How Much Fish Do You Freeze?

Last year I put up WAY too many fish and wound up giving ALOT of it away to my friends that allow me to deer hunt their properties. Ive been freezing what fish we dont eat this spring and I'm wondering just how many packs are enough. Now I know we eat ALOT more fish when I'm bringing them home fresh but once mid-May gets here I'll stop fishing and probably wont be going again until atleast December as I'll be deer hunting from early Sept throughout the rest of the year. I'm thinking 25 packs (for 2 people) of fish figuring about eating fish twice a month and occassionally asking Dad and his wife over for fish. I'm guessing.........what do you guys try to put up to carry you over during the hot summer and cold winter months?

First, if I don't start catching more fish than I have so far this spring, freezing too many is not going to be an issue :biggrin. As far as how many packs, it depends on how large the packs are. I vacuum seal mine most of the time so a pack would have 6 or 8 fillets depending on the size of them. When I used to freeze them in water, a pack would have a whole lot more than that. Keeping to the vacuum pack size, assuming we eat fish about like you, maybe 2 or 3 times a month plus the occasional fish stew, I would need maybe 25 to 30 of those size packs. It is actually a bit less since part of the year we will be eating fresh fish. We have some group fish fries occasionally so I might freeze a few extra for those. Then there is the issue of freezer space so that can sometimes be an issue depending on what other stuff the wife has bought when she runs across a "special" and loads us up with chicken, beef, etc. Somehow, that always gets to be an issue no matter how much total freezer space you actually have.

It is a good thing I last longer than a year. My amount of fish caught lately has been pitiful.

I keep my fish in the one-pint yogurt size containers. I freeze the fish filets in water and cover with the lid. I only keep about six containers in the door shelve of the freezer. This amount is just enough for the wife and me. I am like you I bring home fresh fish to eat more than I should. We don't run out and I do have fish on hand for company in emergencies. I do give fish to a couple of folks that can really use them. I think I got a good plan nothing goes to the trash or woods.

That’s a tuff question and one that is constantly changing for me. I’ve been retired 6 years and I’ve thawed out fish for me and the Misses 2 times so I shouldn’t ever freeze any. Life would be easier and simpler if I did that. I never keep any if someone fishes with me. They take them or we catch and release. Got a few friends that request fish that don’t require me cleaning and it works out good for me. Also have a few friend I clean and vacuum seal to have on hand when they want some. I try not to exceed 5-8 packs and never have any over 6 months old. It’s hard to decide how many to keep and some day I plan to catch and release and I start catching the size I like 11-12” and ended up keeping when I shouldn’t because I think Dang it I’ve spent the money on gas and an hour drive I should keep some. Setting a slot size limit to keep cuts down on the keepers on tuff days.


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My group keeps quite a bit and eats quite a bit. In early spring each year we donate last years left overs to a local church and they have an Easter fish fry for the congregation. The fish fry this year is tomorrow (I think). That's why you guys see a lot of stripers in some of the pictures I share. :biggrin

Nothing from the "Goins Fishing" group goes to waste. The resource is too precious for that!

I put 7 or 8 fillets to a bag,and I got way too many packs right now! eating fish about every 2 weeks, my freezer needs to be cleaned out....:biggrin

Hardly any. I can't tell you the last time I kept any for myself. Dad kept a dozen or so a month ago. Couldn't tell you how long it had been before that.

I wind up keeping and freezing more than I probably should be I also give a good many away to folks that can’t fish. I freeze my fish in quart bags with water and they’ll last years like that. I normally try to turn my freezer over each year with a few big fish fries with friends and at work. At any given time I’ll have 25-30 packs in the freezer. Mostly crappie but I’ll also have some striper, black bass, catfish, and perch.


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Originally Posted by TreednNC

Hardly any. I can't tell you the last time I kept any for myself. Dad kept a dozen or so a month ago. Couldn't tell you how long it had been before that.

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During the hot summer months I dont fish. So that's mid May until early Sept when bow season opens & then that carries until after the rut in Nov before I''ll fish again. That's atleast 6 months without fishing. Need to make sure I have enough without having WAY too many to last me and the wife that long.

A summer time jug fishing or limb lining run would stock you back up on some fish.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

A summer time jug fishing or limb lining run would stock you back up on some fish.

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I agree but I dont have a problem getting enough crappie froze. Being retired makes that nice.;) It's just knowing how many packs I need. I'd rather give my friends fish that's fresh, not froze.:)

Back when I was a young man I jug fished every weekend and caught lots of fish. Back then I thought there wasnt a better fish than a filleted catfish. That was before I began crappie fishing. LOL

Like said already freeze em in water in quart bags they last years!
Never had any to go bad I also try to rotate out freezer every year and I have plenty folks that will
take em if I ever need to get rid of any. I share a lot and have 2-3 big fish fry’s a year so I alway keep a freezer full.

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Originally Posted by gabowman

I agree but I dont have a problem getting enough crappie froze. Being retired makes that nice.;) It's just knowing how many packs I need. I'd rather give my friends fish that's fresh, not froze.:)

Back when I was a young man I jug fished every weekend and caught lots of fish. Back then I thought there wasnt a better fish than a filleted catfish. That was before I began crappie fishing. LOL

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Still hard to beat some clean water catfish fillets grilled or baked. That is if there is such a thing as clean water

How do you grill 'em?

A little 2 step Fire Creole seasoning and some butter. Mighty fine blackened as well. Same seasoning and butter, thrown into hot cast iron

As most of you know by now I haven't been around to fish much since we went full time motorhoming. Well I've run out of frozen fish.
We'll be back in the area and available to fish or beg for some fish between May 26-31st and June 1st - 9th.
We've seen some of the USA and are back for doctor appointments and visits with freinds.
After that we head North for thr Summer months.

Thanks,
Grady
Aka mthook
We all know it's not a good post without a picture so here is Piper.
Still have t figured out how to turn thr pictures.

Attachment 455190

And there's your upright picture.;):)

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Originally Posted by gabowman

And there's your upright picture.;):)

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Thank you,
Did you do it on the site or another app?

I saved your pic to my 'puter, turned it upright, then inserted the upright pic and deleted yours. There might be an easier way but this is the way I know how to get it done.:)

Thanks again,
I'll have tontry that on my tablet. DW has control ofbthe computer I don't dare touch it. :-)

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Originally Posted by MThook

As most of you know by now I haven't been around to fish much since we went full time motorhoming. Well I've run out of frozen fish.
We'll be back in the area and available to fish or beg for some fish between May 26-31st and June 1st - 9th.
We've seen some of the USA and are back for doctor appointments and visits with freinds.
After that we head North for thr Summer months.

Thanks,
Grady
Aka mthook
We all know it's not a good post without a picture so here is Piper.
Still have t figured out how to turn thr pictures.

Attachment 455190

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Grady, Let me know when you head north. If you'll swing by Morganton, NC on the way, I'll be happy to donate some striper filets to you and the road crew!

Chris

Sounds good,we'll be in Shelby, I can drive up.
Thanks