Bat Ray Blitz

Tuesday at Seal Beach pier was a great day for fishing. Wife and I caught and released 3 small bat rays, dozens of large jacksmelt and mackerel. We fished between 7 a.m. till 1 p.m. during this period 7 other bat rays also caught and released for pier total of 10. Ray's were small, average approximate weight between 4 - 12 lbs. Enough for some good runs and lots of bent rods. All the rays were released unharmed. The hoop net got a good work out! One sad note, a ray that I caught had been previously caught and released. However, the prior "fisherman" cut off the entire tail from directly under the stinger. It was a fresh cut, stinger still on the ray. PLEASE don't remove tail or stinger from rays, it's their defense mechanism.

Wow. Who would do that? Maroon.

Not a very good defense mechanism. Other large sharks think they are great eating. I still would not cut the stinger off though. I do wonder if they grow back on batrays? I know they do on the little round stingrays.

More common than people might think. There was once a member here, in the earlier forums, who had a collection of bat ray stingers. More than 50, I believe.

I do wonder if they grow back on batrays? I know they do on the little round stingrays.

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Yes, they do grow back.

I used to fish for them. Hardy fight, and an ideal way to find out if you fixed your reel the night before. I admired them, kept away from the sharp end*, and let them go unmolested. I don't get trophies. Not my style.

*Except once. I was careless with a young bat ray and got nicked in the right ring finger. MAN, IT HURT! Had to drive home with blood gouting from my hand as I maneuvered the stick shift. First thing I did at home, on instinct, was immerse my hand in ice cold water. DO NOT DO THIS! Absolute agony. Turns out the best thing to do is immerse your hand in hot water. Instant relief and an almost complete cessation of pain. I do not exaggerate.

I was fortunate that this was not a large bat ray. Could have had shards embedded in my wound, and that requires medical attention. And the pain, as bad as it was...well, hard to imagine worse, but it would have been.

I have never kept them either. I have released several hundred though. Hot water denatures the proteins that are in the poison I guess it is.

Nice catch! The few times I've been there resulted in skunks. So very nice!

I suggest release them all.