Need a line stretched?

[Toad Patrol]

joyjiggin, not that stupid of a question. The barb at the base of a rays tail is a defense mechinism to protect it's internal organs. Since rays, and sharks have only soft cartliage, not a rib cage, they are suceptible to internal injury. If you happen to step on the back of one they react by triggering that barb, usually into your shin or ankle. Keep the ray in the water and carefully remove the hook with pliers, or just cut the line as close to the knot as posible, and the hook will eventually rust out. Don't worry about getting bit, rays have no teeth, only crushing plated in the back of their mouths.
Rays and sharks should be considered a catch and release species only, (they have an important job in the food chain) and are definately a blast to have drag you around, good practice for that big yellowtail or white sea bass you should be catching instead.
Good luck and tight lines,
-Scott