Geographical distribution
FishBase places the species from the Shetlands, southern North Sea and western Baltic south to Mauritania, with Mediterranean records as far as Tunisia and western Greece.
- Documented presence : Eastern Atlantic
- Documented presence : North Sea
- Documented presence : Western Baltic
- Documented presence : Western Mediterranean
Documented areas, not an exhaustive list. Presence in a region does not imply presence in every water body or permission to fish.
Distribution sources
- FishBase — Raja montagui, répartition géographique · accessed on
Identification
Spotted brown back, short snout and rounded wing tips; dark spots stop short of the disc edge. Spots stopping short of the disc edge are a useful feature; size alone cannot identify a young ray.
Habitat
Sand or mud; young fish in shallow coastal water, adults farther offshore on sand or sand-gravel. Juvenile and adult habitats differ: the depth of one encounter must not be presented as the depth for the whole species.
Diet
Mainly crustaceans, also benthic worms, cephalopods and small fish.
Behaviour
It buries itself to hide from predators and ambush prey. Burial camouflage and ambush feeding are described in the FishBase synthesis.
Indicative biological size
About 50 cm total length according to FishBase.
Fishing context and precautions
The IFI Shannon guide explicitly groups Raja montagui with other rays accessible from shore and boat. Ashley Hayden’s account of 30 May 2012 describes a boat session with mackerel and squid, followed by a spotted ray brought up, netted and released. It corroborates bait presentation on the bottom without establishing an exclusive recipe for this species.
For an adaptation in a French area where this targeting is permitted, prepare unhooking and support, lower a baited bottom rig compatible with the current, then watch the line. Weight, snood and timing remain local adaptations rather than settings validated for all spotted rays. Keep the fish in the water if possible, without a gaff or suspension by the tail.
A distinctive feature
It lays eggs enclosed in horny capsules with horn-like corners.
Sources and review
Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.
- FishBase — Raja montagui · accessed on
- Inland Fisheries Ireland — Shannon Sea Angling Guide, 2016 · accessed on
- DIRM Sud-Atlantique — Campagne de marquage des raies en Atlantique et en Manche · accessed on
- Service Public — Pêche de loisir en mer · accessed on
- Inland Fisheries Ireland — Catch and release for sharks, skates and rays (12 juillet 2017) · accessed on
- Inland Fisheries Ireland — Sea Fish species, rubrique Ray (17 avril 2018) · accessed on
- Inland Fisheries Ireland — Ashley Hayden, Bites were slow around Wicklow (30 mai 2012) · accessed on