Skate caught in subsistence net

Observation by Tisha Kalmakoff and Amber Christensen-Fox:

An unusual fish was caught in the subsistence salmon net this morning and it was not a flounder or a juvenile halibut so the notable traits of the fish lead us to believe it is a skate, which is highly unusual for us to catch in our subsistence salmon net. We know skates are benthic or bottom feeding fish so to see one on the beach shore was unusual.

LEO Says:

Jaclyn, Tisha, and Amber, thank you for your observation. It is interesting that you caught this fish in a set net since, as you mentioned most Alaska skates are bottom feeders and are caught in Alaska waters by hook and line and bottom trawl fisheries. LEO Network worked with the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game to identify the species. Thank you to Shane Hertzog for the identification. This is a "Big Skate". You can learn more about the species from the I-Naturalist page (attached). L. Flora