Making the annual pilgrimage to Seabrook next month and hoping to hook up with something bigger than the usual bonnetheads. Last summer we caught a decent size cownose and cut off his wings and then cut them into chunks about the size of a paperback book. We let those chunks get nasty in the sun (I’d read that they like em like that) and fished them over the following week but got no action whatsoever. FYI we do not have a kayak, so we basically just heave the chunks out there with our rods. Tried the channel at Bohicket at nighttime, the channel off the Seabrook beach club around sunset, Pelican beach, etc. Anyone got any tips for how to cut up a ray and how to use it as bait, best time of day/conditions, etc? Thx…
I’ve only heard of using sun funked ray for big tigers. If you catch a ray keep it as fresh as possible. Try to find a stretch of beach that drops off pretty quick and get as far out as you can. Normally behind the breakers is where you’ll find the majority of sharks that are big enough to eat those size baits. But it also depends on how big your gear is. I use a kayak to get my big baits out but I also have a 12/0 senator for that. If you want decent sharks with casted baits I’ve found fresh whiting to br the best in the surf. Catch yourself a whiting and cut a 2-3in chunk out of it. Put it on a 7/0-10/0 circle hook and cast it out past the breakers if you can if not into the breakers will work also. The size bait sounds small but it keeps you from getting a bait from being bit in half and if you have smaller toothies bite then you have a chance at hooking them also. I use that size bait on my casting gear and 95% of my sharks are 6ft give or take a few inches. With some pushing 7ft and the occasional monster that I can’t turn. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the advice. We’re using Penn Battle 6000’s - should be able to handle a five footer, I think. Does time of day or tide matter?
Depends on location. On the front beaches I have my best luck on the incoming tide. Just keep in mind when you catch a shark to remember what part of the tide you caught it and chances are you will catch one again in the same spot around the same stage of the tide.
The marina has a kids fishing contest every tues and Thursday during the summer go up there and take a couple rays off and keep them. The kids catch them all the time during those contests. Cut them up into pieces. I like to run whole rays out for larger sharks but without a yak and a good size reel you will have to cast for them.