thornback rays

Come on now, ante up! Give us your tips and tricks, those little snippets and trade secrets gleaned from years of experience and experimentation!

Moderator: Seaniebo

Message
Author
User avatar
Bass Buster
SAI Hammerhead
Posts: 330
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:47 pm
Favourite Rod: conoflex
Favourite Reel: abu 7000
Favourite Fish: doggys
Location: whitehead /carrickfergus

thornback rays

#1 Post by Bass Buster »

hi lads just headn down south next week and i wanna catch a thornie.i was just wondering if anyone could give me any hints as to wat bait works best with them and wat kind of rig to use. Cheers
species.2010-whittn,codling,flounder,dab,plaice,coalie
User avatar
saltydog
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1816
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 8:52 pm
Location: Galway / Wexford

Re: thornback rays

#2 Post by saltydog »

Howdy Bryan where abouts are you heading? if your around Galway let me know and we'll sort something out :wink:
Shore Species 2011 (31) Ballan Wrasse, Bass, Bullhuss, Coalfish, Cod, Conger, Corkwing Wrasse, Cuckoo Ray, Dab, Dogfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Flounder, Goldsinny Wrasse, Long Spined Sea Scorpion, Mackerel, Plaice, Pollack, Poor Cod, Pouting, Rock Goby, Shanny, Shore Rockling, Short Spined Sea Scorpion, Thornback Ray, Three Bearded Rockling, Tompot Blenny, Tope, Tub Gurnard, Turbot, Undulate Ray, Whiting

Shore Species 2010 (26) - Bass, Black Goby, Bull Huss, Coalfish, Cod, Dab, Dogfish, Five Bearded Rockling, Flounder, Grey Gurnard, Lesser Weaver, Mackerel, Mullet, Plaice, Pollack, Poor cod, Pouting, Rock Goby, Shore Rockling, Silver eel, Starry Smooth Hound, Thornback Ray, Tope, Tub Gurnard, Turbot, Whiting

[url=http://galwaybuccaneerssac.com]Galway Buccaneers SAC[/url]
User avatar
Bass Buster
SAI Hammerhead
Posts: 330
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:47 pm
Favourite Rod: conoflex
Favourite Reel: abu 7000
Favourite Fish: doggys
Location: whitehead /carrickfergus

Re: thornback rays

#3 Post by Bass Buster »

no problem mate will pm you a few days before i come down ok tight lines.
species.2010-whittn,codling,flounder,dab,plaice,coalie
User avatar
gfkelly1969
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 2231
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:06 am
Favourite Rod: Century Kompressor Match
Favourite Reel: Abu 6500 mag elite
Favourite Fish: conger
Location: galway http://clifdenfishing.webs.com/

Re: thornback rays

#4 Post by gfkelly1969 »

what i found best for ray is frozen mackerel,its better if the mackerel is frozen and thawed a few times

i tried the frozen and fresh frozen mackerel on the same rig and they all went for the frozen

i use a 3 hook mackerel feather rig and put the bait on that

works well for me,caught 18 thornies in one day

the thornbacks are a bit slow yet but i hope you get one
lifetime species fishing and rock pool
1 dogfish,2 whiting,3 flounder,4 two spot goby,5 mackerel,6 pollack,7 common blenny,8 European eel,9 butterfish,10 Deep-snouted pipefish,11 rock goby,12 poor cod,13 corkwing wrasse,14 coalfish,15 turbot,16 tompot blenny,17 dab,18 dragonet,19 shorerockling,20 thornback ray,21 three bearded rockling,22 sandeel,23 grey gurnard,24 sea scorpion,25 scad,26 plaice,27 ballen wrasse,28 bullhuss,29 conger eel,30 blue shark,31 blonde ray,32 cod,33 pouting,34 topknot,35 Fifteen-spine Stickleback,36 mullet,37 Sand Goby,38 Montagu's Blenny,39 Three-spined Stickleback,40 goldshinny wrasse,41 painted goby,42 five bearded rockling,43 Sand-Smelt,44 Small-headed Clingfish ,45 sole

http://clifdenfishing.webs.com

http://clifdensearay.webs.com/
260
User avatar
round_ourway
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 2539
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:44 pm
Favourite Rod: Zziplex HSM
Favourite Reel: Daiwa 7ht Turbo
Favourite Fish: Thornback Ray
Location: Belfast

Re: thornback rays

#5 Post by round_ourway »

bryan the seem to showing up in fahan at the minute.

