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catalog Rhinopteridae · predator

cownose ray

Rhinoptera bonasus

EstuarySeaIUCN global: VU · vulnerable

Large stingray with a two-lobed snout that forms huge schools near the coast and eats bottom mollusks. Vulnerable worldwide; the similar raia-ticonha is Critically Endangered in Brazil. If you hook one, release it in the water.

Also called: arraia-gaveta, arraia-boca-de-gaveta, arraia

forecast for cownose ray where found
Scientific illustration of Cownose ray
common size
—
maximum
120 cm
common weight
—
record/max.
— kg
depth
0–22 m
ideal water
22–30 °C
overview

who is the cownose ray

The cownose ray (arraia-gaveta) is a large, schooling ray of shallow Western Atlantic waters, from the coast of the United States to northern Argentina. It lives on continental and island shelves, enters bays and estuaries, and forms huge schools: in the Gulf of Mexico, FishBase cites groups of up to 10,000 animals that leave Florida for Yucatán in autumn. It eats bottom mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with dental plates, and sometimes leaps out of the water and falls back with a loud slap. It matures late, has few young, and is Vulnerable worldwide (IUCN, 2019). In Brazil, the similar species listed as Critically Endangered is the raia-ticonha (Rhinoptera brasiliensis). It is not a target of recreational fishing and often comes up by accident to people fishing the bottom.

fun facts

  • It leaps out of the water from time to time and falls back with a loud slap, probably as a territorial display (FishBase).
  • In the Gulf of Mexico the population migrates clockwise: schools of up to 10,000 stingrays leave the west coast of Florida for Yucatán in autumn (FishBase).
  • It stirs up the bottom in search of mollusks and is reported to damage seagrass beds (FishBase).
  • Reaches maturity at about 65 cm disc width (FishBase).
how to recognize it

identification

Broad diamond-shaped disc, brown to olive on top, unspotted, and white or yellowish below, with long, pointed wings. The group's mark is on the head: a deep groove below the eyes leaves the snout with two well-separated lobes, like a cow's nose (called "cara de vaca" in Cuba; "cownose" in English). The tail is a long whip, with one or two serrated stings near the base. The raia-ticonha (Rhinoptera brasiliensis), of the South Atlantic, is very similar and is Critically Endangered in Brazil; reliable separation requires examining the teeth. In Brazil, treat every two-lobed-snout stingray as protected.

how cownose ray fishing looks

Loading the next 7 days…

Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

Western Atlantic: from New England to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, with migration to Trinidad, Venezuela, Brazil, and Uruguay and occurrence as far south as northern Argentina (FishBase); eastern Atlantic: from Mauritania to Guinea (Florida Museum). In Brazil, FishBase's latitude-based distribution covers the whole coast, but records from the South Atlantic should be treated with caution: the raia-ticonha (R. brasiliensis) looks very similar and lives in the same region, and the two are confused in older records.

Habitat: Continental and island shelves, bays, and estuaries, in shallow water. It swims near the surface in schools and descends to the bottom to stir up sediment in search of mollusks and crustaceans.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf
calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Estimate: no set season for Brazil. FishBase describes a mass migration in the Gulf of Mexico (schools of up to 10,000 stingrays leave the west coast of Florida for Yucatán in autumn), and the Florida Museum says the schools move north in late spring and south in late autumn. It is not a target species.

best time of day

0h6h12h18h sunrise ~6amsunset ~6pm

Any time. The daily rhythm is not well documented. Schools swim near the surface, and the species leaps out of the water from time to time.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the cownose ray
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

A drop in water temperature triggers migration south (Florida Museum); in the South Atlantic the effect is poorly documented.

atmospheric pressure

Not well known.

moon

Not well known.

rain

Not very relevant.

water level

Not applicable at sea.

noise

Not well known.

wind

Rough seas prevent surf fishing and fishing from small boats.

tide

Enters bays and estuaries; the incoming tide brings schools into the shallows (estimate).

