Skates and dogfish. That’s what will be biting in the surf for the next couple months, not a very exciting forecast. Skates, yikes! What exactly is a skate? Is it a sting ray or what?
Though similar in many regards, skates and rays are two different creatures. Both are cartilaginous fish, meaning – like the sharks – they don’t have bones, but rather cartilage. Also, they don’t have swim bladders, which allows them to sulk on the bottom much easier. Neither fish has scales; they are covered with a coarse, sandpaper-like skin.
The difference between the two is that rays – like sharks – give birth to live young whereas skates lay eggs. You may have seen dark rectangular packages washed up on the shore. They are the egg cases for skates. Baby skates live in these until they have developed sufficiently to live outside on their own. Another distinguishing characteristic are the tails. Ray tails tend to be longer and fuller, while skate tails are much thinner and shorter.
Short tails and all, skates bite in the winter and most anglers who catch them are afraid of them. But they shouldn’t be. Skate tails are not poisonous, nor do they have barbs. You can handle them without fear – even eat them if you have lots of time on your hands for cleaning. The wings are quite tasty, but it’s very difficult to remove or fillet the skin. The wings are prized, however, throughout Asia for soups and seafood entrees.
If you catch a skate and don’t want to eat it, remove the hook (don’t worry about the tails) and set it free. They’re fun to catch, and that may be all that’s biting.
Virginia Saltwater
The Best Bet? Tautogs
Most news is centered around the weather, which seems to be the most interesting thing going on right now since choices are limited on the saltwater fishing front.
In the Bay, it’s catch and release only for stripers. The Elizabeth River and lower Bay inlets are giving up a few speckled trout and an occasional puppy drum.
The best bet for wetting a saltwater line and catching some fish is with tautogs when the weather allows. Crabs work well for bait, but with crabs scarce, folks are using alternative baits such as green crabs, Jonah crabs and clams. Of course, the trick is finding a structure not fished recently. Some big togs are around, along with numerous black sea bass, but sea bass are out of season. Bluefish and cod are also a possibility on these same wrecks, especially for those using clams.
Boats venturing out to deeper water between blows are still finding decent catches of blueline tilefish along the 50-fathom curve areas, with lots of big sea bass as a by-catch. Deeper areas along the Canyon edges are showing more activity with black-bellied rosefish, golden tilefish, and a variety of grouper and barrel-fish. Dogfish continue to make fishing in deep water a challenge.
Freshwater
Some big bass are being caught now at Anna, Buggs, the Chick River and the Chick Lake. The yellow perch run has not yet got underway but will soon. Some big crappie are being caught now at Buggs Island, mostly on deep brush. Some tackle-busting blue catfish have been landed on the lower James near Hopewell and Petersburg.
