This, I think, is a juvenile spotted eagle ray. These guys get big - I've seen big ones jump down here, like 8-10 feet across. They look like manta rays. I've never caught one surf fishing before but caught three this day.

Do ya eat them or throw them back?

Threw it back. I don't know if you can eat these or not.

I'm not a 'catch and release nazi' by any long stretch of the imagination, but I try to be nice to all the non-targeted critters that happen upon one of my hooks. Some of the odd things I've released on the beach:

Sea turtles

BIG stingrays

Toadfish (ugliest thing you've ever seen)

Seagulls

Pelicans

Man, it's wild how this site triggers memories ...

I had a seagull diving after my drag bait once . . . the dang thing got hooked thru the nostril. What a wild catch and release that was . . .

I've caught my share of Stingrays.....in fact, I've actually hunted them before.

I caught a pelican once too.

Pelicans HATE being caught.

arent immation scallops made from rays?

That's what they say but I don't know for sure. You're supposed to eat the wings, I hear. I know I've seen straight-up stingray on the menu at a restaurant up in Connecticut... just proving that yankees are nuts...

I'd eat it to try it, but I ain't cleanin' one.

I hear you LMS, their skin is tough as a Goodyear. I couldn't imagine skinning and gutting it.

My Vic Dunaway book says that you can eat the wings.

No thanks..........I'll stick with black duck eggs.

caught my share of Toadfish fugly

I caught an albino blue heron on a yellow jointe rappala once at my old bosses pond.

It landed on the bank across from me and i flipped it over there just to see the reaction of the thing.. low and behold it crept down to it and BAM... i had a flopping big ass white bird on the end of my line... it would have been funny to film. He eventually got off and flew into the sunset!! haaa

true story..

v

thats just a cool looking critter!!! do they feel rough like a shark or slimy?

v

Sharky.

This kind can't sting you. So they say. I still pinned its tail down with my flee rake.

Vic Dunaway Book ?

Eagle rays are a gorgeous animal. I love diving with them. They look like a dolphin from the side (like flipper) and seem to smile at you.

You can eat ray, and I have before (somebody will criticise me saying that I'm trying to brag, but oh well....). Really easy to clean. Use a really sharp knife to slice the wings off, then skin the wings just like a catfish. Batter the wings, and fry them. The meat is white and flakes off. In the center of the wing is a membrane like a tendon.....just eat one side, then flip it over and eat the other.

Thanks for not eathing this fella though. I like rays.

"Sport Fish of Florida"

Vic Dunaway - founding editor of Florida Sportsman Magazine.

One of my favorite books. It has an excellent drawing of every gamefish on each page, and then information on;

Other Names

Range

Habitat

Description

Size

Food Value

Game Qualities

Tackle/Baits

Fishing Systems

This ray isn't in it, but the stingray is....and it says they are good (taste like scallops).

I've seen these on Amazon.........and there are other versions for other regions (including freshwater), as well as other books on equipment, rigging, etc.

That Bomb's a Dud . . .

?

You'll figure it out . . .

I think I have......you got mail.