Skates are a speciouse group of flattened cartilaginous fishes. They are oviparous, depositing their embryos in cases that rest on the ocean floor for extended periods of time. Few nursery sites have been identified in the North Pacific, with ongoing efforts to find more for species conservation. Understanding how egg cases interact with their environment may provide insight regarding preferred nursery locations. Our goal was to determine how the overall shape of the cases and the microstructure of the external surface influences how they interact with water flow. Using a water tunnel and arduino tilt table we assessed the limits of what currents and friction eight species of egg cases can withstand before detaching from substrate. We then used scanning electron microscopy to examine different microstructures covering the surface of each case and analysed how egg case morphology varies between the species, measuring all portions of the cases. We did this to determine which morphometrics drive morphological diversity between species and suggest which structures may help egg cases resist detachment from substrate. Friction and flow speed did not significantly differ by orientation across species, but orientations did differ within species. We attribute this to differences in microstructures. Both friction and flow speed are dependent on species and individual, suggesting some species are better able to handle stronger flow and friction conditions than others. By understanding how species-specific microstructures and morphologies interact in a simulated environment, we can determine suitable habitats for nurseries for certain species. These new variables can be incorporated into past models to create fine scale maps of prospective skate nursery habitats.