Do Sting Rays have a tendency to hit Shrimp and then when you get 10 feet to them they spit the bait?

Question

I hooked something big in Florida and it kept going in forward and back...like I felt him on the line then didn't, then felt him then didn't...was this probably a ray. I went fishing right off the beach in Fort Myers beach.

Answer 1

I have caught a lot of rays using shrimp.....I have never had one spit it out I have always landed them. it is possible that yours did spit it out

Answer 2

It could have been a crab also.  They tend to clean your hook off pretty quickly and then be gone.

Answer 3

It doesn't sound like a Sting Ray.  Sting rays will usually put up a big fight then lay down on the bottom.  If it is a very small ray, you may be able to pull him in but with large rays that lay down on the bottom, it is very difficult to get them to move at all.  You can try to "twang" the line to irritate him and that sometimes gets him moving again but I usually just get it as close as I safely can then cut the line.

You may have had small fish that took the bait but didn't get the "rather large hook".  It just kept nibbling the bait until it took it all.  Sometimes it feels like a big tug then it just lets go.

I'd advise using a smaller hook if you are using shrimp for bait.