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Targeting the Surf Caster's Game Fish - Stingray
Stingray is one of the most common fish found in our Singapore water. It is a bottom feeder staying mostly on sandy patch seabed looking for prey. There are a few types of stingray on our shoreline and size of up to 20kg is quite common. The most common are the long-tail brown stingray, next are the leopard spot ray, the contour line ray, the eagle/bird ray and the hairy tail ray.   
A hook big ray is a hard fighting fish that will bend your rod n send your reel screaming with line running out fast. It is any land base angler's dream to hook a big ray n also a nightmare if they have to fight a long battle with a huge one. Fighting a monster ray on a surf casting outfit can wrench your back, ache your arm and tremble your legs. That why it's call the game fish of the surf caster. Believe me, this big ray will test your surf casting gear to its limit.
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Tackles needed:
1) A fairly stiff beach casting rod about 12-13ft long
You need this type of rod because you have to cast a certain distance away from the shore and also it must be strong enough for you to pump a monster ray up from the seabed. (A soft n sloppy rod cannot do the job)
2) A solid reel (Multiplier or fixed spool) able to hold about 200-300 meter 30lbs mono line. The reel drag n gear must be smooth n strong enough to handle the hard fighting fish.
3) A sand-pike (for sticking onto the beach or breakwater stone to hold your fishing rod after casting.)
4) A gaff - to help to land your catch when it is near the surf.
5) A long nose plyer - to plug off the poisonous sting once you land your catch.
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A Long Tail Brown Stingray caught off a breakwater stone. |
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Terminal Rig:
A single hook-flapping rig will do the job. Use a 4ft long 70lbs mono line as rig body; tie to a size 2 swivel on the top n size 6 snap swivel at the bottom for the casting weight. Hook snood is a 3ft long 70lbs mono. Tie one end to the rig body about 6 inches up above the casting weight. Tie the other end to a 70lbs snap swivel. Use a strong hook (Minimum size 3/0) tie to a 70lbs steel wire and clip onto the snap swivel. This rig is to ensure that your bait lay on the seabed after casting n also strong enough to withstand the rugged seabed during a long fight.
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The Contour line Ray |
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Baits:
Stingrays take most of the baits present to them. Any small fish, squid, prawn, n sea worm will work.
For targeting big ray, it is best to rig big bait such as Tamban fish (herring), whiting (sua chiam) or whole squid. For small fish thread the steel wire from the mouth through the body to the tail so that the hook point stay out near its head. For squid, hook twice through the body n then through the head with the hook point staying out.
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Fighting a big sting ray like this would be a memorable experience.
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