Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera bonasus
How to tell it
Lobed cow-nose forehead, wings flap like a bird.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 3 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person (state default) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person (state default) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 30 lb 5.6 oz | 2023 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 50.5 lb | 1986 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Rarely eaten.
In the app
Point the camera at a cownose ray and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about cownose ray
How many cownose ray can you keep?
Alabama: 3 per person; Florida (Atlantic): 2 fish or 100 lb per person (state default); Florida (Gulf): 2 fish or 100 lb per person (state default).
What is the record cownose ray?
50.5 lb in Texas (1986), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.