Atlantic stingray?

Type: Tidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Sassafras River

My wife caught this Atlantic stingray (I think?) while catfishing in the Sassafras River between Betterton and Howell Point on June 7th. I have fished the upper, upper bay for 50 years and had never seen or heard of a stingray being caught up here before. The water temperature was 73 degrees on an outgoing tide and no salt! Have you had reports of this species in these waters before? It seemed unusual for a wet and cold Spring.

We also caught 29 nice, healthy channel cats using shrimp.

DNR Answer: Our staff biologist, Angel Willey has confirmed it is an Atlantic stingray. This species is tolerant of fresh and brackish waters. Low salinity is apparently not an issue for this stingray, there is a year-round freshwater population in the St. Johns River in Florida.