GrandStreetpier,
This is where you "jumped the shark" and show how little you actually know about the specie, which also speaks to the likelihood you don't fish for them as much as you purport.
A 150 lb bat ray is NOT a "rare" occurence. There's a group of guys that regularly fish mud marlin off Shelter Island (east of the public pier), and I have personally seen 100lb+ bat rays being pulled up. While I do not target them per se, over the years as an incidental catch, I have cut off easily a dozen 50lbers at the pier itself. The fact of the matter is that they are a dime-a-dozen, and take little skill to get them to bite.....but I do agree they are fun nevertheless to bring in.