My buddy Bill and I were out at Plum Cove yesterday morning (10-11-03). On the way back in from a rather respectable lobster hunt, I spied a very large round cream colored ray in the sand that I figured must be one of those torpedo rays Ive heard about. Lying there motionless on the sand, Id say it measured approximately 3 feet around and 5 or 6 feet long. I got Billys attention and we closed in to check this guy out.
Apparently, Billy had never been given the lowdown on the novelty of the big fish. When I saw him pull out his tickle stick and start poking at the ray I knew thered be trouble. Mr. Big Electric Ray Got PISSED. He came up out of the sand fast, flapping his giant 100-pound or so body straight for Billys head. All I could see were arms, legs and bubbles. And, I swear I could hear Billy scream Oh S%^&! Then, this monster takes a right turn and hes heading straight for me - the innocent by-stander - right for my head. I rose my right hand and to push the ray away, and Gazzing! It really was like grabbing onto a live wire. I received a full-fledged electrical shock from my hand all the way up through my shoulder. It was a real wake up call. As the ray swam off Billy and I regained our composure and finished out the dive.
We agreed that the shocks felt like a rapid succession of jolts, rather than a strong zap or buzz type of shock. It was similar to the jolt you get when touching a spark plug wire.
Bottom line is that the Atlantic Torpedo Ray looks docile and one would assume slow and lumbering. Both these assumptions would be very wrong. When provoked they are extremely fast and aggressive they will go on the attack. So keep a safe distance and dont poke at the rays Al
Apparently, Billy had never been given the lowdown on the novelty of the big fish. When I saw him pull out his tickle stick and start poking at the ray I knew thered be trouble. Mr. Big Electric Ray Got PISSED. He came up out of the sand fast, flapping his giant 100-pound or so body straight for Billys head. All I could see were arms, legs and bubbles. And, I swear I could hear Billy scream Oh S%^&! Then, this monster takes a right turn and hes heading straight for me - the innocent by-stander - right for my head. I rose my right hand and to push the ray away, and Gazzing! It really was like grabbing onto a live wire. I received a full-fledged electrical shock from my hand all the way up through my shoulder. It was a real wake up call. As the ray swam off Billy and I regained our composure and finished out the dive.
We agreed that the shocks felt like a rapid succession of jolts, rather than a strong zap or buzz type of shock. It was similar to the jolt you get when touching a spark plug wire.
Bottom line is that the Atlantic Torpedo Ray looks docile and one would assume slow and lumbering. Both these assumptions would be very wrong. When provoked they are extremely fast and aggressive they will go on the attack. So keep a safe distance and dont poke at the rays Al