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Thornback Rays

Lot of effort for not much reward, the only one I ever kept (which I tried to return and cut my hands on it in the process, for some reason the fish didn’t make it) then cut my hands to bits again trying to prepare it. Tasted ok I recall. Now they all go back!
 
Winging and skinning a thornback is easy.
Cut the head and tail off following the wing to leave a butterfly shape, the bit joining the wings should be about 1½ to 2" thick.
Cut the leading edge of the wings , about ½" in (not always needed but makes life easier for amateur Skinner's)
Cut through the skin (only) either side at the root of the wing (4 cuts)
Cut skin (only) from wing root to tip (again, makes life easier)
Now, the important bit. Use a pair of skinning pliers to pull the skin from the flesh. Start from the root of the wing pulling towards the tip.
This should be 8 pulls if you have done your cuts right!
At this point you should have 2 wings attached by a central point.
All that is needed is to portion up as required and vac pack and freeze 😃

Hopefully I've made it sound simple because it is.
Spot on SC. They are the marmite of the fish family. Several of my mates prefer them over anything else. Look online for catfish skinners or just use pincers with the edge rounded down for the actual skinning bit of the process.
 

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