Frozen Fish

[Sheephead Slayer]

I messed up and forgot 9 Crappies in my pick-up that I caught on Tuesday. It was 15 below zero when I caught them and put them outside the door right away, so they were frozen in about 5 minutes. Anyway I found them tonight and they are still rock hard, does anyone see a problem with cleaning them still? It's my mistake and don't bash me for it, just don't want to make my family I'll. Trust me I feel plenty bad about it already.

They were stored in a plastic bag in a Tanneu covered pick-up bed.

Thanks,

Kevin

[icechipper]

Thaw out, clean & Eat them.... Don't feel bad it happens to all of us at some point.

[Ice Ranger]

If they've haven't thawed at all, I'd assume they are still fine. Especially since they were stored in a plastic bag...

[Sandmannd]

I would say you are fine. I've come home late and thrown some fish in a ziplock and in the freezer. Cleaned them a couple of days later and they were fine. As long as they didn't thaw you're good to go.

[David Kasten]

iv never had a problem with fileting them out even after theyv been thawed, Honestly i hate fileting fish that have been frozen there a to fricken slimy.

[jwhjr]

I do it all the time when I come back from up north. I've had them in a bucket of snow for a few days quite a few times. I just thaw them out in the laundry tub (and try and wash as much slime off as I can) and clean them. I've never had any issues.

[anyfishwilldo]

I have some of those at home too. I filet them all winter long that way. All you need to do is thaw them out, wipe them off in newspaper(removes slime), carve away.

[blackdog1101]

I often fillet fish the day after catching them if I come home late in the evening. Keep them frozen and they're fine. You can rinse the slime off first by running the fish under water and rubbing with your fingers. Makes them easier to handle on the cutting board.

[FishnUMD]

here's the next question-what's the longest you've had them frozen before you fileted your fish?

[CNCMike]

About 5 days for me. Totally forgot about em on a sunday night, remembered em on friday. thawed em out, cut em up and they were fine.

[fisherking01]

For those who lived before freezers, they kept fish all winter long in the round and thawed and cleaned as they ate them. Not a problem.

[OldBear]

I've got to take care of that right now. Been moving the daughter all week, was tired but went out for an hour. Caught 9 blue gills and didn't have the energy to clean them. Their froze and will be fine.

[slipperybob]

I freeze them all the time...something about little pannies that doesn't motivate me to clean them right away...

LOL's

[sjburnt]

.

[Harbi]

I have cleaned and eaten lake trout frozen for two weeks after being caught. No Problem.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I agree you will just fine. I have waited for a week many times. Just be sure that they were not thawed at all.

[David Kasten]

it is what it is. if your concerned clean them when you get home next time. if not, there fine to wait.

[David Kasten]

it is what it is. if your concerned clean them when you get home next time. if not, there fine to wait.