Saltwater · Northern
Ray - Manta
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
RAY
Season
--Boat-based Anglers-- Open: May 1-Oct 31 and Nov 1-Dec 31 Closed: Jan 1-April 30 --Divers and Shore-based Anglers-- Open year-round
Depth limit
May 1 - Oct 31: Take is prohibited seaward of the 30-fathom (180 feet) depth contour, as defined in federal regulations Nov 1 - Dec 31: May be taken at any depth
Daily bag limit
--10 fish --Counts in 20 fish daily total
Minimum size
None
Gear restrictions
Method of take: When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or a double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank
Identification
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Manta. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 23 feet in width, while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 18 feet 1 inch. Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths Mantas are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic; M. birostris migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while M. alfredi tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton, which they gather with their open mouths as they swim. However, research suggests that the majority of their diet actually comes from feeding on fish and other organisms that inhabit areas of the sea between 200 and 650 and 3,330 ft below the surface. Gestation lasts over a year, and mantas give birth to live pups. Mantas may visit cleaning stations for the removal of parasites. Like whales, they breach for unknown reasons. Both species are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Anthropogenic threats include pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and direct harvesting for their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine. Their slow reproductive rate exacerbates these threats. They are protected in international waters by the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals but are more vulnerable closer to shore. Areas, where mantas congregate, are popular with tourists. Only a few public aquariums are large enough to house them.