RP, I didn't realise there was another member of this site who enjoys battling a large ray, I make no bones I love it and it's what fishing is all about.

I might add it's not only the arms that refuse to cooperate, with the rod's butt between my legs the wedding tackle can come in for a hammering.

I agree if you can see the hooks in the throat cutting the trace is a sound option but when they are right down in the gut then I would rather put the fish out of harm's way. The flesh is never wasted, only yesterday I had some of the stingray cooked with a marinade of teriyaki sauce, I have to say it was simply delicious.

Perhaps along with my wife we should do a fish cooking video. The first project would be red cod ... naturally.