depth

From 0 to 22 m (FishBase), near the surface or close to the bottom.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

rod
Not a target species; catches are rare and accidental.
spinning / baitcasting reel
Not applicable.
line
Not applicable.
leader
Not applicable.
hook
Barbless circle hook (or one with the barb flattened) for bottom fishing: it comes out more easily and causes less injury.

accessories

  • cutting pliers
  • long-handled hook remover
  • thick gloves

tip from an angler

If a large stingray takes the bait, don't pull it toward the boat or onto the sand: it is heavy, and the tail sting cuts. Keep it in the water, cut the line close to the hook, and let it go.

what the law says

rules for the cownose ray

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on Brazil's national list (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). Global: Vulnerable (VU, A2bd), assessed on Jun 21, 2019 (IUCN, via FishBase). The similar species Rhinoptera brasiliensis is on the national list as Critically Endangered.

Brazil: the cownose ray (arraia-gaveta) is not on the list, but the similar raia-ticonha is (Critically Endangered, CR)

release every raia-ticonha; R. brasiliensis is protected

The cownose ray (arraia-gaveta, Rhinoptera bonasus) is not on the national list (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026). The raia-ticonha (Rhinoptera brasiliensis, "raia-morcego" on the Fiperj poster), very similar and in the same group, is listed as Critically Endangered (item 361 of Annex I), with catch, transport, and trade banned (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026, art. 3). Since the two species are hard to tell apart in the field, release in the water every two-lobed-snout stingray caught in Brazil. Incidental catch released alive immediately is not an offense (art. 3, § 4).

Source: Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026 (item 361 of Annex I, R. brasiliensis, CR) and Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026, art. 3º

Finning banned: rays and sharks only whole, with their fins

fins naturally attached to the body

In Brazil, finning is banned: catching sharks and rays and keeping only the fins, discarding the rest of the body. The rule covers landing, transport, and trade by fishing vessels: every shark or ray must arrive with its fins naturally attached to the body (partially folding them against the body is allowed); carrying an animal aboard without fins or with loose fins, and transferring sharks and rays between vessels, is prohibited. For rays, removing and discarding the tail on board is permitted (art. 3, § 6, added by IN Interministerial 6/2013).

Source: Instrução Normativa Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 14, of Nov 26, 2012, art. 3º (Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Ministry of Environment)

Buenos Aires (AR): rays in general, up to 2 per day, may be killed

up to 2 per angler per day, the rest releasedconfirm with the agency

In recreational sea fishing in the province of Buenos Aires, "chuchos" (Myliobatis) and "rayas en general" (rays in general) fall under the "pesca variada con reserva" (mixed fishing with reserve) category: only up to 2 fish per angler per day may be retained and killed, and any surplus must be released on the spot (arts. 4 and 10 and Annex 1); what is retained counts within the 40-piece limit of mixed fishing. Once the quota is filled, fishing may continue with release, keeping the animal out of the water for as little time as possible and without touching the gills (art. 18). The standard does not name Rhinoptera; the cownose ray (arraia-gaveta) falls here because it is a ray (our interpretation). Selling recreational catch is prohibited (art. 24).

Source: Disposición nº 217/2007, arts. 4º, 10, 18 and 24 and Annex 1 (Directorate of Fishing Development, Ministry of Agrarian Affairs of the Province of Buenos Aires)

Mexico: up to 10 fish per day and no more than 5 of the same species

10 fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species

NOM-017 does not single out rays: in recreational sport fishing in Mexican marine waters, the general limit of ten fish per angler per day and a maximum of five of the same species apply (item 4.9.1 a). Fish over the limit may only be returned alive, in good survival condition (item 4.9.5), and recreational catch may not be sold (item 4.11). Recreational fishing also may not take place in closed areas and seasons or in protected natural areas without the appropriate permits (item 4.10). The cownose ray (arraia-gaveta) is Vulnerable worldwide: prefer to release it.

