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FOM/SH Discussion thread for 2013

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
DafyddRees said:
Scotland/NorthEast has 4 reliable species - Getting to 5 would be a massive accomplishment. I therefore propose any species caught north of the Watford junction should be multiplied by 3.
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Ding Ding Ding I regularly get 5 species when I go out in Scotand. Do I get a prize ?
 
Interesting - pollock, mackeral, coalies and flounder were the big 4 for me!

Saw a handful of small cod, and never came close to seeing any other flattie...a Wolfish would be a crowning glory...a very decent ling was taken a little further south of your regular grounds, but that was a few years ago now... Please enlighten me Grant!
 
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Reading these past few pages only serves to highlight how difficult it must be for MEP,s to debate the fisheries policy !!!! ( do any member countries ,or trawler owners want fish caught at night to not count against quota ?? ) Some do not agree with the proposed format for SH , does anyone have any other suggestions ? ( the simpler the better ! )
 
Reactions: spearo Clark
well said Terry. please guys remember its only meant as a bit of fun personally i have found that targetting a specific species has helped me loads over the last couple of years - so well worth doing [for me]. if you would rather drop the speccie hunt and just do the fom for fun then we can just do that, i am happy to put together whatever peeps want...
i am quite pleased that JMike suggested running the poll [thanks!] as it has shown that actually quite a few folks are open to night caught fishies - much more than i had expected, so a useful excercise... now i hope at least 15 peeps to enter the speccie hunt this year...
 
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i am quite pleased that JMike suggested running the poll [thanks! said:
as it hasshown that actually quite a few folks are open to night caught fishies - much more than i had expected, so a useful excercise... now i hope at least 15 peeps to enter the speccie hunt this year...
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Welcome to the dark side .I for one would not have got some of the fish i did last year if not for night spearing but it does not feel as good day caught fish:head
 
dark side = pneumatics... dont go there...

is everyone ok with understanding the new format of the speccie hunt? if in doubt, enter it!
 
I'm only asking this question as I really do not know!
Can we spear any type of rays? And if so are they good eaters.
I have always had this thought that the skate you see in fishmongers / chippy is ray.
I saw a couple last year nothing massive but left alone as I didn't know if they were off limits.
Hope I haven't opened a can of worms just like a yes or no.
 
haha Lee, you have to decide this one for yourself generally not taken as they are slow to grow/mature/breed. But for example in the channel islands they are very commonly caught by the commercials and we see loads of juveniles at night. best to research you area and trends to decide.
I had one at 12 lb a couple of years ago and it was amazing to eat, second best after turbot, but needs to be prepared properly.
so yes and no
Ray, blonde | FishOnline | The in-depth guide to sustainable seafood
 

Exactly what Jonny said!
Locally they are very rare indeed, but in other places they are more proliffic.
Ask the local angling clubs about ray perhaps?
 
Right if my area or the area that I'm diving rays are common, what is the best way to prepare & cook. Are they slimy or need to be soaked prior to cooking?

Thanks for your quick replies guys.

Lee
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YiafYmAMVg]Passionate About Fish - How to Skin & Fillet Ray / Skate Wings - YouTube[/ame]

Dont forget they excrete ammonia through their skin
 
Thanks buddy I'll sure be looking for them now. Mind you don't think i'll post them up, can see it being a bit controversial. When you see what the commercial boats take, a spearo like me isn't going to harm stocks - might never come across one again who knows?
It is like taking a borderline bass and then you see the reports of illegal gill nets etc etc.
Never take anything that I know is unweight but the odd one isn't harming stocks. Took one couple of years ago that was under size, learn't then if in doubt it is too small and leave alone.

Lee :wave
 
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Some luv them ...................... but usually I prefer less slimy food!!!! LOL

Actually,despite the slime, they are very good eating when prepared well. Not much skill required to catch, easy target when found. Not the best flatty at hiding. Jsy are lucky to have a few about(especially the autumn). A lot of small eyed. and a few blondes and undulate. I sometimes take a few, but flatty wise, Turbot is well at top of my pops, with brill a close second. But if u want a feed, then a decent size ray will do nicely. Good hunting.
 
I buy skate from my local fishmonger quite often ,and I love it !! never sure exactly which species it is ( I think any ray is classed as skate ? ) have not seen one diving for a long time . Scrumpy - do not worry about " depleting local stocks " as you say spearos really do not count for hardly any catch volume , I have just read that Brixham landed 28 million pounds ( value ) last year !!! and Dartmouth and Salcombe "2 million pound worth of crab and lobster !!! not sure what MLS is for rays though, will have to look that up !!
 
Guernsey used to have skate, between the great wars there were several commercial fishermen targeting skate.
My dad told me he saw quite a few landed on long lines that were well over 150lb & that was just after the second world war. last year a friend of mine saw what he thought was a skate while scuba diving & estimated it at over 100lb.
The biggest ray I have seen was a blonde ray, a few years back I came across it while hunting plaice, must of been 30lb maybe more!
Blonde ray are by far the most common around our way & are the main stay of our trawlers annual catch but we get loads of different ones too!
I am like Mike & much prefer other flatfish - although, I will eat ray in a restaurant!
 
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