for big rays i reckon, there very strong and seem to go for ages if you don't turn them. Also get rid of any clips, there always the first things to go. Don't need wire either unless there may be a shark or 2 around, more chance of a mulla that way too

i'm sure you'll get plenty of advice from here, a few fella's chase rays

Sometimes they are simply to big to stop mate that being said mate have caught 10 - 15 kg rays on bream gear when chasing tailor with unweighted mulies and guesimated 30 - 40kg ray on a pen applause 6000 spooled with 8kg mono ,  8-10 kg silistar crystal tip rod have found the softer i go on them less inclined to spool me they are :P

YOU THINK YOU ARE UNDERGUNNED? AT lancelin my brother hooks ones as big as skip bins in 2-4kg when going for whiting, i use my 15kg penn 330GTi

 Never sit there watching your line go out, when you hooked one try to stop it immediately with whatever means possible, palming spool at intervals, get as low as you can sitting on the sand, if peeling straight out get as far diagonal as you can, know your gears limits especially the rod, if done right and with luck the ray will stop and sit on the sand instead of peeling line non stop.

I have to agree with all above, I think the most important as Matt has stated - get rid of all clips and non essential links. Make sure you have the proper tools for targeting the appropriate targetted fish.

For rays and skates I go 50Ib 300mt braid backing, another 250mt's 0.50mm Giant abrasion with a lot of stretch. About 10mt's worth of tapered or 0.90mm / 1.0mm leaderline. Single or double hook it you prefer, sizes 6 to 10.

The reel should have a 20kg to 24kg drag capability - as your drag would be set on 90% capability once bait is in the water. When the ray takes your bait and realise he is playing tug of war he will make a run for it, most times short runs and then they suck onto the bottom. You need to keep your tip of the rod high and apply as much pressure as you can to lift the nose of the ray. Once the the Ray has lifted it's nose you will then slowly start reeling in as they tend to go sit every 10mt - 20mt on the bottom. Proper back burners. When they are extremely heavy you can "straight stick" the ray to apply maximum pressure. By walking to the water while reeling in and then walk backwards to the point of origin, then do it all again over and over untill they come up to reel them properly.

Important is the line strengths and knots you have. Bimini knot from braif to mono, double sliding fig 8 from mono to leaderline - has worked well for me.

Good luck next time.

 Yeh as Dicey said, you have to go as hard as possible and try turn their heads. I do this by putting the rod side ways. and yeh dont let go lol

we use to do it at hillarys 80 pound braid and 100 pound wire trace we made ourself with no clips straight swivels

ask diehard hes a keen ray fisho

big line capacity (500m +) and plenty of drag. Braid backing almost essential for the really big guys like those around lancelin. I take a different approach to dicey & John and let them take the first run with the rod kept low and almost pointing towards the ray, that way your not tiring yourself out before the fight really gets going. once you feel them starting to slow, palm the spool a bit put the hurt on big time. Try not to let them sit once they slow, that way you get a chance to get some line back while they are tired. Straight sticking like blou is talking about is almost essential on the big guys, have had fights last an hour and a half up around lancelin and trying to hold a 14 foot rod at an angle for that long with 10 + kilos of drag is near impossible.

 

Thanks for all the great advice everyone! 

There's a bit to think about before the next time i decide to chuck out a bait "just for kicks".  I'll be coming back and reading your replies a few times over.

Hopefully next time I can put on a better showing for the Cottesloe crowd.

Thanks again for the insightful replies.

I do almost the same with Cuthbad

I let them take 1 to 2 runs max!

i leave the spools drag bascially around 200g as its really lose and the ray only picks up the bait but doesnt run... so when your dwon 40m away and something playing with your bait you have time to get to it as its not running. but once you get to it lower rod tip tighten drag and lift rod tip slowly but strong.........only then do the start running.... and when they run... nothing will stop them until they stop.... i also sit down on a rock while they run so i dont burn out first.

