Comments on: Ballina Beastie

By: Darth Caesar

Darth Caesar — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 02:36:13 +0000

Hmmmm, maybe it looks like this.

You do get different types, so the colouration can be explained by that.

A sunfish, if it was attacked by shark coming up then it would make perfect sense why its all ragged at the right hand side.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:45:48 +0000

Very intrigueing theory, Swamp_Screamer. I was thinking that the torn up part was because it might be dead, but I suppose a good fight on the line could cause some damage. I unfortunately do not know much about this type of ray, but the theory seems plausible if what you say about its mouth mechanisms are true. Another problem with the “dead” theory is the 30 minutes to pull it up. Of course, the story doesn’t actually say “struggle”, and pulling dead weight up through the water for a time might feel like thirty minutes, but if it were dead it might be easier to pull up than it appears to have been. I’m starting to lean towards a live ray of some sort, maybe this eagle ray that a lot of posters have mentioned. It is probably not a manta unless it was snagged, as mantas eat plankton.

By: Swamp_Screamer

Swamp_Screamer — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:42:20 +0000

On closer examination, I am convinced that the torn up portion is where the eagle ray’s mouth is. There is a small clip where the caudal (tail) would start if you examine the photograph closely. My theory is that this “eagle” ray or (bat ray) bit off more than he could chew. What I mean is they have some of the strongest teeth of any ray, they are actually embedded into a plate. They are so strong they can crush whole shells in their mouth. I am thinking that the hook got stuck in the teeth plate. These rays also put up such a fight that sportsfishermen will actually specifically fish for them. That is why it took the fishermen 30 minutes to get it up. So it either got its mouth ripped out in the fight as the hook was so embedded in the teeth plate or the line got caught up on something while reeling it in. The line stayed attached as the whole plate where the teeth are attached did not get ripped out as this was the strongest area, thus the hole where the hook was embedded. The shape is almost exact if tail is opposite end.

By: youcantryreachingme

youcantryreachingme — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:54:28 +0000

The ocean sunfish is vaguely similar. There is a photo of one, with similar perspective. A second, very large photo here. But perhaps the closest comparison is here.

By: youcantryreachingme

youcantryreachingme — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:51:22 +0000

Soles lie on their sides, but their dorsal (top) and anal (bottom) fins run almost the length of their body – like a fringe, quite different to this critter.

By: shumway10973

shumway10973 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:25:26 +0000

just a thought, aren’t there fish that live on the bottom of the ocean that lie flat on one side? I’m not sure what exactly they are called or what they look like completely, except take a large fish and lie it on its side and then give it fins, 1 on top and 1 on bottom, but I’m not sure what the tail fin looks like. This one does seem like a manta, except what most are seeing as the front where the eyes should be, isn’t and even look like feet or something like that. Intersting color for being in the ocean and not seen before.

By: youcantryreachingme

youcantryreachingme — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:40:04 +0000

You can click on my name to see a close up of the right hand side of the animal, with some notes on why I think it’s half a ray… (and 2 feet wide, etc)

By: Swamp_Screamer

Swamp_Screamer — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:27:10 +0000

I also believe it to be closer to two feet. In response to questions that the ‘ray’ may have been too heavy to lift onto the boat. I don’t personally buy that as fish much larger than this are not cut and released. Especially since the stinger is gone, and if a gaff or net wouldn’t work, why couldn’t three people lift it onto the boat. I have lifted a live adult injured pelican flocking its wide wingspan uncontrollably onto my boat by myself to get it rehabilitated. Sure, three people could handle this. Not to tell fish tales. I also lifted quite a few huge live tarpon to get the trophy picture and then release. Therefore, on the other hand, they may not want to kill it if it was a live species.

By: Manxman

Manxman — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:31:40 +0000

I concur with Swamp_Screamer, I believe the pictures are of a common Ray found along the New South Wales Coast. I base this on having seen numerous rays that looked like this whilst Fishing, as well a Speer Fishing both in shore and off shore at Forster NSW Australia.

I admit though the colour seems off for a live one. It appears to be partly eaten (right side of picture) which would account for the colour if its dead.

By: Trapster

Trapster — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:53:03 +0000

Drawing a blank here, outside my realm of knowledge. I’d like to see more pics though.