Keeping a Catch Fresh

[NewFish]

Hello,

Haven't fished since I was a kid, so very newbie question to ask on how are people keeping fish fresh after they've been caught?
If fishing for Mackerel in Howth or Dun Laoghaire, after catching one (hopefully), it seems best to kill straight away but what is the best way for it to not spoil?
Are people using coolers? Will the fish be ok to sit out of water for 2 hours?

Thanks.

[Gonzo]

Hello,

Haven't fished since I was a kid, so very newbie question to ask on how are people keeping fish fresh after they've been caught?
If fishing for Mackerel in Howth or Dun Laoghaire, after catching one (hopefully), it seems best to kill straight away but what is the best way for it to not spoil?
Are people using coolers? Will the fish be ok to sit out of water for 2 hours?

Thanks.

Gut the fish as quick as you can and keep it in some sea water or in a wet canvas bag and it will be perfect when you get home!

[shortcircuit]

It is a pain to transport but ice is the only job.

A couple of years ago I was able to do a direct comparison on mackerel that was less than 24 h old. One set had been in a bucket on board for a few hours before getting home and refrigerated. The second set had gone into a cooler of ice and seawater immediately.

The difference was remarkable. The iced ones were incredibly firm and perfect looking. Like they had just come out of the water. Tasted amazing. The ones that hadn't been cooled immediately after catching were noticeably less firm. They tasted nice but not a patch on the iced ones.

I even think I didn't gut the iced ones and yet they were still way better. Even more than two days later the iced ones were in great order whereas most people would be throwing mackerel out after two days.

It's obvious that the key to keeping them fresh is to get them chilled down as soon as humanly possible which stops the bacteria from getting going.

[NewFish]

Hello,

Haven't fished since I was a kid, so very newbie question to ask on how are people keeping fish fresh after they've been caught?
If fishing for Mackerel in Howth or Dun Laoghaire, after catching one (hopefully), it seems best to kill straight away but what is the best way for it to not spoil?
Are people using coolers? Will the fish be ok to sit out of water for 2 hours?

Thanks.

Gut the fish as quick as you can and keep it in some sea water or in a wet canvas bag and it will be perfect when you get home!

Thanks for the advice!

[NewFish]

It is a pain to transport but ice is the only job.

A couple of years ago I was able to do a direct comparison on mackerel that was less than 24 h old. One set had been in a bucket on board for a few hours before getting home and refrigerated. The second set had gone into a cooler of ice and seawater immediately.

The difference was remarkable. The iced ones were incredibly firm and perfect looking. Like they had just come out of the water. Tasted amazing. The ones that hadn't been cooled immediately after catching were noticeably less firm. They tasted nice but not a patch on the iced ones.

I even think I didn't gut the iced ones and yet they were still way better. Even more than two days later the iced ones were in great order whereas most people would be throwing mackerel out after two days.

It's obvious that the key to keeping them fresh is to get them chilled down as soon as humanly possible which stops the bacteria from getting going.

Thanks! I may invest in a cheap cooler box.

[Go Big or Go Home]

If it's a hot day and your mack bashing just have a cooler box with an ice pack. If for the table gut them before you leave then.

[SiDtheFish]

We always use a large (get one with wheels to save the back!) coolbox with two frozen 3litre milk bottles of water, half a bucket of sea water added at mark/boat. We gut all fish except mackerel ASAP. VERY important is to drain out the water before it gets to the car home! Been there once and the car stank for a month after fish slimey/bloody water slopped everywhere. Something else to consider is freezing fish properly (use that turbo button and spread thinly/between other frozen food). After all the time and money we spend catching fish I've invested in a vac sealer. Goodbye freezer burn and hello to fish/bait lasting twice as long in the freezer

[Kevvv]

We always use a large (get one with wheels to save the back!) coolbox with two frozen 3litre milk bottles of water, half a bucket of sea water added at mark/boat. We gut all fish except mackerel ASAP. VERY important is to drain out the water before it gets to the car home! Been there once and the car stank for a month after fish slimey/bloody water slopped everywhere. Something else to consider is freezing fish properly (use that turbo button and spread thinly/between other frozen food). After all the time and money we spend catching fish I've invested in a vac sealer. Goodbye freezer burn and hello to fish/bait lasting twice as long in the freezer

Out of curiosity why don’t you gut mackerel? I’d usually gut them fairly quick if I was bringing one home for the pan.

[SiDtheFish]

The macks just seem to freeze better whole (for bait). I won't eat them more than a few hours old so any for eating are caught/bled/gutted on the way home