Letting fish sit in an ice-less cooler over night: opinions

[FTBLFAN]

I have around 12 pretty nice slabs I brought from the lake today...and I think I'll clean them tomorrow rather than tonight.

They were in my livewell until 4:30 today when I transferred them to my cooler (no ice) for the ride home. I went out to clean them at 9:30 and they were still moving around a bit. My preference is to clean them once they get a little stiff.

Does anyone see a problem with just letting them sit outside in my cooler (again, no ice) over night and filleting them in the morning?

It's 27 outside now and won't be above freezing until around 9:00 tomorrow morning.

I know I'll have to put some water on them to thaw out in the morning...

[crappiefarmer]

Id throw some ice on them anyway.CF

[FTBLFAN]

I got my second wind and cleaned them.

However, I'm interested to know why you'd throw ice on them...

[bugman]

I throw ice on mine when i'm not planning on cleaning them right away just to cool em down asap.

[Lowellhturner]

Not a conasuer(?), but would agree, tossing some icecubes in with them isn`t going to HURT them any...just wouldn`t let them freeze solid. Actually, the colder they are (but not literally frozen), the easier they are to clean! Just my 2 cents.

[IceManCometh]

always best to put ice on them because that will chill them faster, if you leave them with no ice in a cooler they will live longer and with them flopping around lactid acid builds in the fishes muscles making the meat not as good plus there is chance of fish bruising the meat

[Gator Bait]

OK...I'll ask a dumb question. I see a lot of photos of fish in coolers. I would think 90% of our boats have live wells. So...what do most of you do: A. Put catch from water into livewell and transfer to a cooler and ice down for trip home? B. Throw he fish from the water into a cooler with ice and maybe add ice on top on the way home? C...something else?

Also do most of you gut/clean/fillet at home,on the water, or a combo?

We manage self storage properties and live in an apartment on site so I don't have a really good place to clean fish.

[WhitePerchJerker]

B. My fish go right on ice, in a cooler, lots of ice!

[beagle man]

hot weather Ice cold weather live well with water,

if you rap them fish right behing the eyes on top of there head they will quit flopping and hold still. use the back of the knife to do this, simple trick.

[Jrbond]

Being and inexpierianced fisherman, I have been curious about this subject as well. I know it is easier for me to handle dead fish (not flopping around trying to stick me), but the impression I got was that they spoiled pretty quickly.