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 Outer Banks, NC.
Season in Outer Banks
JFMAMJJASOND
Inferred from the cownose ray's 72 to 82 F preference (Maryland DNR) and Hatteras water (64 F April, 71 F May, 70 F October, 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 NC limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Maryland DNR Fish Facts: Cownose Ray (Official source)
- NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide: monthly average water temperatures, all stations (Official source)