But some people are different ;) some like to say "CLAMP THE SPOOL" and hope it turns... it does work... but most of the time it snaps the line.. win or lose....

But at hillarys you get small rays--- put up a small strong fight...

medium rays---- put a strong fight, back aches often bust off..

Large rays---- 13kg drag peeeeeling off, instant hands down you win big ray...

There is one ray that likes to hang around the platform, often comes out near nighish. hes around 70-85kg with about 3 of my rigs probably 10 of leemos ;)

as for bait i use 2 rigs...

Cast bait:

mainline----swivel---50lb mono---small grapnel or size 4 star---- swivel----100lb mono----(1m+)----fluro pink skirt---x2 snelled gama 9/0 circles

Slide Bait: (jsut got into it and has worked 1 out of 2 times)

Cast:  mainline-----welded ring--------60-80cm of mono about 4-5kg less stronger than mainline--------large grapnel

Slide: weighted slide heavy duty------150lb mono----fluro pink skirt---- x2 snelled 8/0 to 10/0 cirlce.. or single 10/0 oh shangusyy***

cheerss

 I also actually do that pointing the tip at the ray if im using heavy line that is far greater then the rod breaking strain, but have to slowly drop it down instead of pointing straight away too much shock might break the line.

Could always use a very short 10cm leader to 80-100pound braid or fireline and lock up and pretend your doing some really intense sambo jigging, youl probly find that will turn em around if the braid/fireline hasnt cut straight through its brain hahahahahahahah

just keep tight pressure and it should tire and turn unless its a monster, but its a patient fight, theres no such thing as speed ray chasing unless your down dawesvell cut or old mandurah bridge using 400 pound mono and your harnessed too a pole, theres some thumpers that live down that way.....  

at lancelin a guy landed one on the jetty with 40kg mono the ray didnt run it tried to bury itself!!

If its running in a straight line and doesn't look like stopping go for a walk down the rocks/ beach to change the angle the line is pulling from to turn its head around to the side giving you back the advantage.

50lb line... 500m+ . overhead reels are the way to go. Braid backing for line capacity. mono topshot of 50+ metres.

Dont see the point of using wire traces if your fully targeting rays. just 100-150lb mono would do. Single large circle hook.

10kg's of drag is HEAPS 12 would be nice to have to lock it up if needed... cant see why you would need anything more than that.. the rest you get from palming the spool.

or just throw out a decent bait to rest on the sand , on a 200lb handline and drag em in that works a treat !

 Guys i've been reading every single comments.. and guess what... I learned so much from all of yous. Cheers all

Just ask Brenz, he's the 'ray whisperer"

the best reel really for the job is the fin nor offshore 9500 or the torrium 30 or 50 depending on how game you are lol. spoool it with 50lb mono then braid backing and you should be fine. and i prefer to use a boat rod of 7 to 10 foot really stiff and can pump some of that line back easier than what you would do with a normal beach rod. i suggest a penn power stick because i have had a mate have his rod bent 180 under lano jetty and not have it snap on him while catching the rays round there

hmmmm!!!!

Managed to land an eagle ray the other night. I definitely wouldn't of done it without the advice shared in this thread.

Probably wasnt as big as the one lost as per original post, but satisfying to land it nonetheless! Wingspan was about 1m and it swam off happily.

If you find any skin hanging off the Cottesloe rocks or fragments of shin bone, please return. Rock-hopping with a 12ft rod and a stomach full of beer aint easy!

Again, thanks to those who shared their knowledge to the less experienced.

It's amazing how agile you become on wet rocks when you're onto a monster lol.

Was in fishermans wharf in geraldton once and a giant bathmat decided to stick to the floor after a long run... The guys next to us swore we were snagged, so holding onto the reel, me and a mate pulled with all our bodyweight... To everyone's surprise the sucker came out and turned. Swam away real strong too.

Some of those rugs are unstoppable while some don't seem to fight a whole lot for their size... Nonetheless, awesome creatures.