Tralee angler (and owner of one of the best tackle shops we know of) Martin McGowan was in touch with a report of a great day on the water in Kerry…
The recent spell of settled weather provided the perfect opportunity to launch the boat and get back out into Tralee Bay, one of Ireland’s most renowned spots for early-season ray fishing. With reports starting to come in of undulate rays making their usual seasonal appearance, we set out with hopeful expectations—and were rewarded with a day that exceeded all of them.
We fished from a small boat, targeting a productive area of the bay from low water right through to high tide, covering a full six-hour session in calm, sunny conditions. The weather could not have been better—warm and flat calm throughout the day, giving us ideal conditions for anchoring up and working the area effectively.
Our primary targets for the session were thornback and undulate rays, and the bay certainly delivered. Between myself and my fishing partner Leonard, we landed a total of 19 rays, with a great mix of healthy thornbacks and beautifully marked undulates. Many of the fish were in fantastic condition and put up excellent fights, offering a real test for light boat gear.
One particular highlight of the trip was the capture of an undulate ray bearing a tag from the Marine Institute of Ireland. All tag data was carefully recorded, and the information was submitted as part of our contribution to ongoing marine research. It’s always a privilege to assist in conservation and data collection efforts, and encounters like this are a great reminder of the important work being done to monitor and protect our marine species.
The tackle used on the day included the AKIOS Nano Tech kayak rod paired with an AKIOS Ironspin 6000 reel, spooled with INOVA 8X braid, and finished off with INOVA Tamerz hooks. The setup performed flawlessly, offering great sensitivity and strength, and made for an enjoyable and efficient ray session. With this gear in hand, the next goal is to target a tope in the coming weeks—a challenge I’m already looking forward to.
Tralee Bay continues to prove itself as a vital habitat for ray species and a fantastic destination for Irish sea anglers. With the undulates arriving in numbers, it’s a great time for both recreational fishing and citizen science efforts to work hand in hand.
Go Fishing
South West Sea Angling – Kerry Head to Blennerville (Tralee Bay)
