Small eyed ray??

[Mushty]

Hi Peeps
Fishing last night and landed this, I’m sure it has to be a Small Eyed but just wanted to be sure as never landed one before…
Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Trampster]

Hi Peeps
Fishing last night and landed this, I’m sure it has to be a Small Eyed but just wanted to be sure as never landed one before…
Any ideas would be appreciated.
View attachment 61046

I don't fish for Rays Mushty, so I can't help. Good catch though. No doubt someone will have an answer for you soon.

 

[JLD]

I think it is a small eye but the patterning is very faint.

 

[Mushty]

I think it is a small eye but the patterning is very faint.

Thanks JLD, that’s what threw me a bit was the lack of markings, guess it’s quite a juvenile fish and maybe hasn’t developed yet?
Pleased nonetheless as they are quite scarce in these parts.

 

[JLD]

There is a faint pattern that looks SE and no sign of spots. Well done on catching another first.

 

[Dumnonian]

Lovely looking Ray looks very healthy. Well done its great to catch something a bit unusual or different looking.

 

[Wolf]

Looks like a small eyed ray to me ,great catch mate well done

 

[Mushty]

Looks like a small eyed ray to me ,great catch mate well done

Thanks matey,
I wonder if I’ve opened my account with the small eyed now?!

 

[Wolf]

Thanks matey,
I wonder if I’ve opened my account with the small eyed now?!

You've caught one more small eyed Ray than I have this year.Tight lines for when you go next time.

 

[Mr Fish]

It’s the darkest one I’ve ever seen but yes it looks like a small eyed to me, the markings look about right if very faint

 

[Shirleycodlin]

At the risk of being dumb, what could it be confused with?

 

[Mr Fish]

At the risk of being dumb, what could it be confused with?

Some other ray?

 

[Mushty]

At the risk of being dumb, what could it be confused with?

I dunno, first one I’d ever caught with very faint markings. Could have been a poorly marked young blonde maybe?? Just wanted words of wisdom to confirm my suspicions

 

[Mr Fish]

I dunno, first one I’d ever caught with very faint markings. Could have been a poorly marked young blonde maybe?? Just wanted words of wisdom to confirm my suspicions

So really quick job on the phone, but I’ve marked some of the ‘painted’ markings on your ray (another name for SE is painted ray) and contrasted with one I caught last autumn.
Aside from matching pretty well, you can see the body shape is similar too.

They do take on colour from their surrounding, as do most fish, so probably why yours is so dark.

 

[Mushty]

So really quick job on the phone, but I’ve marked some of the ‘painted’ markings on your ray (another name for SE is painted ray) and contrasted with one I caught last autumn.
Aside from matching pretty well, you can see the body shape is similar too.

They do take on colour from their surrounding, as do most fish, so probably why yours is so dark.

View attachment 61080

Your a star, I see the markings now.
thank you

 

[flappy]

Baby skate perhaps.?

 

[GPSguru]

Definitely a small eyed.

Apart from the unusually faint markings, the thinner pointed snout gives it away.

Here is a 10lb fish in the net

 

[J Richards]

As others have said. 100% small eye