Fish guide
Stingrays (hazard)
Atlantic, southern, cownose and butterfly rays.
Cownose rays move through in big schools in summer; butterfly rays in the NJ surf. Not a target.
Showing the fish for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia ocean coast.
Season in Delmarva
Peak months: Jul, Aug.
Maryland DNR: cownose rays arrive in Chesapeake and Maryland coastal bays when spring water reaches 16 C (61 F), spend summer, and gravid females leave in September; prefer 72 to 82 F. Lewes averages 60 F in May, 69 F in June (NCEI). (Our inference)
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Outer Banks | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Handling
- Venomous barbed tail spine
Shuffle your feet when wading. Never handle the tail. Cut the line as close as you can rather than trying to unhook a ray. A sting needs hot water and medical attention.
Keep or release
Release. Shuffle your feet when wading.
Limits
FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Maryland DNR Fish Facts: Cownose Ray (Official source)
- DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Cownose Ray (Official source)
- NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide: monthly average water temperatures, all stations (Official source)