Stingers

hi all
i'm planning on trying for a stingray in the near future and i'm not too
keen on being impaled by one! so my questions are how do i handle such a fish without hurting it or me? also the recommened baits?

Just catch them by the tail so they won't bite you :) :) .










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Please ignore the above advice

hold it by the side of the nose each side with the back facing away from you.

fish baits, large fish baits, mack, herring, squid etc etc

thanks john at least it would be exciting grabbing them by the tail..
thanks steve i think i'l be ignoring johns advice and hopefully i'll need yours will let you know how i get on

Hi Sully,

It's been really sad to see... but there's quite a few stingers been washed up around the bay here during the past two weeks. It happens every year with these fish. Anglers are scared of them after they catch them and don't know what to do. Between handling the fish badly and returning them anglers are unwittingly killing these fish, they're am lot more delicate than people realise and not half as scary...

If you must weigh the fish use a sling of some sort. I use the netting from an old net - don't hang a 50lb+ fish off the bluddy scales by it's mouth.

You can stand on the tail and just wrap an old tea towel around the barb if you like and then work away with the fish - remove the towel as you release the fish.

Alternatively turn him over i.e. deal with the fish from the belly side - they can't swing their tail this way, get him back in the water this way (upsidedown) too then a a quick flip over and release.

Try not to remove them from the water at all if possible and it will help to keep their body weight supported.

Liam

Some very good info there Liamo..

thanks liam
i think i may have been pegged alongside you in the SPA with tralee the time you were pulling in them jammy double shots of flounder! to be honest i'l prob be too terrified for weighing stingers so my plan would be a quick photo then return that way i can exagerate the weight with a clear conscience. thanks for all the advice
chris

Liamo is giving you spot on advise there go along with what he is saying as its quite ovious he has caught quite a few stingers in his time :D