Sea Hares..

Was up in clewbay today, bait collecting ,and as I followed the tide out- sea hares everywhere. Never seen them up there before, was this stormy weather related or are they in some form of mating season?
also,anyone ever try them as bait? Didn't bother collect them,but the one or two I stood on by accident, full of blood.

Also found the smallest flatties I've ever seen, sole by the shape of them, less than 1cm long!

that's not blood what you have seen Daire, sea hares release a sticky goo that causes sensory inactivation. This is a very clever defense mechanism causing "stuffy nose feel" in their attackers. Because it is so well defended, the sea hare doesn’t have a lot of predators to worry about. They are useless as bait as this opaline chemical called carboxymethylcellulose is just too much to take for any fish or crustacean.

why are all those little sole turning up in the west?

why are all those little sole turning up in the west?

more fun at west coast parties, every sole knows that

that's not blood what you have seen Daire, sea hares release a sticky goo that causes sensory inactivation. This is a very clever defense mechanism causing "stuffy nose feel" in their attackers. Because it is so well defended, the sea hare doesn’t have a lot of predators to worry about. They are useless as bait as this opaline chemical called carboxymethylcellulose is just too much to take for any fish or crustacean.

good answer =D

Watch an "inking" sea hare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21929070

why are all those little sole turning up in the west?

dunno, but it can only be a good thing?!

Off-topic, I know, but "sea-hares" reminded me..... last year, I went to check one of my spots at low tide, and disturbed several big (land) hares that were down at the water's edge grazing on the seaweed. Anybody else ever come across this?

hugo, funny you should mention them, as I was up near blind harbour, belmullet last weekend and there was a hare mucking about on the shore there too..

I've disturbed a big hare at the waters edge in Waterville, Kerry before . I don't know who was more shocked ?