Author Topic: Keeping catch without a livewell (Read 2693 times)

Star1pup · « **on:** October 21, 2011, 04:56:13 AM »

My boats have always had a livewell, but I just bought a smaller used boat that doesn't have one. This is a 14' boat. I'm interested in how others keep the catch for eating without a livewell. I've thought about a small cooler and freezing quart jugs of water for in it.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2011, 05:13:33 AM »

An ice chest, dump in a bag of ice, add some pond or river water as needed. That will also keep your can drinks cold. Also use a fish stringer tied to an eye hook and dangled in the water if you don't have gators and big snapping turtles around. You can also catch and release the fish to fight another day.

Old Syko · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2011, 06:37:54 AM »

Big cooler works fine. Used to use a 12 volt pump to circulate and a 12 volt aerator. An old windshield washer pump will do for circulation. Aerators are available at a pet store for cheap. If you use a big enough circulation pump you can just drop a hose over the side to fill or empty.

possume · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2011, 07:18:11 AM »

i use a mesh fish basket i just throw it over the side of the boat while fishing they stay alive because they are still in the water they are used to i pull them in when needed to run the big motor when im ready to go i dump the fish into cooler or 5 gallon bucket that i keep stored in my truck to keep the boat from being clutterd

Star1pup · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2011, 07:23:30 AM »

I use a cooler with an aerator & filter in my garage to keep minnows alive. I guess I can rig up something similar with a battery powered aerator for in the boat. One thing I learned the hard way is to not use frozen tap water to cool the minnow water. One little bottle with frozen tap water leaked and I had a bucket of floating minnows.

bilmac · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2011, 08:14:28 AM »

I troll so keeping them in the water doesn't work. I carry an ice chest with ice, no water, and kill the fish immediately.

Star1pup · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2011, 08:19:17 AM »

Quote from: bilmac on October 21, 2011, 08:14:28 AM

I troll so keeping them in the water doesn't work. I carry an ice chest with ice, no water, and kill the fish immediately.

That's what I've found when fishing with guys on Lake Erie. They whack the walleyes with a short bat and throw them on ice. Doesn't work if you want to release them later though.

bilmac · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2011, 12:55:52 PM »

I only practice fillet and release.

Star1pup · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2011, 01:46:02 PM »

I think that if I use the frozen jugs in a cooler I should probably put newspapers over them to keep the fish from touching them. Make sense?

bilmac · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2011, 02:07:54 AM »

Na, I didn't mean absolutely no water, I use cubes from the ice maker, and when it melts you have water, I just wouldn't add water to the cooler with the ice. The very best is to bury your fish in ice but not completely on the bottom and then leave the drain hole open so the fish is surrounded with ice, and the water drains away. We often don't have this perfect situation, especially when the fish are biting, they just get dumped on top, but they will keep that way for quite awhile especially if the outside temp isn't too high.

chefjeff · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2011, 02:14:05 PM »

Most ocean boats keep the plug out of the cooler to drain water.Ice holds longer. Another option is to filet the catch immediately,portion on freezer bags, and keep on ice.This solves several problems.Happy fishing!

Old Syko · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2011, 02:27:37 PM »

Star1pup you can still use frozen tap water. Pick up a small bottle of Start Right someplace that sells fish tank supplies. I think even walley world sells it. Just a drop or so per jug, let them set uncapped a couple days and then freeze and you won't have a problem. It removes chlorine and related chemicals from the water.

Look here for an aerator. $9.95 and runs for 33 hours on D batteries.
http://www.marinemetal.com/mmpweb3.html

DaGris · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:34:13 AM »

cooler with ice...thats all u need

Cheesehead · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2012, 04:32:16 AM »

Years ago, I used a wet gunny sack and kept it out of the sun. Now I have a live well.

Cheese

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2012, 07:07:13 AM »

Quote from: possume on October 21, 2011, 07:18:11 AM

i use a mesh fish basket i just throw it over the side of the boat while fishing they stay alive because they are still in the water they are used to i pull them in when needed to run the big motor when im ready to go i dump the fish into cooler or 5 gallon bucket that i keep stored in my truck to keep the boat from being clutterd

Baskets are great for panfish/crappies when you really get into them, just flop them in the spring-loaded lid and keep on fishing.

Star1pup · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2012, 07:11:54 AM »

I bought a cooler at a garage sale and now have small jugs of water freezing. I have a little freezer in my garage workshop and use it to freeze the water. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to just dump my catch in the cooler with ice.

hillbill · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2012, 01:56:35 PM »

all i have used for the last 20 yrs is a large cooler with 4 to 5, 2 quart bottles of ice in it. fish are thrown in as soon as you catch them.when you clean the fish, put sum dish soap in the cooler and wash it out and the bottles with a soft brush like yu wash your car with. dry bottles with a towle and put back in freezer. it costs nothing. i havent purchased ice in years. if you want to know if your fish are kept well and are fresh. just look at the gills, if they are blood red then that fish is fresh. if they are pale pink then yu didnt do it rite. you cant have too much ice. if you run out of cooler room take a bottle of ice out. yull get the feel for it.

hillbill · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2012, 02:23:57 PM »

some things you can do to help keep your fish fresh are, keeping your cooler out of the sun.anything yu can put over it in your boat to keep the sun off is good.i stack my life jakets on top of the cooler or a peice of carpet or if in camp i like to put a blanket over the cooler.

Star1pup · « **Reply #18 on:** May 06, 2012, 03:24:24 PM »

Good advice Hillbill. I'll put the life jackets on top of my cooler.

ihmsakiwi · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2012, 09:26:58 PM »

Hi Star1pup,
On my boat I use a large Rubbermaid chilly bin, but on my quad bike for beach fishing I have recently been using an insulated fish bag. (google Canyon fish cooler bag). This is proving a great space saver, keeps bags of ice solid for as long as the traditional plastic bins, and can be stowed away until needed. I will be using this also on mu boat to save valuable fishing space.
The best way IMHO to keep our fish in best condition for eating is; Iki the fish through the brain immediately, put into a slurry of salt flake ice (or fresh ice if sea ice unavailable) and seawater. This slurry is a lot colder than ice only. Fish will keep all day in this. We ensure the fish is still completley sealed by not cutting or damaging the fish in any way as it is "water-tight" and water will not adversely effect the flesh. Peter.