Biggest Sting Ray I Have Ever Seen, and CAUGHT!

[beachbunker732]

I think you're right, that looks just like it! But... I keep reading that their maximum wing span is around 3-4 feet... If that's the case, could mine, absolutely shattering those estimates at 7', have been a world record Smooth Butterfly Ray!?!

Originally Posted by tjd24

Your pic was driving my crazy. Had to find species.
Looks like a Smooth Butterfly Ray.
Good job on a great catch & release.

[tjd24]

That's 3-4 feet per lobe. Meaning 6 to 8 feet total. They call it Disc Width.
Check out www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/SmoothbflyRay they show pics of some big ones.

[beachbunker732]

Gotcha. Thank you! Still, this thing was surely reaching it's maximum size!!

Originally Posted by tjd24

That's 3-4 feet per lobe. Meaning 6 to 8 feet total. They call it Disc Width.
Check out www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/SmoothbflyRay they show pics of some big ones.

[tjd24]

I agree. They don't much bigger than that one.
Well done.

[SaltLife1980]

Wow.. what a monster!!

Amazing that you were able to get him ashore.. Great Job!

[lunkertaker]

Ya just never know what is lurking in the surf.

Nice catch and remarkable landing...and assuming subsequent release?

Great pics.

[kurtisb]

My daughter caught one of those in Maryland last month on a bucktail. It wasn't nearly as big, maybe 5 feet across. My grand daughter hooked a cow nose ray on the same trip, I ended up bringing it to the boat. It is an adrenaline rush when you hook up with one of those things.

[reefsquater]

Looks like a big ole female southern stingray to me, those wings aint all that bad eating either.

[reefsquater]

ScratCh that, not with that little tail

[joeya78]

kudos to you on that landing!