Just a little more information on this subject of landing whole Skate in the UK. Many years ago, forty to be exact, I worked as a trainee fishmonger in Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire. I was told they could not be landed whole as the female skate had genitals like that of a human(even had periods?) I was also told of the ritual that was forced on young trainee trawlermen/boys. The story goes that there was an initiation ceremony whereby a large female skate was nailed to the deck and the the poor unfortunate lad was expected to perform. God only knows what this did to his mind & body? If you have ever had the barb injuries from one of these creatures you know what I mean.
As a side item, to skin the wings we used a knife, pliers and a large scrubbing brush. Insert the knife under the skin at the deepest & fleshiest part of the wink and cut back to the cartilage thus making a small flap of skin. Using the pliers grab the flap of skin while holding down the fish with the large scrubbing brush just behind the flap of skin. All you then need to do is pull the skin back firmly in one swift movement.(job done!)
The dark skin is covered in a slime and personally I think it might be this that is the poison and the barbs are used to work along with the poison. Be VERY CAREFUL when handling this fish at all costs!!
These are my views and what information you draw from them may or may not be factual. I am not a fishmonger or a fisherman & only put this up for information. Jon...
