Photos

212 pound(96 kgm)Southern Stingray caught near San Luis Pass on Galveston Island

Large Stingray, sharks and a variety of other large fish are within easy reach from the shore of Galveston Island. Using large Penn reels, roller-guide rods and a surfboard, the bait is paddled approximately 200 to 300 yards(183-274 m) offshore and dropped. It is usually held in place by an 8 ounce(227 g) spider weight. One foot(30 cm) long live mullet is the preferred bait for large stingray and large chunks of cut bait for sharks. After paddling back in, you party on the beach until the reel's "clicker" sounds the alarm that a large fish is running with the bait. You rush to the rod and reel, heart pounding, and set the hook by pulling back hard. Now the fight(fun) begins. Two hour battles are not uncommon with large fish. Because of abbrasion from the submerged sandbars, 80 pound(36 kgm) test line is most often used. Both stingray and shark provide for some good eating and on fish of this size there is plenty to share.

This is an "old" photo taken with a Canon AE-1 programmable many years ago. It has been scanned, cropped, enhanced and resized for posting. Now days the prefered means for dropping off bait is a jet ski or wave runner. The State Record at the time for Southern Stingray was 214 3/4 pounds(97 kgm). I came close but "No Cigar". Most large stingrays that are caught near the beach are pregnant and come close to shore to give birth in the surf or bay. This one aborted nine premature babies as she was hauled onto the beach. "Catch and Release" is a fast growing option among fisherpersons today. We need to make sure that the World's fishes remain prolific and abundant for future generations to come.

* Note the blood on the tail where the toxic barb was removed