Saw this picture on the internet today and it reminded me of an experience I had on Galveston Island a few years ago.
I was wade fishing in the surf near San Luis Pass on early fall day. The fishing was slow and so my fishing buddy and I gave it up with little to show for the effort. As we were driving down the beach we saw a man (Pictured here on his knees with his trophy) struggling with a bent over surf rod. Knowing he had either hooked something very large or was caught on something, we decided to hang around and see the outcome. 20 minutes of struggling and with the help of a neighbor that brought his lantern stand to assist, the beast was on the shore. Fortunately for this guy the tail of the ray had been cut off before and had yet to regenerate.
Thy help the ray back into the surf before we left.