Ray and tides

[yorkshire man]

Can someone help me out here ?
Caught my first ray on Saturday a thorn back about four pounds from gunnwell head the tide was low . do ray only feed at slack tide as i am sure i read somewhere on here that a big tide is good for ray any help much appreciated
cheers
Mike

[kieran]

Hi Yorkshire man

If that's Donegal, that is deep water you are fishing into off the headland.

It is true that rays prefer to have tidal movement, it facilitates them moving around with the current with minimal effort. I am not so sure about the idea that they like big tides, I think that may have more to do with shore anglers being able to fish marks at very low water into deeper channels and the like, clearly not an issue off Gunwell or places like Little Killary. There is a spot in Clew Bay where you must only fish for them on the smaller tides, they seem to avoid it on the bigger tides. Local info!

FWIW

[yorkshire man]

Kieran
thinking about it when I've seen people on TV fishing for ray they seem to go light and walk out on the sand in estuaries so that must be the case. thanks for the info.
Mike

[Declan G]

Hi Yorkshire man
I think i met you and Shane in little killary a while back ,great to hear you got that ray you were after . Yes ray like a run in the water but you will often hit them on the turn of low water . give me a call if your down my way had four today in a two hour session will show you some nice handy marks for them ..

Declan

[fishermannum1]

personally i always fish for rays when the tide is on the drop, and right down to low water and half an hour or so into the rise, i have fished for them on large tides and never get much luck, i get all of my rays on a medium to small tide on the drop, useing mackerel tipped off with squid....

[Liamo]

Hi,

This is a big generalisation but a good time to fish for them on marks here in Kerry is either side of HW or LW, I find the Ray will often move when the tide is turning to reposition themselves for the new flood/ebb

Liam