite well, if the Stinger munches on the bait and doesn't move off with the bait.

Have you had any issues like that with a Pulley rig??

Thanks

[Catfish Paul]

Hi Mike

Quick question

I have some decent abrasion resistance cat hooklinks in both mono and flouro
Was thinking about using 50lb hooklinks but have stronger, ie 80lb, 100lb
What would you recommend??

Thanks again

[Kev Berry]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

[Catfish Paul]

Thanks Kev

Big Rag was the bait I was going to use
Will try crab as suggested by Mike and mackerel as you suggested

I wonder if one bait will outfit another.....be interesting to see

[Mike J]

Crab, hermits, because its a catchall for the smoothies, bass and big bream.
With a 5/0 circle whatever shovels it down is hooked safely when it moves off, with 50lb fluoro is backup for the odd tope which can be absent or annoying as not everyone wants to handle a six footer in the dark.

You have places up your way?

[Catfish Paul]

Hi Mike

I was thinking of using 50lb flouro, thanks for confirming.

I have identified a few areas , all on the south coast which are about an hours drive for me.

Just waiting for the weather to warm up and of course the Corona situation to end

[Mike J]

Stingers are odd fish, we have one of the best smoothie marks around and not a stinger is caught from there, yet up the coast and they are like paving slabs and amongst them you'll still pick up the odd smoothie. The bass and bream are less common but when you get one it is usually a good un, my best a 9 and a 4, yes on a 5/0 circle greedy sod.

Another place got heavily popularised by a F'booker who drew in anglers from all over because he would deliver bait on site, as the place was small locals were quickly elbowed out by the visitors, so the clown received a rather stern warning quickly followed by visitor numbers dropping off.
Now the problem is cars getting broken into!

[Bob Watson]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

[Kev Berry]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

And them nippers dont half hurt if they get you

[Bob Watson]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

And them nippers dont half hurt if they get you

Never had a nip yet

[Kev Berry]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

And them nippers dont half hurt if they get you

Never had a nip yet

Ya wont want a second one

[Alex Fox]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Yes Rag is the number one bait as far as i know and they come in with the tide over shallow sandy beach areas when its warmer, its said that they like this as the warm sand warms the shallow water as it comes up the beach.

[Flipflopjoe]

This is a summer campaign I’ve intended to do for the last couple of years but not got round to yet . I live in an area where a good few are caught each year, normally by accident when fishing for other species, an some are BIG !!!
Big King Rag baits is what I’ve heard works best !

[Bob Watson]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

And them nippers dont half hurt if they get you

Never had a nip yet

Ya wont want a second one

I was regular "stand in" on a boat through the winter up until a few a years ago, mostly uptiding. A couple of the lads used to nip the head off the rag before baiting up just in case they got a nip

I must admit though, those big worms in my local a couple of weeks ago would see many a hard man run a mile before even considering handling one.

Being in the midlands I don't suppose you do fresh sea baits?? Rag and lug etc??

[Kev Berry]

BIG rag bait or really fresh mackerel for stingers
Really shallow water of a few inches when the tide is coming in should not be ignored either

Should have seen them in my local a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what you class as big but these were knocking on for a foot long.

And them nippers dont half hurt if they get you

Never had a nip yet

Ya wont want a second one

I was regular "stand in" on a boat through the winter up until a few a years ago, mostly uptiding. A couple of the lads used to nip the head off the rag before baiting up just in case they got a nip

I must admit though, those big worms in my local a couple of weeks ago would see many a hard man run a mile before even considering handling one.

Being in the midlands I don't suppose you do fresh sea baits?? Rag and lug etc??

No sea baits...80 mile cast to nearest beach from here

[Mike J]

The answer to the nippers is to make it swallow a foot long baiting needle!

I fished with a firefighter who wore surgical gloves when we used yellow lug, so wouldn't stain his hands.