Sharks & Rays

Common skate (flapper skate)

Noriega (raya noriega)

Dipturus batis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

50–200 lb.

Depth

100–600 ft.

Best time

Slack water.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: The biggest skate in Europe: a huge, diamond-shaped ray with a long pointed snout, olive-gray to brown upper side with pale spots, and a dark gray to black underside.
Typical size: 50–200 lb.
Maximum size: Over 8 ft long and over 400 lb.
Diet: Fish, crabs, lobsters and squid.
Behavior: Lives on the bottom in deep, cold sounds and channels; it grows very slowly and takes over 10 years to mature.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries) and Arctic & North Atlantic Islands. Deep sounds and banks from Norway and Iceland to Portugal; today mostly around western Scotland (Oban, Mull, the Sound of Jura) and northwest Ireland.
Habitat: Deep sounds and banks from Norway and Iceland to Portugal; today mostly around western Scotland (Oban, Mull, the Sound of Jura) and northwest Ireland.
Depth: 100–600 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom.
Best season: Summer and autumn charters out of Oban and Ireland.
Best time: Slack water.
Best tides: Neap tides and slack water in deep channels.
Best weather / conditions: Calm days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Deep sounds and banks from Norway and Iceland to Portugal; today mostly around western Scotland (Oban, Mull, the Sound of Jura) and northwest Ireland.
Rig up: 50 lb class boat rod with a big multiplier reel. 200–300 lb mono or cable.
Pick your bait: Whole mackerel or a mackerel 'kebab' on a big hook. Lures: Not used.
Fish it: Anchor in the deep channel at slack water and fish a whole mackerel on the bottom. Pump the skate up steadily, then bring it alongside for a quick photo and release; tagging programs record each fish.
Time it: Slack water. Neap tides and slack water in deep channels.

Fishing techniques: Anchor in the deep channel at slack water and fish a whole mackerel on the bottom. Pump the skate up steadily, then bring it alongside for a quick photo and release; tagging programs record each fish.
BigJoe's tip: Go with an experienced skate skipper who knows how to handle and tag them properly.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Very heavy fish; lift with proper technique, keep fingers away from the mouth and the thorny tail.
Regulations: Critically Endangered (IUCN) and a prohibited species in EU and UK waters: it must be released. Scotland has a Marine Protected Area for flapper skate in the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura area. Every country sets its own rules: sea fishing licenses or registration in some countries, a national or regional license plus a local permit for fresh water, and minimum sizes everywhere. Check before you fish.
Conservation: Nearly wiped out by trawling. Every skate released alive helps the comeback.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits