Stingray advice

[Dawsey]

Heading away to Tenerife at the weekend for 2 weeks and have packed all the gear including a boat rod and multi for the chance of a stinger. Been given a few spots to try whilst over there so hopefully can manage one. I know a few lads from the site have got a few from the southern part of this island so would definately know a thing or two.

There is always a shady area when catching these boys as to the best technique to "handling" them? So my question is, what is the best way of unhooking and releasing say from a rock mark onto the clean stuff. Isn't the danger area at the base of the tail?

[KERRY1]

Although I haven’t been lucky enough to catch one myself yet (but as you well know I'd love to ) I do know a couple of people who have caught them and the advice they gave me was this.
I have been told that if you flip them over onto their back once you have landed a stingray then that stops their tail from flying up towards you making it swing side to side instead allowing you to unhook your trace from it without the danger of being stung by it.
I have also heard as well that when handling them you should use a thick towel or something around those lines when bringing it in once you get close enough to get hold of it to protect yourself and your hands from the barb on their tail.
I don’t know if this information that I have given is accurate but I’m sure a few lads on here who have caught them can give more advice or correct me if I am wrong.
Good luck on your hols mate, hope you catch one.
Check the links out below, they may be of help to you and they may not but they may be worth a quick look at anyway.

http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~darrenbarton/id59.htm

http://www.elasmodiver.com/Stingray_Barb_Pictures.htm

http://stingraylearningzone.com/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/a ... ngray.html

P.S Just don’t do what Steve Irwin did and jump on top of them in the water! – if stung by one it can be fatal which he sadly found out.