{"id":4393,"date":"2017-08-07T15:32:49","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T19:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/?p=4393"},"modified":"2017-08-07T15:32:49","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T19:32:49","slug":"gentle-giants-huge-butterfly-rays-show-up-in-n-j-surf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/2017\/08\/gentle-giants-huge-butterfly-rays-show-up-in-n-j-surf\/","title":{"rendered":"Gentle Giants: Huge Butterfly Rays Show Up in N.J. Surf"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Local<\/a>

Local angler Nick Honachefsky and his huge butterfly ray he caught Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo: Nick Honachefsky)<\/p><\/div>\n

They’re largely harmless, but might give you a startle if they glide by while you’re taking a swim.<\/p>\n

Butterfly rays, found all around the world’s oceans, have shown up in New Jersey waters over the past couple of weeks, sparking conversations on local beaches about giant creatures in the surf. People haven’t been seeing things: butterfly rays can reach 7-feet (or more) in width, but are considered gentle giants.<\/p>\n

Nick Honachefsky, a well-known local angler from Normandy Beach, hooked a butterfly ray as large as him Sunday night and posed for a picture to prove it.<\/p>\n

Honachefsky, in a social media post, said the fish \u2013 caught in Lavallette near President Avenue \u2013 weighed as much as 150-pounds.<\/p>\n

“He was released immediately after the hook [was taken] out,” Honachefsky said.<\/p>\n