Sharks & Rays

Bat ray

Raya murciélago

Myliobatis californica

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

10–50 lb.

Depth

3–150 ft.

Best time

Afternoon, evening and night.

Found in

4 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Big eagle ray with wide, pointed wings, a dark brown to olive-black back, a white belly, a thick, raised head with the eyes on the sides, and a long whip-like tail with one or more venomous spines near the base.
Typical size: 10–50 lb.
Maximum size: About 6 ft across and around 200 lb (big females).
Diet: Clams, crabs, shrimp, worms and small fish dug from the sand.
Behavior: Flaps along sandy and muddy bottoms digging pits for clams; pulls like a freight train when hooked.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern California, Central & Northern California, Oregon & Washington and Baja & Sea of Cortez. Bays, estuaries, kelp edges and sandy beaches from Oregon to the Gulf of California; common in San Francisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough and southern California harbors.
Habitat: Bays, estuaries, kelp edges and sandy beaches from Oregon to the Gulf of California; common in San Francisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough and southern California harbors.
Depth: 3–150 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–30 ft on the bottom.
Best season: Spring through fall.
Best time: Afternoon, evening and night.
Best tides: Incoming tide in bays.
Best weather / conditions: Any.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Hooks Sinkers Pliers

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Bays, estuaries, kelp edges and sandy beaches from Oregon to the Gulf of California; common in San Francisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough and southern California harbors.
Rig up: Heavy surf or pier rod. 50–80 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Squid, mackerel chunks, clams and shrimp. Lures: None.
Fish it: Fish squid or mackerel on the bottom from piers and boats in bays; keep steady pressure so it can't suck down to the bottom.
Time it: Afternoon, evening and night. Incoming tide in bays.

Fishing techniques: Fish squid or mackerel on the bottom from piers and boats in bays; keep steady pressure so it can't suck down to the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: If it 'suctions' to the bottom, pump the rod and change the angle by moving along the pier.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: The wing meat is edible (bleed it right away), but most anglers release them.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Venomous tail spine causes a very painful wound — never grab the tail; use pliers and cut the line if needed.
Regulations: California sets limits for rays and sharks; check local rules. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: Common; important in bay food webs.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits