THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

Thinking back, this recollection could well be a composite of two or maybe even three separate visits
in different years during the early to mid 1980's, but no matter.
Back then the 'monk hole' was a fabulous place. Obviously for big monkfish, plus quite a few stingrays.
But far and away the most abundant fish in there at that time was the small eyed ray. A marvellous
experience to have had.
Alas, in common with the Helwick Bank and a good many other once prolific hot spots, that is no longer
the case. For as with all the ray species, small eyed numbers took a very sharp down turn, which for a
fish of patchy distributions and specific terrain requirements, can be a particularly deep hole to have to
climb back out of. But not impossible, as once more increasing numbers of all ray species are now
starting to demonstrate.
There's still a long way to go yet, particularly to re-stock some of the offshore banks where they must
have quite literally carpeted the sea bed. There are also promising signs of them showing up once again
along some of the beaches and rock marks that used to regularly produce them.
Small eyed rays are caught mainly over shallow offshore sand, shell grit, or light gravel banks with
moderately deep water nearby creating quite a rush of tide up the bank slope and over the top.
Shallow surf beaches, plus sandy patches within casting range of rocky headlands, again with plenty of
tidal disturbance, are also attractive to these fish, particularly if, as with the offshore banks, they attract
good numbers of sandeels which are a key staple in the diet of the small eyed ray.
Obviously then, sandeel, either fresh or frozen, is going to be a preferred bait, though long thin strips
of mackerel belly or cuts from the thinned down flanks can fish equally well. As I mentioned earlier,
we also caught quite a few on whole calamari squid, along with some of the turbot.
The same baits should work equally well from the shore. Again, fish a flowing trace if casting isn't a
problem, or a couple of heavy duty long droppers if that's what you prefer.
Personally, I would stick to a pulley rig tied from fifty pounds bs monofilament with a 4/0 hook, the
idea being for it to help lift the lead clear of snags, particularly when fishing rock marks.
Associated audio interview numbers: 81 and 145.
BLONDE RAY Raja brachyura
Bucket List status – result
One of the largest growing and thankfully
easier home waters ray species to identify,
confirmed by a combination of both visual
patterning and feel to the hand. Potentially a
very large fish too with regularly confirmed
weights approaching forty pounds, which is
way bigger than the only other ray species
likely to cause any identification confusion,
the spotted ray.
Both species sit within the pointed wing tip
camp, so no help there. However, if the
specimen in question is covered in spots and is
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