Stingrays....

[Jimmyz123]

Knowing first hand the pain being stung has with it, I also advise that you cut the line rather than mass with them. I saw the type of stinger that got Steve Erwin and it's no wonder he didn't make it. That thing looked like a knife and then backed up with poison, No way man. Fishing is suppose to be fun.

Oh and about the PSA, I too have been a safety jerk following the birth of my son also. I use to be a little more stupid with thing I would do but not anymore.

[Holy Mackerel]

Figured it's a Bat ray, had a couple eat my bait in recent weeks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_ray

While the bat ray, like other stingrays, has a venomous spine in its tail (near the base), it is not considered dangerous and uses the spine only when attacked or frightened.

FWIW, I have been shaking the hook loose at boatside with that tail whipping around, now on second thought a hook will rust out.

[Dean Machine]

What type of light were you using that the boaters were able to see? Did they say they saw it right away or kinda later than you would have liked?