Thread: Cleaning Fish (crappie)

I personally don't feel comfortable leaving them more than 24 hours, and usually less than that. It's not based on anything other that personal preference and concern about quality. I read a post or article once where someone mentioned they shouldn't be left any longer than necessary due to the 'innards'...similar to field dressing a deer I guess. But I've never had any problems leaving for a day.

Good topic to ask about though!

I clean mine sometime the next day

Same day or the next day but I sometimes keep the fillets in ice water for a couple of days.

Usually within 2 hours of getting off the water. Just part of my routine.

Originally Posted by prefers shiners

Assuming that you will keep them iced down real good & cold, just how long will you keep them before you clean them.....ie, what is your maximum number of days.....for instance, If I catch on a Monday, I will clean on Wednesday.....could I go another day or two.....what do you do.....of course, this assumes that you do catch some.....

I would think after Wednesday you would be stretching it. I wouldn't go over 2 days with guts in. From my experience in the seafood industry we found your nose will tell you a lot about freshness. If you gut them right after catching and ice heavy you can go longer. Personally I'm not going longer than the next day after catch. There is a good bit of rotten seafood that's doctored and sold. Buyer beware. That's why our own catch is the best.

I have cleaned them 3 days later. Forgot about them til then. They were fine. But I keep mine dry in a fridge set real cold. No telling how long those large fishing boats hold fish, before they bring them in to market.

As long as the gills are red they are OK. Pink, they're questionable. White, pitch them.

Usually clean them before I put my boat up


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