I could be wrong but I do not think you could mistake the muscle striations of a skate and a scallop? Maybe there are other skates that the muscles are similar? not the ones around here!

Brian...I saved an article from the press about a trout fisherman who cuts the tip of the hook off. He did not want any possibility to injure the fish. He believed that the strike was the epitomy of trout fishing...a few jumps and the fish is released with out human contact or harm. ask the trout guy if he uses circle hooks? Even the knoblest thoughts are less than the ones that are better. Another thought is what is happening overseas. Some feel that it is inhuman to just catch fish and let them go. Thanks PETA. They are for catch and kill only! I would love to buy the rigs at the tackle stores that catch those crates of skates. Brian, just think of the next fish fry...you could feed the neighborhood...town?