Frozen Fish

[Norco]

I have a question, if I catch a fish and it freezes while I'm on the ice and take it home, thaw it out, and fillet it is it safe to refreeze the fillets to eat later or is it bad to refreeze seeing you may get bacteria?????? I've done this before and never got sick but a friend of mine told me it was not a good idea, is he right??

[Mueske]

You're safe. Most fish and game harvested in winter months become at least partially frozen and can be thawed once safely and refrozen. Meat found in stores has often been frozen and thawed several times which is why the fresh stuff tastes so good. Each time the meat is thawed bacteria will try to rob you of your meal until they are killed by heat. Freezing twice before cooking should be fine. Bon appetit!!!

Kevin

[Hemlock]

Norco,

If your fish fit in a 5 gallon pail, which I would imagine, most would...fill the pail with your fish and some clean snow. It' helps to insulate and freezing doesn't happen nearly as fast and to the extent of just leaving them sit on the ice. Cleaning fish that are really cold but not frozen are nice to clean and are great tasting. Just my two cents!

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Hemlock
"Throw'm back"

[upnorth]

Hemlock,

Good tip, I'll have to try that one.
Thanks

[Steve Foss]

I bring along a clear plastic tote big enough to fish a dozen pike or more panfish. I keep it in the front seat of the truck in the sun (when the sun's out). Even with the truck not running, the cab warms up nicely in the sun and keeps the fish thawed.

Of course, that works when you're fishing tipups, not so much when you're in a house.

[kslipsinker]

Here is a tip that works for me.

I always take a plastic 5 gallon pail along and something to scoop water out of the hole. When you catch your first fish, put it in the pail and fill the pail about half full of water. The fish stay alive and flopping, so when you clean them they are not frozen. This works very well for panfish, which is what most people fish for this time of the year.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Pack them with snow right away and they will never freeze!

C&R~~~~~>')))))><

[Norco]

Thanks for the advice, I have ate fish that was frozen twice with no harm done but just wanted a confirmation that it was ok to do.

[John19]

I drill a hole about 15-20 yards away and put the fish on a stringer. I then clip the end of the stringer on the handle of a 5gal. bucket or our hand auger or anything else avaliable. When we leave, gut the fish, pack in ice or snow, fresh fish!!!

[Caesarfishinguytoo]

John where you fishin. I might have to visit your stringer sometime!! LOL

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I like Tail

[Northlander]

I also have used snow, works great in a 5 gal. pail in your house if you have room.

[cvikes80]

another thing you can do is just leave the frozen fish frozen, pack them in the freezer whole and when ready to eat just thaw and fillet them

[Steve Foss]

Just a note. If you do as John suggests, make sure you haul the guts out with you if you are fishing in Minnesota.

Otherwise, a CO can get you for littering or, if you stick them down the hole, for placing fish remains in the water. Both are illegal in the Land of 10,000 Laws.

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 03-05-2003).]

[John19]

stfcatfish , Thanks for the help on Minnesota law. We are in Colorado, and it is perfectly legal to place "guts" down the hole. However, it is suggested not to do so, to help prevent the spred of Whirling Disease, which has hit our trout hatcheries rather hard the past 5 years or so. I was unaware of this suggestion, till I read the 2003 regs, inspired by your reply. So once again, Thanks!

[Guest]

I think it doesn't matter how you bring the fish home. It will still taste the sam. Nice, and juicy.