Sea Robin- Apex Pedator???

[wrktoomuch]

If you find this stupid, then keep your thoughts to yourself, but is there anything that eats Sea Robins? They are armored like a Porcupine and eat everything, including pieces of themselves. I have caught tiny ones and sent them back down thinking a big Fluke would grab one, but never. I think they are like Cormorants, they have voracious appetites and just keep multiplying without any predation. I think they make excellent bait for many species and keep alot for that reason, but no one I know, including myself, like eating them. There is an epidemic of them, and unless I'm wrong, maybe we anglers should be trying to reduce the population.

[tjd24]

Lots of people eat sea robins. There have been featured articles in magazines recently about sea robin cleaning & cooking.
I've found small ones in the bellies of striped bass.

[Ismellfishy]

Hell I give away most of the fluke I catch, but I keep all the birds!! Beer battered and deep fried they make great fish nuggets.

[bowhunter]

I caught a 30lb striper that had a full grown robin in it's belly.

[tombanjo]

Stupid or not, if logic follows it won't be long before they're on the protected list like the dogfish were. Or are they still?

[Capt Joe]

Originally Posted by wrktoomuch

If you find this stupid, then keep your thoughts to yourself,

If you insist.

[june181901]

In the Mediterranean something that looks very much like them are sold. Mostly used in fish stews like copping and bouillabaisse.

[Reelron]

I've seen small Searobbins in the bellys of Stripers, Fluke and Bluefish. Their strips also make great Fluke bait so I have to imagine they do get preditated quite a bit?

[dfish28]

They actually are really good, but have a bone structure you need to know of, never thought I'd say it but caught so many 2 weeks ago, gave them a shot, not too bad prepared franchese style ... clean and prep for them is a lot like blowfish
I think they would fare better for soup,stock,or base... just my $.02
http://www.njfishing.com/forums/atta...1&d=1503347699

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by wrktoomuch

If you find this stupid, then keep your thoughts to yourself, but is there anything that eats Sea Robins? They are armored like a Porcupine and eat everything, including pieces of themselves. I have caught tiny ones and sent them back down thinking a big Fluke would grab one, but never. I think they are like Cormorants, they have voracious appetites and just keep multiplying without any predation. I think they make excellent bait for many species and keep alot for that reason, but no one I know, including myself, like eating them. There is an epidemic of them, and unless I'm wrong, maybe we anglers should be trying to reduce the population.

I've been fishing a long time (like over 40 years), including many summer days fishing for fluke and the fluke have always outnumbered the Robins by a larger margin. That being said, I agree they make a fine meal if you catch one large enough to get some decent fillets. By the way I once caught a large Bluefish in the LBI surf that had an entire Robin in it's belly.