Manta Rays in Orange Beach
We love it when a Manta Ray breaches and jumps completely out of the water and flips in front of our charter boat. Most of the ones we see in Orange Beach are cousins of the giant ones that live in equatorial waters around the world. Some fishermen call them Bat Rays. We call them a wonderful treat to see.
Some Manta Rays wingspan is 25' and they weigh close to 2000 pounds. The average one we see in Alabama waters are anywhere from 5' to 15' and weigh between 80 to over 500 pounds. Manta Rays are filter feeders that filter the water for plankton, fish eggs and like material. They have a slimy, mucus present on their skin and are often accompanied by Remoras that stick to them.
From time to time, we see these Manta Rays swim beside our boat and are simply cruising along while we are deep-sea fishing. Their wingtips are pointed and stick out of the water like a shark fin. Some guests scream "SHARK" but after further viewing, see that they are really one Manta Ray simply cruising along just beneath the surface. They usually do not slow down to catch a picture. Most of us charter boat operators can stay close to them without harming them in order for you to take a snapshot or two.
We hope this information about Orange Beach Manta Rays encourages you to want to explore the Gulf of Mexico. We look forward to seeing you on the water soon.