Please Do Not Cut Off Tails Of Rays

[Fishman Fishman]

Caught this Roundray at Seal Beach pier this morning. The fish had been previously caught and the fisherman cut off it's tail, before releasing it.

The tail and stinger are a defense mechanism for rays. Please do not cut off the tails.

I have attached two photos of Roundrays. One with a tail and one without a tail. Both fish caught today.

Thank you.

 

[Ken Jones]

Agreed that you should never cut the tail off. You can snip the stinger and it will grow back. How stupid!

 

[Fishman Fishman]

Until you have been stung by one or seen a fully grown Man crying out in pain you won’t understand the damage they can do. That being said we just snapped the Stinger in half and they heal stubby. Their only predator is White Sharks and they prey on them no matter whether they have a Stinger or not.

A few years ago I was stung twice by small Roundays on two different occasions. After 50 plus years of fishing. I finally get stung! Old reflexes! It was painful.

Since then, I wear gloves when handling either Batrays or Roundays. Especially the Roundrays, due to their shorter tails that are always whipping around.