Transporting and care for fresh fish

[Guest]

I will usually bring a couple plastic baggies with me, but is that enough. I'm worried about spoilage. How long can a fresh caught fish stay fresh? Should I bring ice everytime? Any info is appreciated.

[Guest]

I believe it was Ben Franklin who observed that "House guests and fish go bad after three days."

Actually, without freezing, I'd say three days would be the outer limit.

[Guest]

On re-reading your post, I get the idea you are referring to a fishing outing. If that's the case, yes, you should take ice.

[Guest]

I always bring ice to transport freshly caught fish (except in winter), actually fish can start to get an off taste after being on a stringer in warm surface water for just a few hours, same thing with fish baskets and live wells, as soon as the fish dies, the decomposition(proliferation of microbes) begins in as little as 30 minutes at 70 degrees. I think to maximize freshness, after deciding to keep it, have a cooler with ice on hand, dispatch the fish, and place on/in ice. In the winter, I think a bucket of slush is best, as it prevents the fish from freezing. Cleaning the fish as soon as possible is another way to maximize freshness, If out for extended periods, dry ice will freeze fish solid, and will keep for many days in a decent cooler, layer dry ice with regular ice, and fill cooler as full as possible, the ice has a much higher heat capacity than air. Make ice in your freezer at home, and keep as much as possible in it, to conserve energy and extend the life of your freezer as well, and you always have a supply to take fishing.

[Guest]

Thanks Coldone. I'll take that advice, next time I'm out on the lake. Thanks about the tip on the ice in the freezer, too.

[Guest]

I agree with coldone... I know several of my fishing buddies use only a cooler with ice in it.... If you decide to keep any fish they will not get soft..like in the summer...or hanging on a stringer.... they refer the live wells as Dead Wells.... then when you clean fish there are fresh... Good Luck

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Fishspicermn

FMWL

[This message has been edited by fishspicermn (edited 11-10-2002).]

[Guest]

Someone on another post, and Field & Stream suggested bleeding them first by slitting the gills before they go on ice. I've found that this prevents a gorging of the extremities (fins, eyes, lateral line) with blood, and according to F&S, keeps lactic acid from building up in the flesh. I know in Northerns it keeps the slime down to a minimum. Of course, slitting a Pike's gills open just annoys 'em .

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RobertC