Ruger fish fish freezing method…..

[redblood]

Sure makes things nice. I can clean a cooler full of crappie quick. Washen em, put em in container, fill with water, and they stack beautifully in freezer. But i have a couple questions. How long will they last? Im getting quite a bit in their- should i focus on using first caught , first? I know it makes sense to do, but i have to re stack a few times so di i need to take time and go thorough the dates?

Next question- can you freeze different species together. All i typically catch are crappie- all i want to catch on lake trips. But had several spotted bass yesterday that were in the cooler- ok to store together. I figure the answer is yes, but maybe some firmer textured fish last longer? Either way, its a great secure way to secure.

 

[Spurhunter]

I try to eat the first caught first, but occasionally, like yesterday, I'll cook my last catch before they ever hit the freezer. I freeze different species together.

 

[Chaneylake]

We freeze different species separate

Write on bag the species, #fish and date with sharpie. If you want to.

 

[MickThompson]

If you've got a vac sealer you can skip filling your freezer full of ice chunks

 

[Spurhunter]

If you've got a vac sealer you can skip filling your freezer full of ice chunks

I got a vacuum sealer for Christmas and that's what I use now. Takes up so much less space in the freezer.

 

[TN Larry]

I have ate fish frozen in water after a couple of years that got lost in the bottom of the freezer with no issues. It also doesn't hurt to mix species if that's what you wanna do.

I'd rather have cold water spotted bass over crappie 10 to 1, but everyone has their preference.

 

[medic]

I got a vacuum sealer for Christmas and that's what I use now. Takes up so much less space in the freezer.

Do you put water in the bag or skip the water?

 

[Spurhunter]

Do you put water in the bag or skip the water?

No water. I even pat the fillets with a paper towel to get them somewhat dry. When the sealer pulls the vacuum the water comes out and if it's in the sealing area when it seals you won't get a good seal. It takes a little longer but not having my freezer full of bags of ice makes it worth it.

 

[RUGER]

Glad it's working out for you!
I don't even rotate I just grab and cook.

 

[RUGER]

I have never used a vacuum sealer but when you freeze them in water they seem to hold their flavor for a long time.

 

[Smo]

Back in the day we used those old paper 1/2 gal milk cartons…
Stuff em' full of blue gill , add water too the top fold the top shut and set in the freezer…

Scaled em' too, Dad said fillets wasted too much meat…

 

[chimneyman]

I still use 1/2 gallon and quart milk cartons they stand up and easy to store then after they freeze can lay em on their sides. Marked if sides and bottom type of fish and how many

 

[TX300mag]

That's what I've cream containers are for

 

[redblood]

I have ate fish frozen in water after a couple of years that got lost in the bottom of the freezer with no issues. It also doesn't hurt to mix species if that's what you wanna do.

I'd rather have cold water spotted bass over crappie 10 to 1, but everyone has their preference.

I love spotted bass. We were solely spotted bass, rock bass and blue gill eaters until we got into crappie. I agree they are every bit as good as crappie. Crappie are easier to catch and in these waters are really big fish so i guess they are to get big catches on

 

[7mm08]

That's what I've cream containers are for

Seriously?

 

[WTM]

That's what I've cream containers are for

if you dont want to eat all that ice cream and get fat like i did, lowes sells food grade containers fairly cheap in several sizes.

1 gallon will hold around 75-100 bluegill and shell crackens.

 

[jlanecr500]

I put filets in a gallon zip lock bag with water and a little salt. They lay flat in the freezer and stack well. One bag feeds our family and a couple of big lunches for me at work. We're usually running out when the run starts the next year so it's never in the freezer over a year.

 

[TX300mag]

Seriously?

Supposed to say ice cream, but my phone does it's own auto-correct stuff.

When I was growing up all the fish went in water in Turner ice cream containers.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I have ate fish frozen in water after a couple of years that got lost in the bottom of the freezer with no issues. It also doesn't hurt to mix species if that's what you wanna do.

I'd rather have cold water spotted bass over crappie 10 to 1, but everyone has their preference.

cold spots are hard to beat...

 

[agelessssone]

I have ate fish frozen in water after a couple of years that got lost in the bottom of the freezer with no issues. It also doesn't hurt to mix species if that's what you wanna do.

I'd rather have cold water spotted bass over crappie 10 to 1, but everyone has their preference.

Me too! No crappie for us, but love largemouth, spots and Kentuckies.

 

[iowavf]

I've always just laid them on a cookie sheet, freeze them, then place in freezer baggie. I do mushrooms the same way. Just had the last little bag of mushrooms a couple weeks ago with some fish. Just don't thaw the mushrooms out first! straight from the bag into egg wash and crackers then into the oil.

 

[Soft Talker]

Although I do own and use a commercial grade vacuum sealer, zip loc freezer bags submerged in a half full 5 gallon bucket will "vacuum seal" very well in a pinch