Raja microocellata
photo courtesy of Mike Concannon
Distinguishing features
The small eyed ray has rounded wing tips and a shortish snout. As its name suggests it has comparatively small eyes. The upper surface of the wings and body are grayish to brown colour with light patches and streaks which run parallel to the edges of the wings.
Size
The small eye grows to lengths of around 90 cm and attains a weight of over 7 kg. As with most rays the female of the species is larger.
British Record Fish List
UK Shore Record: 15lb 0oz 8dms / 6.818kgs
UK Boat Record: 17lb 8oz 0dms / 7.938kgs
European Line Class Record for this species
Habitat
This ray lives in the coastal waters around the English Channel, south of Ireland and the Atlantic coasts of France, Spain and Portugal in depths of up to 100 metres. It likes sandy seabeds and will frequent estuaries.
Food
The small eyed ray feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans.
Bait
Sandeel make an effective bait for small eyed ray, particularly from the shore. Squid, either on its own or as a cocktail with fish strip will also take fish as will small fish from the location being fished such as poor cod or pout.
