At this point, staying out of the water is the only sure way to prevent being stung. If you are stung, an anti itch lotion will help relieve the discomfort of the painful stings. Stingrays Anyone who walks in the surf zone along the coast needs to know about stingrays. Some species inhabit the shallow waters commonly used by anglers and swimmers. The sting from a stingray comes from a serrated edged barb at the base of the fish's tail.
People are stung when they accidentally step on a stingray.
It is the fish's way of protecting itself from what it considers a threat. The best way to avoid being stung is to shuffle your feet rather than taking normal steps. Shuffling increases the chances that, if a sting ray is in the area, you will only bump into the edge of the animal. That usually sends the stingray scurrying off to a safer place rather than initiating a defensive response. Wearing a pair of old sneakers when walking through shallow waters, is also a good idea especially if you're surf fishing.