Source: NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing), amendment published in the DOF, items 4.9.1 a, 4.9.5, 4.10 and 4.11 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

Mexico: NOM-029-PESC-2006 regulates commercial shark and ray fishing

NOM-029 is the standard for commercial-scale shark and ray fishing: it applies to holders of permits for targeting these animals and to those who catch them by chance (item 1.2), and it covers commercial fishing vessels (item 4.2.1); recreational fishing has its own standard, NOM-017. It prohibits keeping only the fins of sharks (item 4.2.1) and provides for closed seasons and closed zones, set by notice in the DOF, for targeted fishing (items 4.2.3 and 4.3.4: no targeted fishing in a closed season, within 5 km of coral reefs, in front of river mouths and lagoons, in front of turtle nesting beaches, or near sea lion colonies). The text cites the genus Rhinoptera among the rays whose populations suffer most from fishing (recital 0.11), and the species appears in Normative Appendix A as "gavilán, cabeza de vaca, tecolotillos" in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Source: NOM-029-PESC-2006, Responsible shark and ray fishing (DOF Feb 14, 2007), items 1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.3.4 and Normative Appendix A (Sagarpa)

Mexico: annual closed seasons for sharks and rays (check the dates for the year)

confirm with the agency

NOM-017 (item 4.10 a) prohibits recreational fishing in closed zones and seasons, and NOM-029 (item 4.2.3) requires the authority to set closed seasons for sharks and rays by notice in the DOF; the dates change and vary by coast. On Aug 1, 2025, the Secretaría de Agricultura and Conapesca announced, for the Pacific coast, the use of sharks and rays from August 1 to April 30 (May to July are excluded, our interpretation from the announcement) and, in Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán, a closed season from August 1 to 29. We did not find the official notice in force in 2026: confirm the dates with Conapesca before fishing.

Source: NOM-017-PESC-1994, item 4.10 a; NOM-029-PESC-2006, item 4.2.3; Crónica note on the Agricultura and Conapesca announcement of Aug 1, 2025

Colombia: marine sharks and rays are not fishery resources

commercial or sport extraction not permittedconfirm with the agency

In 2021 Colombia stopped considering sharks and marine rays a fishery resource and began treating them as a hydrobiological resource; the recitals of Decree 281/2021 state that they may not be extracted for commercial or sport purposes, and the decree created an environmental protection plan. Later AUNAP rules dealt with incidental catch in artisanal fishing; we did not check the consolidated text. When in doubt, release it into the water.

Source: Decreto nº 281, of Mar 18, 2021 (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development), which adds Section 27 to Decree 1076/2015; Resolución AUNAP nº 0380/2021

Panama: sharks and rays may not be caught in recreational fishing

catch, retention, and landing banned (from about Dec 10, 2026)

Executive Decree 9/2026 (art. 19) bans, throughout the national territory and in sport, recreational, or tourism fishing, the catch, retention, handling for recreational purposes, use, and landing of sharks and rays (subclass Elasmobranchii). If one is hooked by accident, it must be released immediately, without taking it fully out of the water and without unnecessary handling. It is also prohibited to promote them as targets in tournaments (art. 19) and to sell the catch (art. 20). The decree takes effect six months after its promulgation on June 10, 2026 (art. 40), around Dec 10, 2026, and repeals Resuelto ADM/ARAP 002/2012 (art. 39). Confirm the date with ARAP.

Source: Decreto Ejecutivo nº 9, of Jun 10, 2026, arts. 19, 20, 39 and 40 (Ministry of Agricultural Development / Panama Aquatic Resources Authority, Gaceta Oficial nº 30543-E)

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

A heavy stingray, with serrated, mildly venomous stings near the base of the tail (FishBase: a traumatogenic species). Keep it in the water, cut the line as close to the hook as possible, and let it go. Do not lift it by the tail, snout, or gills, and do not drag it across the sand.

in the kitchen

FishBase records small-scale commercial fishing, and the Florida Museum says there is no established market. In Brazil, field identification is uncertain and the similar species is protected: the best practice is to release it. Where retention is allowed, the quotas in the rules section apply.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01202, b = 2.98; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

—

sources and references

The season factors (months), the time of day, the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water, and noise), and the water temperature range are editorial estimates by the app, supported by FishBase and the literature cited below, without measurements of its own for this species. The months indicate when an angler may find the species near the coast, not a catch season. They are not official data and may vary by region and year. Legal rules appear in the rules section, with the standard and link.

