Cleaning Fish (crappie)

If you instantly gut and gill them you might be able to make a few days. Those large boats D speaks of have very large ice holds and instantly gut and gill fish before going in (the better ones anyway). But don't let them sit in any water. Crushed ice is best and packed tightly in and around each fish. Re ice and repack often and keep water off them. What your asking to do is one of the few times I would suggest one of the high end coolers like Yeti or RTIC. Best option might be to filet out the live fish and ziploc bag or vac seal at end of each day then ice down good. That is probably how I would go about it if forced into that position. The guts, gills and blood are what will turn the quickest and spoil them.

I try to clean mine that day, no matter how late it is, but on occasion, I have waited until the next day. I don't like waiting because I tend to forget. lol

I clean fish on Sunday if I'm at the camp. So 2-3 days on ice. Its one of the last things I do before I shut it down.

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Originally Posted by "G"

To me they just fillet better and easier after they been iced down over night

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Same here. Leave on ice overnight and clean the next morning. I feel the fish fillet better when firm.

I clean mine within 48 hours. I've never like to go any longer. Something interesting is that I know guys that ice fish and they will catch fish and throw them on the ice and the fish freeze. They put them in a bucket and add water so the fish won't dry out. Once they get enough fish to fool with at the end of the week they thaw the fish and clean em. My point being, you might could freeze the fish solid and them thaw them out. Could be the fish get mushy.

With a electric fillet knife, takes me about 20-30 minutes to clean 25 crappies so I try and clean with them iced down during fishing, right away when I get home. If lake at nite, ice and repack then first thing early in morning. I live in a woods with lots of critters roaming and don't want the fish smell anymore than necessary drawing the Bobcats, coons, and possums, and coyotes, around the house or garage. They drive the house dogs crazy as it is. I immediately also drive a couple of miles away and dispose of the waste for the same reason.

I'm with u g. I ice mine down and clean next day. Fillets better when the meat is cold. I also go by the red pink white gills.

good info folks......thanks......

I clean mine ASAP.No long waits never!

usually come in at dark and wait till next day. been doing that for 45 years and still kicking :twocents