The tide runs pretty fierce up there so u will need 6 - 7 oz grippers. I got them on sandeel and mackerel using a pennel pulley with size 3/0 hooks. check on the reports on fahan. good luck
Boca Bearings .com - Orange Seal

Practice the Impossible
User avatar
Bass Buster
SAI Hammerhead
Posts: 330
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:47 pm
Favourite Rod: conoflex
Favourite Reel: abu 7000
Favourite Fish: doggys
Location: whitehead /carrickfergus

Re: thornback rays

#6 Post by Bass Buster »

thanks lads for the info very much appreciated.
species.2010-whittn,codling,flounder,dab,plaice,coalie
User avatar
round_ourway
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 2539
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:44 pm
Favourite Rod: Zziplex HSM
Favourite Reel: Daiwa 7ht Turbo
Favourite Fish: Thornback Ray
Location: Belfast

Re: thornback rays

#7 Post by round_ourway »

gfkelly1969 wrote:what i found best for ray is frozen mackerel,its better if the mackerel is frozen and thawed a few times

i tried the frozen and fresh frozen mackerel on the same rig and they all went for the frozen

i use a 3 hook mackerel feather rig and put the bait on that

works well for me,caught 18 thornies in one day

the thornbacks are a bit slow yet but i hope you get one



I'd say it was some craic with 3 rays on a mackerel trace. I have some fun with one on a pulley rig
Boca Bearings .com - Orange Seal

Practice the Impossible
User avatar
fishingquinn
SAI Bait Ball
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:35 am

Re: thornback rays

#8 Post by fishingquinn »

the biggest launce you can get 10inch 1's and as thick as your thumb as far as i'm concerned are the best bait for thornys i use them at fahan and rathmullen pier there hard to beat with bluey & mack close 2nds,as for rigs pullys or my favourate a 3ft up & over rig as good as any.
User avatar
masterkeane
SAI Sea Dog!
Posts: 509
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:08 am
Favourite Rod: Nemesis Slr 2002
Favourite Reel: Avet, 525 mag
Favourite Fish: Ray
Location: Dublin

Re: thornback rays

#9 Post by masterkeane »

NICE TIPS LADS
User avatar
gfkelly1969
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 2231
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:06 am
Favourite Rod: Century Kompressor Match
Favourite Reel: Abu 6500 mag elite
Favourite Fish: conger
Location: galway http://clifdenfishing.webs.com/

Re: thornback rays

#10 Post by gfkelly1969 »

Thorniefish wrote:

I'd say it was some craic with 3 rays on a mackerel trace. I have some fun with one on a pulley rig

only had 2 on the one trace so far,had great fun trying to bring them to shore
lifetime species fishing and rock pool
1 dogfish,2 whiting,3 flounder,4 two spot goby,5 mackerel,6 pollack,7 common blenny,8 European eel,9 butterfish,10 Deep-snouted pipefish,11 rock goby,12 poor cod,13 corkwing wrasse,14 coalfish,15 turbot,16 tompot blenny,17 dab,18 dragonet,19 shorerockling,20 thornback ray,21 three bearded rockling,22 sandeel,23 grey gurnard,24 sea scorpion,25 scad,26 plaice,27 ballen wrasse,28 bullhuss,29 conger eel,30 blue shark,31 blonde ray,32 cod,33 pouting,34 topknot,35 Fifteen-spine Stickleback,36 mullet,37 Sand Goby,38 Montagu's Blenny,39 Three-spined Stickleback,40 goldshinny wrasse,41 painted goby,42 five bearded rockling,43 Sand-Smelt,44 Small-headed Clingfish ,45 sole

http://clifdenfishing.webs.com

http://clifdensearay.webs.com/
260

Return to “Tips & Tricks for Sea Anglers”