Clearnose Skate

[Sam]

Clearnose Skate
Raja eglanteria
"aka clear-nose brier skate, clear-nose summer skate "

Description: The clearnose skate is usually dark or light brown or gray with many darker round spots and pars. On the upper surface you may find lighter spots and see through spaces on the sides of the nostril ridge. The ventral surface is white and without markings. The clearnose skate has between 46 and 54 upper close set teeth and approximately 48 lower teeth. They have low conical cusps. The males have sharper teeth than the female.

Similar Fish: Other skates and rays
Where Found: The clearnose skate is found in from Massachusetts to south Florida and in the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico. Also, ranging north along the Canadian coast.

Size: The clearnose skate can reach a disc width of almost 19 inches and length of 33 inches. Male and female species both mature at almost 30 inches.

Bait used: There is hardly anything a skate won't bite.
Tactics to catch: These skates are without discretion and will grab your bait when you are fishing for another species. The main tactic is how not to catch a skate while fishing on the shore for other fish.

Climate (water temperature range): The clearnose skate migrates south during the fall and winter and has been found in temperatures from 43.3 F to 80.6 F.

Spawning habits: The male with bite the caudal margin of the female's pectoral fin and bend his tail beneath hers during copulation. The
male will then flex one clasper 90 degrees into her cloaca. There are thorns on the upper anterior surface of the male's pectoral fins that assist
in holding the female. Mating can last as long as four hours.

The sperm is stored in the female's upper portion of the shell gland where they will remain healthy for at least three months. The skate's eggs are often called Mermaid's Purse and are laid at one to three day intervals in pairs.

These eggs range from 2 to 3 1/2 inches. These eggs are laid from December through May. A mature female will lay up to 66 eggs in one season. Clearnose skates are 4 to 4 inches in width and 5 to 6 inches in length. These eggs will no develop in water warmer than 75.2 degrees F.

Table food? There are multitudes of recipes for skates including, seared, casseroles, oven fried, pan roasted, salads etc. The skate wings are regarded as being similar in taste and texture to scallops. They have soft bones. In French cuisine the skate wings are poached and served with a butter and caper sauce.

Feeding habits: The clearnose skate feeds mainly on shrimp, crabs, mollusks, and small fish such as blackcheek tongue fish, striped anchovies, croaker, spot, mantis shrimp, white shrimp and squid.

Remarks: These skates are harmless kite-like creatures. They lie on their bellies. Skates are related to sharks. The clearnose skate has proven to be a good experimental animal in a series of physiological experiments. They posses a small electric organ in their tail.

References:
Florida Museum of Natural History
Illustration by: G Harris 2003
University of Michigan, science department
Golfspecimen.org