  1. scientific FishBase: Rhinoptera bonasus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026. The published maximum weight (953 g) does not match the species' own length-weight relationship, which gives about 19 kg for a 120 cm disc width; for that reason this profile does not show a maximum weight.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Rhinoptera bonasusNames by country and language.
  3. official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
  4. official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666, de 27 de abril de 2026: regras e restrições para as espécies ameaçadas da lista nacionalArt. 3: full protection for EW, CR, EN, and VU species (catching, transporting, storing, holding, handling, processing, and trading are banned); § 4: the restriction does not apply to incidental catch when the animal is released alive; art. 12: for species added to the list by a new ordinance, the art. 3 bans start 180 days after publication. Text checked in the DOU on Oct 13, 2026.
  5. official Fiperj: Peixes cartilaginosos marinhos ameaçados de extinção (Portarias GM/MMA 1.666 e 1.667/2026), atualizado em 11/05/2026Poster from the Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, with common names and categories of the cartilaginous fish species on the list; it states that the changes apply from Oct 27, 2026. Checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  6. official Instrução Normativa Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 14, de 26 de novembro de 2012: desembarque, transporte, armazenamento e comércio de tubarões e raias (proibição do finning)Text from Sislegis/MAPA (DOU of Nov 28, 2012), checked on Oct 13, 2026. § 6 of art. 3 (allowing the tail of rays to be discarded on board) was added by IN Interministerial 6/2013.
  7. official México: Modificación a la NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa), DOFOfficial text in the Diario Oficial de la Federación; items 4.9.1, 4.9.5, 4.10, and 4.11 checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  8. official México: NOM-029-PESC-2006, pesca responsável de tubarões e raias (DOF de 14/02/2007)Copy of the text published in the DOF, on the standardization platform of the Secretaría de Economía. Items 1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.3, and 4.3.4 and Normative Appendix A checked on Oct 13, 2026. The standard was written for commercial fishing; recreational fishing has its own standard, NOM-017.
  9. press Crónica: Anuncian periodos de veda y aprovechamiento de especies marinas (Agricultura e Conapesca, 01/08/2025)Press note reproducing the announcement by the Secretaría de Agricultura and Conapesca for sharks and rays in the Pacific and in Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán. The official notice in force in 2026 was not found; confirm the dates with Conapesca.
  10. official Colômbia: Decreto 281 de 2021 (proteção e conservação de tubarões, raias marinhas e quimeras), Gestor Normativo da Função PúblicaRecitals and rules of the decree on marine sharks and rays. Later AUNAP changes on incidental catch were not checked.
  11. official Panamá: Decreto Ejecutivo nº 9, de 10 de junho de 2026 (pesca deportiva), Gaceta Oficial Digital nº 30543-EArt. 19 (ban on catching, retaining, and landing sharks and rays in recreational fishing), art. 20 (ban on sales), art. 39 (repeals Resuelto ADM/ARAP 002/2012), and art. 40 (in force after six months). Art. 19 checked in the text on Oct 13, 2026.
  12. official Província de Buenos Aires: Disposição nº 217/2007 (regulamento da pesca esportiva marítima)Official text on the website of the Dirección de Pesca bonaerense (La Plata, Dec 6, 2007), checked on Oct 13, 2026: arts. 4, 6, 7, 9 to 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, and 24 and Annexes 1 and 2.
  13. scientific Museu de História Natural da Flórida: Rhinoptera bonasus (perfil da espécie)Diet (bivalve mollusks, crustaceans), schools, migration, tail stings, gestation of 11 to 12 months, and IUCN assessment. The museum cites 213 cm disc width as a record, a value we did not adopt: we follow FishBase's 120 cm.
don't confuse

similar species

Illustration of Whitespotted eagle ray
Aetobatidae

Whitespotted eagle ray

Aetobatus narinari

Ray with a flattened snout like a duck's bill and a dark back covered in white spots, that swims near the surface and sometimes leaps out of the water. Not on Brazil's list of threatened species, but Endangered (EN) in the IUCN global assessment.

EstuarySea
time of yearbest: Dec–Mar