Thornback Ray Fishing Guide – Baits, Rigs & Tips

The Thornback Ray is a fascinating member of the ray family. Found in inshore waters, this species can grow to 20lb+ and has distinctive spines on the back and tail.

Thornback Rays are typically found on seabeds such as mud, sand, or gravel at depths of 10–60m, making them accessible to shore anglers, especially in spring and summer.

What Do Thornback Rays Eat? – Best Baits

Thornback Rays are opportunistic predators and feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans:

• Juveniles / smaller rays: Worms, small crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans

• Adults: Peeler crabs, shrimps, sandeels, blueys, prawns, ragworm, and small fish

Pro Tip: Using natural baits like peeler crab, ragworm, and prawns produces the highest catch rates.

👉 Internal link: Best Bait for Solent Sea Fishing
👉 Internal link: Fishing with Peeler Crab – Techniques & Tips

Best Fishing Rigs for Thornback Rays

Thornback Rays are ambush predators, so rig presentation is critical.

Recommended Rigs:

• Pulley rigs with long snoods (allows the ray to swim off with the bait)

• Up-and-over rigs

• Hook sizes: 1/0 to 3/0 (longer snoods increase hook-up success)

Tip: Longer snoods let the ray swallow the bait naturally with minimal resistance, improving your catch rate.

Where to Catch Thornback Rays

• Thornback Rays favour inshore waters

• Prefer muddy, sandy, or clean seabeds

• Most accessible to shore anglers during spring and summer months

Pro Tip: Check tidal charts — Thornback Rays often move closer to shore on rising tides.

Summary Table – Baits & Rigs for Thornback Rays

Pro Tips

1. Use fresh, high-quality baits for maximum attraction.

2. Handle rays carefully — their spines are sharp and may be venomous.

3. Practice catch-and-release to conserve the population.

4. Adjust snood length and bait size depending on tidal flow and seabed type.