Honeycomb Ray
Gymnura natalensis
Also known as: Butterfly ray, honeycomb ray
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
A very broad, short-tailed ray of sandy bays that produces heavy, grinding fights on the sand.
Field guide
Very broad, short-tailed diamond disc with fine mottled pattern; short tail.
Sandy bays and estuary mouths
Common 10-40 kg; over 60 kg
Ambushes fish and crustaceans buried in sand
Powerful, sustained runs and dogged head-shaking — big fish test heavy tackle and your stamina rather than jumping.
Diamond ray, butterfly ray
How to catch Honeycomb Ray
Medium-heavy surf outfit
Large baitrunner spinning reel (8000–14000) or a 6/0–9/0 conventional with 300 m+ line capacity and a strong, smooth drag.
0.50–0.70 mm mono or 50–80 lb braid for the mainline.
8/0–12/0 non-stainless circle hooks (rust out if a deep-hooked fish is released).
1.5–2 m of 100–300 lb mono trace; multi-strand wire or cable for toothy sharks.
Prawn, crab, fish baits
When to catch Honeycomb Ray
Summer, moving tide
Feeds hard on moving water, especially the push and after dark; spring tides and a warm current switch them on.
Warm months; tide over moon
Most active in warmer water, roughly 18–23 °C, especially when bait shoals are inshore.
🥅 Landing
On the beach, use the swash to slide the fish onto wet sand; from rocks, lead it to a safe gulley. Never gaff a shark you plan to release.
♻️ Release
Keep it in the water, support the body, remove the hook with a de-hooker or cut the trace close, then revive it upright facing the current until it swims off strongly.
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