On Ice Overnight?

[adamr]

hey guys just wondering how long is too long to keep fish on ice before fileting them. i've heard some people say that a day or two is alright, but i've also heard that even overnight is not good for the meat. i'm not planning on keeping my catch iced down for days, but i don't have a good fish cleaning station with lights so its much easier to wait and clean them in the morning when i have some sunlight. thanks

[frank lawhead]

I have a friend who has kept them on ice over night for years now ---I,ve ate a lot of his fish ,they taste real good to me

[rango]

hey guys just wondering how long is too long to keep fish on ice before fileting them. i've heard some people say that a day or two is alright, but i've also heard that even overnight is not good for the meat. i'm not planning on keeping my catch iced down for days, but i don't have a good fish cleaning station with lights and so its much easier to wait and clean them in the morning when i have some sunlight. thanks

on fish i keep when i come home from a night stalk, ill pour enough ice over them to cover em good, pull the plug out of the cooler so the water can drain , and let em set till i get to em, usually sometime the next day. i have kept em a second day, (with plenty of ice) with no problem.

[Barnacle Bill]

I have often kept them on ice for several days. The fish markets do it all the time. I usually use water frozen in jugs so they don't soak in water or leave the drain out like Rango said. Somewhere I read or heard that as long as their gills are still red they are ok to eat.

[BANDIT]

I ice mine down after nearly every trip. Never had a problem

[Fishnbuddy]

I've seen commercial fishing boats with iced fish in their holds for several days. Overnight is no problem.

[GABoy]

A couple days is even fine...just drain the water occassionally and put new ice on them as it melts down....

[DENNIS BOWERS]

I too have kept them a coupla days with no problem.Go with the gills if their red the fish is ok!! Good Fishin To Ya !!Dennis

[labill]

As a general rule, I seldom get back to the house before dark, and in those cases I put more ice in the cooler and remove the plug, as described by some of the previous posts. If I limit out, which is seldom, and I'm back early, I clean them immediately. I have never noticed any difference in taste or texture.

[adamr]

thanks a lot for the replies fellas. it sure is much more easy and convenient for me to clean them the next day.