Although I did not catch it, one as described, with cuts in the leading edges of the wings, came aboard Ronnies Golden Dawn, in the Sound of Mull, when we were on a charter with him in 2007. Cannot recall the exact words Ronnie used as to his belief regarding the culprits. Perhaps if you contact him, he can throw some light on the subject.

 

Although I did not catch it, one as described, with cuts in the leading edges of the wings, came aboard Ronnies Golden Dawn, in the Sound of Mull, when we were on a charter with him in 2007. Cannot recall the exact words Ronnie used as to his belief regarding the culprits. Perhaps if you contact him, he can throw some light on the subject.

Thanks, I know Ronnie has had a few of them in recent years I'll speak to him later today.

 

hi davy,
havent had any with cuts, only long traces hanging out them. if i do get any will defo take pics for you ad pass them on.

 

hi davy,
havent had any with cuts, only long traces hanging out them. if i do get any will defo take pics for you ad pass them on.

cheers :thumbs::thumbs:

 

I'm a lay person when it comes to skate so maybe you can tell me how the fish are getting cut - is it by dodgy gaffing? or is it people cutting them when they are on the boat? Just curious.

 

why do they even bother catching them? ffs

 

hiya,

I'm a lay person when it comes to skate so maybe you can tell me how the fish are getting cut - is it by dodgy gaffing? or is it people cutting them when they are on the boat? Just curious.

I'm pretty certain it is not bad gaffing as the cuts are almost all identical and clean cut. A cut like that caused by a gaff would show torn edges all along it. Norrie had a picture form an old book that showed a skate with the same marks, the slits had been cut as "handles" to aid moving the fish about on the boat.

 

Handles? That is brutal.

Could it be were the line has cut through during the fight - possibly by anglers using the wrong leader or rig set up?

 

I might be wrong but was there not something similar happening to Rays, People making cuts in them to aid in holding them up for a Photograph.

 

Hiya,

Handles? That is brutal.

Could it be were the line has cut through during the fight - possibly by anglers using the wrong leader or rig set up?

It''s doubtful but plausible if wire had been used especially with the cut that was on our fish yesterday, but would not be possible for the other slits.

 

The cuts look consistent with where you would cut before winging the fish. As you can not land them perhaps some fishermen are still making the handle cuts for moving them to dispose of the fish over the side. Would also explain those that appear to have been roped.

 

Hiya,

this was the first one with them that I caught back in 2004

 

Those photos definitely rules out the line cutting the fish on the way up. They are man made with a knife - and do look suspiciously like handles. Horrible.

 

no need to do that , i hope its the last you c of these handles on skate davy. put handle on the ..nts if we catch them .the fox

 

If the slits are on a large skate it possible that they have been cut by a commercial fisherman. They have a nickname 'barn doors' because a large fish will block a hopper, hence the name. I'm assuming they don't have gaffs like we do and this MIGHT be a method used to put the fish back alive.

 

Hiya,

this was the first one with them that I caught back in 2004

The skate I saw 2007 had identical cuts Dave, although partilly healed so that one could no longer put the hands thru the wounds. Jim Scott, who was on the trip will probably remember what Ronnies explanation was, although I believe it was as you say, to enable someone to haul it over the gunwhale of a craft.

 

thats just totally sick!!!!

 

Absolutly disgracefull way to treat a living creature, find who it is & name & shame the w***ers. :hammer::hammer::hammer:

 

this MIGHT be a method used to put the fish back alive.

Doesn't make the practice any more palatable.

 

Did you record stuart's fish, 21st March, Firth of Lorne, 188lbs. Cuts were well-healed.

Permission granted to use the picture as you wish. I must say it's better than leaving a fish to die on deck, but would have thought there was a better way (e.g. the short rope under the tail etc, same as anglers).

 

Hiya,

At the moment I'm still trying to find out facts, it may well be the only way the person doing it knows to move a skate. If that is the case then they need to know there are alternatives for moving skate that don't involve cutting it, i.e. as I do with a lump of old trawler net.

I know I should be thankful that the fish are surviving, but do we really know they are all surviving the encounter, it could well be that just as many do not survive the encounter.

thanks Dan, I've taken a copy of the picture.

 

:crazy:There are certainly some sick sons of bitches about to do that to the creatures:yucky:

 

Have seen quite a few skate when out with Donald and with a m8 at Crinan - never seen one cut like these - but had quite a few with no tail or part of a tail only !!!
Find it strange that nobody knows who did it !!!! - wonder if it is only one (or a very few) people
A spurdog gets used as bait and the whole angling scene is in uproar - yet this happens and nobody knows !!!! - very strange !!!!

 

Careful what you say some say the same thing about angling.

 

i have read all the thread and i still cant believe this happens i am shocked