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Out The Blue - Boatfishing Charters Guernsey

Local Record Breaker.
Please do not call me 'common', here I like to be called 'elusive' ...

It is true that 'Raja clavata' or as he is known to his friends the 'Thornback Ray' is the most landed ray (and at size) in the UK, but this is not the case here at all. We could say that it is a bit of a rarity.  So when you get one, you should make it a good one. Take a look at this lovely specimen which is going into the Bailiwick records book for certain.

The thing is this news story links back to July 2008 when Belgian visitor Roger Raedts caught a record breaking 12+ Thornback Ray aboard 'Out the Blue II' filling the vacancy in said record book since way back when in 1966.

One year on and 'Out the Blue II' has done it again thanks to chippy (and as the photo shows 'chirpy') Wayne Calladine. We think it is still only the second Thornback taken from a boat, both from 'Out the Blue II', both tempted by whole mackerel and both giving their captors something to smile about.

Details:
Date: 14 June 2009
Fish: Thornback Ray
Size: 18-4
Gear: - 20lb rod, 30lb braid
Bait: Whole mackerel
Location: East of Sark

Further information and reading on Roger Raedts record fish can be found by following this link to Len Le Page's article in the Guernsey Press. More information on the location of a UK record breaking Thornback Ray can be found by going to 'Wales' where they really are a 'Common' catch.


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