Where can I catch Stingray in the UK?

Very local along warm south coast areas; rare elsewhere.

What tackle do I need to catch Stingray?

Most juniors catch Stingray on straightforward float or feeder setups with balanced line and hook sizes and a small landing net.

What bait works well for Stingray?

Popular beginner baits for Stingray include: Bluey (blue whiting), Herring / sprat, Mackerel strip, Sandeel (whole), Squid strip, Whole squid.

Stingray species guide • Sea fish • Easy (5/10)

Stingray junior fishing guide

Dasyatidae family species

A clear, plain-English guide to stingray for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Stingray catch

Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons

Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Easy (5/10)

Great for coached juniors and confident beginners.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

Can grow very large; only occasional in UK waters.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

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Beginner baits

Bluey (blue whiting), Herring / sprat, Mackerel strip …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Warm, shallow sandy bays in rare UK hotspots.

Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.

Catch your first stingray with confidence

Catch your first Stingray in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

Step 1

Introduce rays with safety in mind

Rays can be large, heavy and in the case of stingrays, dangerous. Junior involvement should focus on watching and helping experienced adults.
Step 2

Use strong tackle and large landing gear

Heavy rods, big nets or careful beaching techniques are essential. Avoid dragging rays far up the beach and keep sessions organised and calm.
Step 3

Explain tail safety and conservation

Teach juniors to stay clear of tails, especially on stingrays, and to support rays under the wings if moved briefly. Stress catch-and-release and photo-only policies for big species.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

We don’t have tackle recommendations for this species yet. Ask your club coach for a simple, junior-friendly rig and check back soon.

About the Stingray

True Stingrays are rare visitors to UK shores and possess a venomous spine on the tail. They require extreme care if encountered.

Junior tip

If a stingray is hooked, do not attempt to handle it. Cut the trace safely and allow experienced skippers or specialists to manage the situation.

Logged a Stingray recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

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For parents & carers

Use this page to quickly judge if Stingray are a good match for your child’s confidence and ability.

●Clear guidance on safe handling, landing nets and unhooking.
●Beginner tackle that’s lightweight and manageable for juniors.
●Written in plain language so non-angling parents can still support on the bank.

At a glance

Family: Dasyatidae
Feeding zone: Bottom
Diet: Fish, crustaceans and shellfish.
Typical size: Can grow very large; only occasional in UK waters.
Best season: Summer, in a few southern locations.
Conservation: Some species globally threatened; in the UK largely incidental catches.
UK distribution: Very local along warm south coast areas; rare elsewhere.