rays/losing gear
Submitted by JIM1 on Thu, 2011-06-02 21:44
last weekend me and a mate hooked onto a couple of rays down at eshed, i dont know much about the norm on them if people like to eat them or what ever. so when i realised what it was not long into the battle i was prepared to cut my rig off after the fight, my mate on the other hand (using my gear) wanted to gaff his up so he could get the rig back and i ended up cutting the line as the damage to the ray isnt worth the rig.
do people eat these or what, after the whole steve irwin thing im not keen on getting to close even thou the chances are very slim, are they protected or?
____________________________________________________________________________
Gravity Sucks
.thumbnail.JPG "More Exmouth Pics")
Nickjg
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 07/10/10
I doubt it
I doubt they are protected, last year in dunsbourough I saw 3 rays on the beach stripped of meat
Everydays a good day for fishing
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Some
Some people eat them. Personaly i have never killed one in 30 years of fishing.
I hook a lot on the beach and cant be bothered fighting or handling them. I usualy point my rod straight at them in the water , grab my spool and walk backwards untill the line breaks, the line nearly always breaks at the knot on the rig.
JIM1
Posts: 318
Date Joined: 08/05/11
i cant imagin they would be
i cant imagin they would be to fun off the beach! good info thou
Gravity Sucks
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
i target rays on the big rod,
i target rays on the big rod, not protected as far as i know, and i dont eat them.
With the rays it depends on their size
Under 10kg lifted onto the platform with gaff in mouth(platform is freshly wetted)
Rig removed..
With rays from 10kg to 50kg bring to the first rock and gaff in mouth, slide them onto the first rock throw a wet towel on their tail and stand on it. Flip over and remove rig, flip back over and slide back in.
Any thing heavier gets very tricky on rocks so cut as close as possible...
On beach,however any size ray will be gaffed in mouth, flipped over, rig removed etc...
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
buschy
Posts: 626
Date Joined: 27/11/09
Poor Mans Scallops
I used to eat skate a bit back in the UK and it's actually quite nice. I've never kept a ray in Aus though and why anyone would want to kill some of the bigger rays I will never understand. Once they get past a certain age, like many fish, surely the quality of the meat must deteriorate. Also considering that they are the ultimate scavengers that feed off of anything and everything this has to impact the taste of the meat.
Have caught a dozen or so rays in the last couple of years fishing, some of which have been huge. Glad to say I have let every single one go and in the above situation I would not hesitate to bring the ray to the surface then cut the line to save the fish.
JIM1
Posts: 318
Date Joined: 08/05/11
found memories as a kid
found memories as a kid watching them at jetties at night down south, id have to try it in a restraunt before i thought of catching one to eat.
Gravity Sucks
John_M
Posts: 967
Date Joined: 17/01/10
Small ones eat well, but IMO
Small ones eat well, but IMO would rather see one swim away. Far better fish to target if you want a feed....
sherbert
Posts: 4717
Date Joined: 10/09/06
I removed eight sets of hooks
From one in port dennison, And it was ok after- Some were very rusted and close to fulling out
Assassin landbase fishing club
JIM1
Posts: 318
Date Joined: 08/05/11
got a good point there.. if
got a good point there.. if possible it might be worth taking a look to see you can aid them a bit if you can land em
Gravity Sucks
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Agree
I dont always snap them off (should have said in my previous post )
If they are not too big i do remove the rig. Its good practice to try and remove hooks from all fish to be released, but if i cant then i think cutting the hook of is better than damaging the fish by tearing the rig out of its gut or gills.
JIM1
Posts: 318
Date Joined: 08/05/11
id hate to be a fish hey,
id hate to be a fish hey, wouldnt be fun being hooked haha
Gravity Sucks
hk85
Posts: 85
Date Joined: 04/01/10
If you go to thailand or
If you go to thailand or penang they have fresy ray fillets on ice for like 50c which they then coat in a curry paste and fry on a grill. Gave it a shot and it is actually really, really nice.
I think once you see them close up when diving or even at under water world or in the shark bay marine park where they literally come up to you and start playing I think you wouldn't be able to harm one.
I think they are pretty hardy creatures overall, and good on the chew, but not worth killing for the wings imo. If you have a quiet nights fishing, sometimes you do welcome a ray. Sometimes....
mulloway_hunter
Posts: 470
Date Joined: 18/04/11
haha yea eagal rays fry up
haha yea eagal rays fry up pretty good and why would u bust off a ray it could always be a mulloway you never know