how common are rays/skates while fishing in the semi-northern sound?

[pjb3]

I'l like to hook into a big skate, good eatin'
Not sure if they are even her in good #'s or if its just luck to hit one

[Mfowl]

When I was a kid we caught a few out of Port Townsend, they were big ones too. We also caught a bunch out of La Push while halibut fishing but they were on the small side. I've never bothered to keep one though, do you fillet them like a halibut?

[RadSav]

I've never bothered to keep one though, do you fillet them like a halibut?

Similar.  First you need to de-slim the ugly buggars   They fillet similar to halibut, but the meat is in strings instead of flakes.  Very odd the first time you see it.  However, it is very tasty!!

[fishnfur]

I fished off Fort Casey/Keystone ferry landing area for 3 years.  Never even heard of one.  Grew up in Tacoma on the water.  Same story. 

Saw tons of them in So. Cal.

[sled]

Saw a guy catch one off kayak pt when I was a kid.  The thing was huge!  Of course everything is bigger when your a kid.
I'll never forget that thing.

[4fletch]

Caught a few in yrs of fishing at pillar point for halibut

[Alchase]

We use to catch skate off Illahee dock in Bremerton. Most were in the 30-40 lb range occasionally one would be 70lb. If you have eaten scallops at any of the small seafood places from Hood Canal to Long Beach, there is a good chance you had skate not scallops (now illegal) was very popular up through the 80s.
Cut the wings off and use a cookie cutter, wallah giant scallops, LOL

[wildmanoutdoors]

We always caught them off the Port Orchard marina too! As well the Hood Canal bridge.

[Big10gauge]

I caught one in Shilshoe bay. 34 lbs. Some resturant tried to buy it off me. I believe it was Anthonys but I'm not sure.

[jamesfromseattle]

My Dad and uncle caught one many many years ago in the San Juan's (not sure where specifically, though).

They caught it trolling for salmon but I'd imagine most skate encounters are while bottomfishing?

[pjb3]

We use to catch skate off Illahee dock in Bremerton. Most were in the 30-40 lb range occasionally one would be 70lb. If you have eaten scallops at any of the small seafood places from Hood Canal to Long Beach, there is a good chance you had skate not scallops (now illegal) was very popular up through the 80s.
Cut the wings off and use a cookie cutter, wallah giant scallops, LOL

Bingo, thats how "scammers" sell scallops

[pjb3]

So can you go for them or are they totally luck thing?
Secrets?

[RadSav]

So can you go for them or are they totally luck thing?
Secrets?

You can target them, but conditions need to be just right and you have to be willing to go through half a ton of smelt while you catch dogs non-stop.  Want similar bottom conditions to halibut, sandy bottom amongst gravel or small rock pockets.  Then use enough weight that you drag across the bottom with a 3' spreader and 4 to 6' leader to the smelt tied backward as you would for sturgeon.  They are not fast so you need to drift extremely slow.  Even backing into the drift if need be to keep the drift slow.  If the drift is too much to keep your weight on the bottom or there are too many rocks to allow it to slide on the bottom you'll need a lot of luck and perfect timing to get much action.  15 to 20 fathoms and 50-60 fathoms were always our magic depths for skates off the Oregon coast.  So drift that day needs to be Extremely slow and you need to keep your thumb on the freespool to keep it down.  Very few ever caught if your not in contact with the bottom.  You still need a fair amount of luck, but at least this gives you a better chance that most other methods I've ever found.

[Mfowl]

So can you go for them or are they totally luck thing?
Secrets?

In the interior areas I'd try just still fishing bait on the bottom off a pier or anchored up in a protectected area. The ones we caught in Port Townsend were off a pier with shrimp fly rigs and chunks of herring. Never know until you try!

[Alchase]

We use to cast out with a 2-3 oz dropper sinker with squid on the hooks.
Herring will work also but does not stay on the hook as well when casting.
Let it sit on the bottom. You know when you have a skate when your line starts to move around slowly without a hit.
They kind of gum it for a moment before they swallow. Then it feels like you are hooked on a barn door because they kind of come in sideways and when they get to the surface they usually dive straight down again.