Groundfish Common to the Waters off Washington State

Big Skate Raja binoculata Big Skate Raja binoculata Caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fishermen Description: Weak notch in rear edge of each pelvic fin. Orbital spines (in large specimens buried in skin), no scapular spines. Usually 1 spine at midback, followed by middorsal row of spines over pelvic fins and on tail (sometimes no row over pelvic fins); uppersurface otherwise lacks large spines (except alar and malar spines of adult males), but large adults have small denticles. Undersurface nearly smooth. Snout long, bluntly pointed, broadly triangular. Gray, brown, reddish brown, olive-brown, or blackish, often with rosettes of white sometimes with dark spots or blotches, below. Size: To 2.4 meters (8 feet) but rarely over 1.8 meters (6 feet) Range/Habitat: Bering Sea and southeast Alaska to central Baja; rare south of Point Conception. Common at moderate depths - 10-360 feet (3-110 meters). Source: Pacific Coast Fishes Peterson’s Field Guide Eschmeyer/Herald/Hammann 1983

California Skate Raja inornata Caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fishermen Description: A moderately long, acutely pointed snout. Front edge of disk slightly concave. Pelvic fins deeply notched. No orbital or scapular spines. Middorsal spines on tail, sometimes over pelvic fins and at midback; disk otherwise smooth except for scattered small denticles and alar and malr spines of adult males. Undersurface smooth. Olive-brown above, sometimes with dark mottling and occasionally 2 dark rings or eyespots; tan below. Size: To 76 cm (2 ½ feet) Range/Habitat: Straight of Juan de Fuca to central Baja. Common inshore and in shallow bays, sometimes in deep water; 60 feet (18 m) or less to 2200 feet (671 m). Source: Pacific Coast Fishes Peterson’s Field Guide Eschmeyer/Herald/Hammann 1983

Longnose Skate Raja rhina Longnose Skate  Raja rhina Caught incidentally by commercial and recreational fishermen Description: Note the extremely long, acutely pointed snout. Front edge of disk curves inward (concave). Pelvic fins deeply notched. Orbital spines; middorsal spines on tail. Undersurface mostly smooth (except snout and front edge of disk in large individuals). Dark brown above, with 2 dark eyespots; sometimes has faint light and dark spots. Bluish, to gray, black, or light brown below, with dark spots or blotches. Size: To 137 cm (4 ½ feet), males smaller. Range/Habitat: Southeast Alaska to central Baja. On bottom at 180-2040 feet (55-622 m). Source: Pacific Coast Fishes Peterson’s Field Guide Eschmeyer/Herald/Hammann 1983