Thread: Dead Crappie

I might of made a grave miscalculation. I limited out at banner this morning around 2am. All my ice had melted and I didn't think to stop to get some because I thought I would clean and refrigerate them when I got home. But being around 3 am and no garage I was going to clean them out back till the neighborhood yapping dogs started barkin. So I hit the sack and left them in some cold water and here I am with my dilemma 5 hours'ish later, to clean and cook or to toss. Tossing would absolutely make me hate myself, partially for just being a wasteful glutton but mostly for killing so many live animals and doing nothing with them, would probably make me physically ill. Well it was kinda chilly last night and the bucket was out back, no where near iced down but I just checked them and their eyes are super clear so I dunno what to do I think I'll have a little marathon cleaning session and just see what happens. Last night was probably the first night in a long time I've really gotten into some crappie and was unprepared. I expected to strike out like I've done so many times already this year. I always have left over ice for my fish, just didn't expect to fish for oh 10 hours or so, but hey what can you do.

Well they were super clear eyed when I started by the time I finished there were a few iffy ones. Cleaned em anyways. Now that I got all the fillet in some water cleaned feeling around most of them are dry or flaky feeling under the water and just a couple are semi slimy so I'm thinking as they go bad the meat gets slimy? All the fillets visually look perfect as they should. So I dunno. I'm just really glad I didn't waste any fish.

Originally Posted by eylusion

I might of made a grave miscalculation. I limited out at banner this morning around 2am. All my ice had melted and I didn't think to stop to get some because I thought I would clean and refrigerate them when I got home. But being around 3 am and no garage I was going to clean them out back till the neighborhood yapping dogs started barkin. So I hit the sack and left them in some cold water and here I am with my dilemma 5 hours'ish later, to clean and cook or to toss. Tossing would absolutely make me hate myself, partially for just being a wasteful glutton but mostly for killing so many live animals and doing nothing with them, would probably make me physically ill. Well it was kinda chilly last night and the bucket was out back, no where near iced down but I just checked them and their eyes are super clear so I dunno what to do I think I'll have a little marathon cleaning session and just see what happens. Last night was probably the first night in a long time I've really gotten into some crappie and was unprepared. I expected to strike out like I've done so many times already this year. I always have left over ice for my fish, just didn't expect to fish for oh 10 hours or so, but hey what can you do.

Forget about "clear eyes" .... what you want to see is pink to red gills. White-ish to grey-ish gills and the fish are probably not fit to eat .... but, they'd still make good fertilizer for your tomato plants (bury them UNDER the new plantings).

... cp

Well all their gills were pink till around the end my last few fish the gills were still pink but I guess how light pink isn't pink anymore ya know if I get sick I get sick, it was still worth it.

Not worth takeing a chance.....throw them away and take better care of your fish next time

Originally Posted by eylusion

I might of made a grave miscalculation. I limited out at banner this morning around 2am. All my ice had melted and I didn't think to stop to get some because I thought I would clean and refrigerate them when I got home. But being around 3 am and no garage I was going to clean them out back till the neighborhood yapping dogs started barkin. So I hit the sack and left them in some cold water and here I am with my dilemma 5 hours'ish later, to clean and cook or to toss. Tossing would absolutely make me hate myself, partially for just being a wasteful glutton but mostly for killing so many live animals and doing nothing with them, would probably make me physically ill. Well it was kinda chilly last night and the bucket was out back, no where near iced down but I just checked them and their eyes are super clear so I dunno what to do I think I'll have a little marathon cleaning session and just see what happens. Last night was probably the first night in a long time I've really gotten into some crappie and was unprepared. I expected to strike out like I've done so many times already this year. I always have left over ice for my fish, just didn't expect to fish for oh 10 hours or so, but hey what can you do.

freeze a few two liter bottles and a sunny d (large ) , take them every outing and put in freezer after each trip . to heck with buying ice .

If you are meat fishing, I see no reason to ever put them in a live well. Bring a large cooler with a couple bags of ice in it and ice them down immediately. Flavor will be better as well, and I personally do not fillet live fish. Much easier and no blood all over the place if they are cold and dead. Live wells are for bait and bass tournaments.