Cownose Rays....

[Duffman]

Between Thurs and today easily spotted 100+. Hooked a few as well. Can’t remember seeing this many. Literally schools of them. Don’t know if it’s related in any way but free swimming blueclaws out in 35-50 FOW were plentiful.

I need to look up the migration of these guys. Unreal the quantity we’ve seen.

[frugalfisherman]

There was a herd of about 50 young ones in the Seaside surf this past week. Few years ago 200-300 big ones in the surf.

[Finprof]

They mate and give birth to pups in Chesapeake Bay in the Summer. In Mid June my favorite fishing spot at Hambleton Point has rays so thick you could walk across them. By late summer/early fall they are headed south to Florida.
If the rays are off the Jersey Shore right now they must be mating in the Hudson or Raritan as well as Chesapeake Bay and are just starting to head offshore.

[Skolmann]

I noticed a good deal of blue claws being brought in with the incoming in Manasquan Inlet the two days I fished there this week.

If I was in Florida they’d be the prefect size tarpon bait to fish the passes.

[NJ219bands]

Caught 2 in Manasquan Inlet in September.

[Fluken-Around]

Can you bow fish for them in NJ like they do in Maryland?

[Duffman]

Can you bow fish for them in NJ like they do in Maryland?

If I remember correctly there was whole thread on that years ago on the board. Guy from Maryland or Del trying to get Jersey to allow it? Turned into a shit show with those for/against it.

I’m curious what they are feeding on? With this many all of sudden in the bays they gotta be gorging on something.

[wyldbillnj]

Last year coming in from some Sea Bass grounds, my daughter and I noticed the change in color of the water just around the end of SH Channel. We stopped when we noticed there were thousands of the cow nosed rays headed southbound out of the bay and all. We sat there for a few just watching all different sized ones fly by headed outbound. Was an amazing sight to say the least. It was also a happy sight to see them getting out of there.

[retiredfireguy]

in the SH channel yesterday had several swim by the boat hooked about 6 and lost alot of line and rigs.

[Grateful Dad]

Was out by Romer on Saturday, we saw a TON of those swimming by. The 3 of us on board each hooked up, and were able to boat and release them safely. 13 year old Brayden had the thrill of his life fighting his on a light fluke rod.
We also saw 2 porcupine fish "dancing" around the boat, never saw those up this far north before.

[O'Man]

If I remember correctly there was whole thread on that years ago on the board. Guy from Maryland or Del trying to get Jersey to allow it? Turned into a shit show with those for/against it.

I’m curious what they are feeding on? With this many all of sudden in the bays they gotta be gorging on something.

Clams, oysters, sea-worms, they flap those wings near the bottom to uncover shellfish, etc.