It Ain't Deer or Elk...

[LBR]

..but it was a blast and a challenge.  Several of us got together this past weekend in Cedar Key FL to shoot stingrays.  It was great--the weather was excellent and the rays were out.  Biggest we boated was around 80#, but we saw some that were much larger.  Rod fished also--we came home with speckled trout, redfish, and shark along with the stringray meat.  We went out two days straight, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't have handled a third--I'm worn out!

[DesertDude]

Sounds like a great time Chad

[ChuckC]

Sounds like a fun trip.  I have a similar adventure on my "ta do list"
ChuckC

[LBR]

It's a great trip, and not expensive.  This was our third year, and it's always great.  Last year the weather didn't allow for  bow fishing (choppy, murky water and overcast skies) but we did great with the redfish.

$350 for a boat and 6 hrs for two people, $100 per person extra up to 4 or 5 per boat.  If you need contact info, send me a pm or e-mail.  I get nothing out of it--they are just great guides.

Chad

[joe ashton]

that sounds like fun to me.

I would love to bowfish for rays! That just sounds like a total blast! Let me know if you have ony openings on your next trip! I'm retired, and MS is a one day drive!!!!!

Congrats on your success!!!

Bisch

[Hot Hap]

Eat any of that stingray yet?
What's it taste like?

Congratulations-Hap

[LBR]

Bisch, it will be next year but I'll try to remember.  No idea how many we'll have in the next group, but there's always extra boats.  While we were there Capt. Allen booked a party of 30!

The ray seems to take on the flavor of whatever you season it with.  Not very strong flavor.  Very coarse meat, but not tough.  We will keep tinkering.  It's not great, but not bad.  Several years ago I went and brought home the meat from some small ones;  grilled it and basted with garlic butter, and it was fantastic.  Like a cross between crab and lobster.

[ChuckC]

LBR, next time you get one, can you try to make a short video of how to filet them ?  What is good , what is bad, how to.

Contact info would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Sam McMichael]

Sounds like fun. The fish fry ought to be good, too.

[LBR]

I got my info. from you tube--learned a lot.  It's not hard with a little instruction.

We used cedarkeyoutfitters.com .  Captain Danny Allen (352)-215-3686 and Captain Chad Osteen (352)-226-0073.  Both were great.  I've been on Capt. Danny's boat the past two years, and on Capt. Chad's boat this year.  Capt. Chad may be better for sharks and rays, as his boat is a little smaller and will get into more shallow water, but both are great.  Great thing is, if the weather doesn't permit for bow fishing you can rod fish.  Need low to no wind, clear water, low tide, etc. for bow fishing.  They will do their best to set dates according to the best tide for what you are wanting to do.

If you shoot rays, you fillet your own.  Otherwise they will skin/fillet the fish for you.

If have any questions, just holler.

Chad

[Doc Nock]

I've had Chesapeake Bay ray...it was pretty "fishy" and they weren't really large.

Marinated in oil and spices and grilled, they ate pretty well...fried up, they were great!

Like any critter, likely taste depends a bit on what they eat!

Sounds like a wonderful time... Glad it worked out well for you all!!!

[DanielB89]

you're telling me with all that fun, you didn't manage to snap a picture or two?

[LBR]

I didn't take any, but everyone else did.  Waiting for them to send them to me.

Almost forgot...can't beat a serrated knife of electric knife for removing the wings.  Pain in the butt otherwise.  Then a regular fillet knife to finish.

[TylerH]

Dexter Russell tiger blade is probably one of the best knives I have ever used for cutting wings off or cutting up anything tough you could imagine. I like to keep a cooler with ice and water brine and throw the wings in it then when the trip is over I will filet the meat off the cartilage with a regular filet knife. The icy water helps drain some of the blood out of the meat too which makes them look a little more appealing.

[LBR]

Can't remember the brand knife I used...picked it up at a Bass Pro in FL, left it with the guide when we were done.  It was around $15 and worked great for cutting the wings off...but that's all it was good for.