Best Stingray Bowfishing Locations

Are you an avid bowfisherman looking for a target species other than carp and alligator gar? You’re in luck. The nation’s eastern coast offers an unusual, exciting, and fast paced bowfishing opportunity in the way of stingrays. Atlantic, butterfly, cow-nose, and southern rays are all legal gamefish, but cow-nose and southerns are the most common quarry. Read on to learn the best locations to stick a stingray and a little bit about how it’s done.

Location, Location, Location

Any whitetail hunter knows the importance of food in selecting a hunting location. The same thing holds true for stingrays, whose preferred foods include clams, oysters, scallops, and crabs. Therefore, the best locations to find stingrays will also be the best places to find their favored foods. Time of year also plays a factor since rays migrate from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to New York throughout the summer. The coastal waters of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida all offer prospective bowfisherman the chance at many opportunities in a day or night of hunting. You can search stingray bowfishing trips here: https://www.guidefitter.com/fishing/bow-fishing

When to Go

As mentioned, stingrays move based on water temperature and the time of year. Southern Florida offers year-round opportunities at rays, while the summer months are best in the northern reaches of their habitat. Bowfishing for stingrays can take place at night with the aid of LED lights or by day while wearing polarized fishing glasses. Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing said, “I do a lot of my trips during the day, because, on a good day, I can see a lot further than at night. But nighttime can be productive.”

How Do You Bowfish for Stingrays?

Bowfishing trips targeting stingrays typically last between two and eight hours depending upon the outfitter and the kind of experience you’re after. After a quick briefing on what to look for and a safety talk, it’s time to hit the water. Upon reaching the fishing grounds, it’s time to start trolling and looking for rays -- and looking hard. Spagnola said, “It kind of takes one or two rays to scoot out from underneath the boat for people to realize what they’re looking for.” Adjusting for light refraction in the water and the fact that stingrays rarely hold still for long can make for some tough shooting, so be prepared to miss a time or two. As far as shot placement goes, the object is to center-punch the ray.

Why Hunt Stingrays

Stingrays are a nuisance species to commercial shellfish fisherman. It’s estimated that a stingray will eat half its body weight per day. Considering that cow-nosed stingrays can grow to 40 pounds and southern stingrays can tip the scales to over 100 pounds, taking out a few rays can have a significant effect on the areas shellfish population. Spagnola said, “If they find a food source, they will eat and eat and eat until there’s nothing there and then move on.”

The second reason to consider a stingray bowfishing trip is the action. It’s not uncommon for bowfisherman to get multiple opportunities over the course of a four-hour hunt.

Finally, these crazy looking fish offer a unique table fare through the meat in their “wings” and a unique trophy thanks to their venomous barbs. Spagnola described the meat as mild, with the texture of clam strips. Proper preparation is the key to tasty stingray because it will take on the taste of whatever seasoning you apply. Imagine how cool it will be to invite your friends over to a fish fry and serve them fried Cajun stingray wings.

Gear Up

Bowfishing gear used for carp or gar can also be used for stingrays. Make sure your bow is set at a draw weight that is comfortable, since you’ll likely be drawing it a lot. If you don’t have your own bowfishing equipment or don’t want to tote it on a flight across the country, don’t worry. Most outfitters can provide you with all the gear you need to arrow some rays.

If your hunt will be taking place in the daytime, polarized sunglasses are a must. They’ll help you spot spooky rays before they flee, giving you a shot opportunity you might never have known existed without the help of your shades. Other than that, dress for the weather and be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

A Word of Caution

Stingrays get their name from the serrated barb located just above their tails. This barb can reach lengths of up to 14 inches and can cause extreme pain and, rarely, death if allowed to strike you. Most guides will land your rays and immediately remove the barb for you, rendering the fish harmless. But if an uncut ray starts flopping across the deck, stay out of its way.

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your summertime beach vacation, look into stingray bowfishing opportunities in the area. It might be the first of many trips in your lifetime.