Rays

[ReefTroll]

So, I have a dilemma, I am in two minds about rays.
On one hand is it an unethical creature to shoot?
On the other, if it IS ok, how DO you shoot one? Aim between the eyes and then, if he's alive, fight a VERY well armed opponent??

So would you shoot one, are they as good eating as I've heard?
What sort of size would you suggest?

I might be an Aussie but we don't all wish to follow on from poor Steve Irwin...

 

[Jonny250]

Hey Reefy, maybe avoid the stingrays?
imo they are very good eating if prepared properly.
the rest will probably depend on numbers in your area...?

 

[ReefTroll]

We only get stingrays sadly, the only friendly rays we have are cownose rays and they still have a sting, but that's besides the point as they're a gorgeous thing and definitely not a table fish of any thoughts.
Maybe a smaller maskray. I'll let my buddy deal with one first

 

[fishimani]

For rays i have always found it best to shoot them dead on from the nose to tail, that way you have positive control of the fish... keep your distance from the (presumably large) ray but just leaving about 20 feet of line out.... drag it up onto shore...[you don't want to work with a pissed off ray in the water]... i always placed my fin over top of the barb and held it down with my foot until i severed it entirely.... dispatch it (i gill them because the brain is kind of tough to get)... and they are wiley buggers... they play possum the same way sharks do. So keep your wits about you and good luck!

 

[Apneaddict]

I was with a spearo in Cuba that shot a spotted eagle ray directly in the head, top-down and it didn't kill it. It was 8-ft across and 350lbs! It took a few of us for a ride! What power!! Huge surface area of their wings. Having a second or 3rd gun would have been easier / safer / smarter.

I wouldn't shoot one - but he wanted to feed his family.

 

[slingshaft]

There is nothing unethical about shooting Rays, There are gazillions of them since virtually no one shoots them.
I don't have any recipes.
Cheers.

 

[Apneaddict]

It's not exactly a sporting shot tho.

I like to have skill, patience and breathhold / stealth to be more of a factor, as opposed to floating on the surface waiting for a ray to swim under your path.

 

[poildeq]

I cook them but it has to be skinned and its very sliippperry...the only edible parts r the wings which you can pan fry in butter, once the wings r cooked remove it and press a whole lemon in the hot butter which you then pour over the wings while still hot...with a little parsley of course.

 

[Irishdiver]

I agree they are not a very sporting kill as they are very easy to shoot moving slowly along the bottom(apart from eagle rays or heaven forbid Mantas which you definatly should not shoot) However if you do really want to eat one remember they are b*#stards to kill. Near impossible to finish off in the water with that tail flying about and nobody's going to be too pleased if you toss it alive into the boat to finish off later! No your best bet is to drag it to shore and try and either cut the tail off or kill it there.
They do taste good but be carefull :naughty

 

[scubatom]

Dont shoot rays! they are amazing majestic creatures. its just weak

 

[scubatom]

its like shooting a seal IMO you just dont do it

 

[J Campbell]

Someone above said "I agree they are not a very sporting kill as they are very easy to shoot moving slowly along the bottom(apart from eagle rays or heaven forbid Mantas which you definatly should not shoot)"

So are Mantas dangerous? will they attack, or is it just that they are so beautiful.

 

[Apneaddict]

its like shooting a seal IMO you just dont do it

As a Canadian, I couldn't agree more.

The accepted traditional way, is to club them.

Which brings me to this non-profit awareness campaign:

 

[J Campbell]

Yes, by using a club you don't damage the valuable pelt.

 

[scubatom]

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[J Campbell]

JK - I don't actually endorse killing baby seals.

 

[guanacaste]

So are Mantas dangerous? will they attack, or is it just that they are so beautiful.

They are not dangerous aside from that they're huge and you'd probably need a boat to tow it back in because you can't wrestle with a 500+lb manta and you'd need a very specific shot to murder it in one go. Then everyone at the docks would crucify you anyway, so why bother.

"Manta rays are large eagle rays belonging to the genus Manta. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft)."

"With a wing span that can reach 20 feet and a body weight known to exceed 3,000 pounds."

So have fun shooting those beasts.

As for other rays... I don't see why not but there doesn't seem to be too much fun in that since they just swim around slowly eating plankton looking all awesome and so forth. If you're subsistence fishing then it makes sense but if you're out for The Hunt there's not much hunting in shooting rays.

 

[J Campbell]

Thanks Guanacaste. I remember seeing an underwater pic somewhere of dozens of Mantas swimming in a school. It was awesome pic. I hope one day to swim in such a school!

 

[guanacaste]

Thanks Guanacaste. I remember seeing an underwater pic somewhere of dozens of Mantas swimming in a school. It was awesome pic. I hope one day to swim in such a school!

I came across a pair of them a couple of months ago and promptly got out of their way, but they are really fun to watch... very graceful.

 

[J Campbell]

Got out of their way - why? I mean if they are harmless?