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FISH GUIDE · Sea

Blonde ray: identification, habitat and fishing guide

Raja brachyura

A beige to light-brown ray whose small dark spots reach the edge of the disc.

Catalogue names : Blonde ray. Forms and names may vary between habitats.

Editorial review : · This species guide is not permission to fish. Read the precautions below and check the current rules for your location before targeting a species. Some species or populations are protected.

Geographical distribution

Found in the eastern Atlantic from the Shetlands to Western Sahara and west to Madeira; DORIS also describes the western Mediterranean, including Spanish, French, western Italian and North African coasts.

  • Documented presence : Eastern Atlantic
  • Documented presence : English Channel
  • 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

Identification

Rounded snout, short tail with two small dorsal fins and spots extending to the wing margins. Spotted ray Raja montagui resembles it, but its spots do not reach the disc margin, unlike those of blonde ray.

Habitat

Rock, pebbles and gravel mixed with coarse sand; it may bury itself in sand. Coarse-sand areas alternating with hard elements are described by DORIS; no local French fishing spot is invented.

Diet

Crustaceans and molluscs, also fish in adults.

Behaviour

It ambushes prey and may leave the bottom to pursue and pin down a prey item. A pursuit may end with prey pinned against the seabed. This biological observation does not validate a lure animation.

Fishing context and precautions

The IFI Shannon guide explicitly includes Raja brachyura among rays accessible from shore or boat. A new account by Kevin McGowan, published by IFI in December 2023, describes a shore catch with sandeels on a flapper rig. It documents a real case without making its large baits or hook count universal.

The adaptation is to prepare accessible landing and unhooking first, then present a sandeel on the bottom with a rig and weight compatible with the rod, current and site rules. Watch the line and guide the fish without lifting it by the line; obstacles in the account are not a model fishing spot to copy. This remains indicative for an authorised French venue, without a guaranteed season or yield.

A distinctive feature

Despite its French name meaning smooth ray, the back of adults is rough and covered with dermal denticles.

Sources and review

Each reference includes its access date. Overall editorial review: . Local conditions and regulations may change.

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