BANKING ON STINGRAYS

OPINIONS DIFFER ABOUT whether or not stingrays hibernate in our coastal waters, but the fact is they like warmth so it comes as no surprise that the best months to catch them are June, July and August.

They can be caught on sandbanks that dry out at low tide or retain a minimal depth of water. When the water finds its way back to the sun-warmed areas at high tide, these rays will forage here for food. When the water ebbs they will leave the bank, probably waiting in the deeper waters for the next tide. It is a valid theory because boat anglers tend to catch them in deeper water. Where a sandbank holds a minimum of three metres of water, the rays can stay there regardless of the tide.

There are some drawbacks to fishing such