Fish Frenzie: Sting Ray Crazy

Last week my brother invited me to go fishing with him aboard Our Mary and I jumped at the offer never having done some bottom fishing. Saturday started early with a quick cup of coffee and a small bite. Then it was off to pick him up and down to the marina. Upon arrival he had the usual tasks to do... apart from taking tourists who come to Madeira big game fishing, he also tends to five yachts in the Funchal Marina. Quick check up to see if all was good and then it was time to set up the rigs for the bottom fishing. As the morning was chilly another coffee was in order, so it was off to the nearest coffee shop and some more fish stories. About ten minutes later I had the pleasure of meeting Jud Hamblin, one of Lutys regular fishing buddies. Having never done bottom fishing it was difficult to follow the conversation as it jumped from types of reel to rods. In the end I gave up, and appreciated the conversation.

Off to the boat again and then to pick up some fresh bait at the local fish depot. Seeing Luty with two buckets of mackerel, I started wondering why so much bait, later I would come to understand why. After the bait was on board we were off in the direction of Camara de Lobos. I won´t dare mention the exact spot of our anchorage as my brother might not appreciate it (don’t worry boet your secrets are safe with me). A quick exchange of witty remarks and the fishing started. The Captain of the boat came down and scooped up some Mackerel and begun to cut them up into small peaces, placing them in a bag, and with a rod letting them sink to the bottom. Some quick questions on my part on what should and should not be done and I was off fishing with the rest.

Jud was the first to get hooked up. I was informed on what fish we were fishing for but had absolutely no idea at what they were capable of. With some effort Jud began to reel the fish in. That’s when I got my first taste of hearing line being taken back, and things started to get exciting. It took about 20 minutes to bring the sting ray alongside the boat, and then I had my first glimpse of a sting ray up close. Though I must say that when I saw its mouth it kind of reminded me of a bats mouth. Luty was quick to get the hook out as not to make the sting suffer any longer than needed. One down and more to come.

The next to get hooked was Luty, his sting was no exception also making a good fight. It’s a lot of fun watching someone reel a sting ray in. You need a lot of patience as it does not happen with one go. Various times line is lost, and so you must fight to gain on the fish, and with friends cheering you on, it can be quite funny.

My first ray was no real big challenge and within 20 minutes it was tagged and released. My highlight of the day was when I was given the pleasure of reeling in a fairly big ray on a light weight rod and reel. Believe me boys, its no easy task. I must have spent about 15 minutes trying to reel the ray in. Luty was already starting to doubt whether I would be able to bring her up. Being the kind brother that he is, he added a harness that attaches the rod and reel to a back thus taking off some of the weight from your lower back . Another 15 minutes of gruelling effort to bring her up and slowly but surely I gained on the fish. Upon seeing a white reflection in the water, my motivation began to rise and another five minutes and I had her alongside the boat. By the end of the fishing trip we had caught and released about ten sting rays.

Thinking that the entertainment was close to an end, I was given the rare opportunity to see a morey eel up close, and as much as I would like to say personal, as soon as it hit the deck I was quick to flee up the steps to get away from it. Unfortunately for the morey eels the captain enjoys them too much and so into the bucket it went.