Why is it frowned upon to keep skate/rays these days?
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Why is it frowned upon to keep skate/rays these days?
I have been wondering this for a while. Sea Angler mag just jogged my memory. I used to eat Skate when I was a child. Apparently any ray was referred to as Skate by the fishmongers.
As far as I am aware they are quite prolific and certainly not endangered so why does everyone put them back?
I have never caught one but I'm not quite sure what I would do with it if I did. Thought I'd better ask beforehand.
As far as I am aware they are quite prolific and certainly not endangered so why does everyone put them back?
I have never caught one but I'm not quite sure what I would do with it if I did. Thought I'd better ask beforehand.
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Hi, my theory is simple, in the bad old days (last week i think it was) a lot of anglers did'nt just fish for sport, it was a cheap way of feeding the kids a few times a week. But over the years, things have changed, and most anglers fish mainly for the sport, consequently, a lot of fish have been classed as sport fish, and therefore get put back. Cheers..Mick
PS, thankfully i dont need to feed my kids, otherwise i would be in big trouble.
PS, thankfully i dont need to feed my kids, otherwise i would be in big trouble.

rays/skate/roker etc,was a favourite on the fishmongers slab some time ago,and therefore was quite extensively commercially fished,this reduced the numbers . and i think alot of the species take along time to reach breeding maturity,therefore numbers are only now starting to increase.so a CnR policy is looked upon as the correct thing to do.but i dont mind a bit of skate n chips once a year
all the best
Andy
all the best
Andy
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Keeping your catch is an individual choice and you should not be swayed by the opinions of others imho. If a fish is within minimum landing size and you want to eat it, keep it. I personally dont think you would be doing too much harm to the eco-system if you take the odd one now and then. If a fish is badly hooked or injured it may not survive release.
Having said that I return most of what I catch and never keep wrasse, ray huss or conger.
Having said that I return most of what I catch and never keep wrasse, ray huss or conger.
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Ray meat is quite nice from memory. Once went out of Swansea on a chater way back in the days of studenthood. Had a 17lb thornback. The wings were really meaty apart from the thorns which probably should have removed before cooking.
The skipper also removed the cheek muscles which I remember to be 2 beautiful lumps of meat which I cooked deep fried in a bit of batter.
To be honest these days I'd probably put the rays back and stick to eating the mackerel and the "white" fish that appear.
The skipper also removed the cheek muscles which I remember to be 2 beautiful lumps of meat which I cooked deep fried in a bit of batter.
To be honest these days I'd probably put the rays back and stick to eating the mackerel and the "white" fish that appear.