Wonder who got to hold the stinger

Grizz

We have always been around stingrays, but hardly anyone of us ever got stung.

One time in the Maldives, I took a kayak and rowed to a lagoon about 1/2 a mile from our island, because the kids wanted to go on the banana pulled by a speed boat.

First I had to put up with the kids who tried their best to over turn my kayak, then I ran off to small sandy island.

I found a young couple there walking on the beach.

I was taking some photos of shells etc when suddenly I hear this scream!, and saw both young couple run off onto the land.

I went to investigate.

They saw a small stingray, which scared the daylight off them.

I told them it was harmless unless one stepped on it.

And to prove my point, I went into the water, facing the stingray which was mostly under t
sand but its eyes were out.

I got to a few inches from it, and took some underwater photos and video.

At some stage I think was no more than 2 inches from it.

Those two were totally shocked, and would not go into the water within 50 yards of it!

A friend of mine got stung by a small one he was trying to unhook. He said it hurt and it left a pretty nasty scar. I think I'll give them the hook if I ever hook any.

See "Stingray City" on Grand Cayman Island where tourists hand feed fairly large stingrays on an everyday basis. On the other hand a surfing buddy of mine stepped on one and got a rather painful sore foot. Don't know how large it was as he never saw it just had a bit of the barb left in his foot.

I can't think of anything more worthless on a hook. We hook lots of them where I live.

The wings are often cut up with hole punches and sold as scallops.

Ask Steve Irwin about stingrays......Oops, you can't, because one killed him!