Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

The Smooth Butterfly Ray is a broad, diamond-shaped ray with a very short tail.

The top is gray, brown or light green, dotted with paler and darker spots. The belly is white.

The tail has 3 to 4 dark crossbars.

This species has some ability to adapt its shade to that of the bottom.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and Inland Bays
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	The Smooth Butterfly Ray prefers coastal waters and is usually found on soft bottoms. This species is also known to enter brackish estuaries. They feed on fishes, crabs, shrimps, and squids.
Did You Know?	The Smooth Butterfly Ray is not dangerous, as it does not possess spines. Be careful not to confuse the Smooth Butterfly Ray with the spinytail butterfly ray which does have a spine at the base of its tail.
Common Lures and Baits	Often despised by fisherman, Smooth Butterfly Rays are usually caught accidentally by anglers fishing for other species. It will readily take baits such as squid strips, pieces of peeler crabs, and clams.
Typical Sizes Caught	Smooth Butterfly Rays can have wingspans as wide as 48 inches.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Smooth Butterfly Rays are not currently eligible for a Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament or Live Release award.
Delaware State Record	Smooth Butterfly Rays are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

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