Southern Stingray(Dasyatis americana)

Quick Facts

  • Size Range: Up to 200 pounds
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: fair edibility

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 185.8lbs
  • State Record Date: 7/1/2013
  • State Record Holder “Bebe” McElroy

With a dark brown to grey back and white belly, the southern stingray is a bottom dwelling fish. Both eyes are on the upper side of the stingray just in front of two large spiracles or openings where they take in water and pass it by the mouth and through gill openings on the underside. They have a spine on the base of tail that they use for defense. Their barb does not sting as many people claim, but it is serrated and covered with a venomous slime that causes severe pain if you are impaled. Hot water helps control the pain; seek medical attention to prevent infection.

Southern stingray inhabit the eastern Atlantic in North and South America and the Gulf of Mexico. They are very common on sandy or mud bottoms and around reefs and structures. They feed on fish, crustaceans and mollusks that they find in the bottom and suck out with their mouths on the underside.

 

Related Habitats:
Other Fin Fish Species: Mahogany Snapper Spotted Bass Warmouth Longear Sunfish Flathead Catfish Bonnethead Shark Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Banded Rudderfish
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Related Fishing Methods

Bottom fishing is normally about fishing bottom structures in order to target benthic or bottom dwelling fish. There are a wide variety of techniques, but the common element is the targeting of species who dwell around or hide in natural and man-made structures. Fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and catfish would be considered bottom fish. It is very popular amongst anglers and success is often determined by the fishermen's ability to crank a fish away from the structure before the fish can duck into it and cut the line. Anchoring or drifting the boat over the structure is key to having success. There are many versions, and many of the bottom fish are prized eating.

Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.

Live bait is a term given to many different types of fish, crustaceans, insects and worms that are popular food items for fish and used by fishermen for bait. There are many benefits to live bait as well as a few cons. The pros normally out weigh the negatives, and live bait is widely used. The biggest benefit for fishermen is that they are using the real thing and often puts a fish's guard down. Small fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, crickets and the good ole earthworm are all used to entice a fish to the hook. The only negatives to live bait is just that, keeping it alive. Sometimes catching it can be a challenge, as only some species can be bought as live bait. No matter how you get it, live bait is a great way to target many types of fish.