Northeast Skate ID Guide

For more information about management, visit the Northeast Skate Complex page.

Prohibited Species

Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)

Prohibited throughout the Northeast Management Region

• VTR Code(s): SKTHOR (whole), SKTHORW (wings)
• Other Names: Mud Skate, Starry Skate
• Range: Most common in the Gulf of Maine
• Depth: Most common 40–165 fathoms
• Max Length: 41 inches (104 cm)

Features:

• Large thorns along back and shoulders
• Brown/Grayish body surface
• Tail shorter than body
• Underside of wings are white
• No spots on wings

Smooth Skate (Malacoraja senta)

Prohibited in the Gulf of Maine

• VTR Code(s): SKSM
• Other Names: Prickly Skate, Smooth Tailed Skate
• Range: Most common in the Gulf of Maine
• Depth: Most common 55–250 fathoms
• Max Length: 26 inches (64 cm)

Features:

• Pointed snout
• No hard spines on wings
• Pale brown coloration
• 2 rows of small spines along the tail

Provisional Species

Barndoor Skate (Dipturus laevis)

Permitted up to 25 percent of catch in the directed wing fishery

• VTR Code(s): SKBARN (whole) SKBARNW (wings)
• Range: Most common on southern Georges Bank and southern New England
• Depth: Most common 35–80 fathoms
• Max Length: 60 inches (152 cm)

Features:

• Very pointed snout
• Reddish brown body surface
• Small dark spots covering body
• No spines on wings
• Underside of wings are gray

Permitted Species

Little Skate (Leucoraja erinacea)

• VTR Code(s): SKL
• Other names: Summer Skate, Common Skate
• Primary target of the bait fishery
• Range: Most common on Georges Bank and southern New England
• Depths: Most common < 70 fathoms
• Max length: 22 inches (55 cm)

Features:

• Rounded disk
• Small dark spots on body surface
• Males (14–20 inches) claspers extend well beyond back edge of disk
• Females (14–20 inches) patches of spines located on both sides of anus

Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata)

• VTR Code(s): SKWIN (whole), SKWINW (wings)
• Other names: Big Skate, Spotted Skate, Eyed Skate
• Primary target of the wing fishery
• Range: Most common on Georges Bank and southern New England
• Depth: Most common < 60 fathoms
• Max Length: 46 inches (117 cm)

Features:

• Underside of wings are white
• Small dark spots on body surface/wings
• Males (14–20 inches) claspers barely reach edge of posterior disk
• Females (14–20 inches) no rough patch on sides of vent

Rosette Skate (Leucoraja garmani)

• VTR Code(s): SKROSE
• Other names: Leopard Skate, Freckled Skate
• Range: Most common in deep water in the Mid-Atlantic
• Depth: Most common > 40 fathoms
• Max Length: 16 inches (41 cm)

Features:

• Dark rosettes (6 or more dark spots surrounding a central point) on back
• Rows of spines along back and tail
• Tail rather long

Clearnose Skate (Raja eglanteria)

• VTR Code(s): SKCL (whole), SKCLW (wings)
• Other names: Brier Skate
• Range: Most common nearshore in the Mid-Atlantic
• Depths: Most common < 20 fathoms
• Max Length: 37 inches (94cm)

Features:

• Bars and spots on top surface
• One line of thorns that run down the mid-line of back
• Large clear space on each side of snout
• Defined space between two dorsal fins on tail