Question for Pilar about fish storage

[Pilar]

Nofish, I would have to see your boat to get some ideas.

I have fished on many boats and some of the features I really like are .. an underdeck fish box, built in bait boxes, live well, windshield and top among others.

When I restored my boat, I replaced the 20 gallon fuel tank with a 42 and added the fish box forward of that.

That box only holds (7) or (8) 20# albacore and the ice they need. After that we have a 150qt white coffin cooler (7 or 8 more) and last the covered cheap plastic 55 gallon totes. They hold 10 or 12 fish each. All that stuff fits under the bow.

The problem is of course weight. 300# of ice, 62 gallons (with deck aux tank) or 450# of fuel, 750# of fishers. Granted you replace Ice and Fuel with Albacore but the boat is heavy on a tuna trip.

Try the totes at Bimart for $17. Maybe you can use the long shallow ones to store in your cabin.

Check out your load capacity and do the math.

[edsr]

Nofish- You hit a real nerve, how to carry everything necessary and balance the boat. We followed the Pilar school of fish handling. The drill went something like this: brain spike - bleed left - bleed right then into a chill tank - 10/15min. then into an iced cooler. The biggest cooler held 4 fish in ice, some only 3 with tails hanging out. The final 4 fish rode home in the 30 gal plastic trash can that we use as the chill tank, minus the bloody water. It seems there is never enough storage room and things really get tight when fish begin coming aboard in two and threes.
Boats with swim platforms to store coolers/chests
look like a good option. It is not that difficult to fabricate boxes from plywood/glass/ epoxy, etc. insulation could help keeep things cool and add additional flotation reserves to the boat. Most any boat repair can walk you through the how, where, etc. Remember that built-ins might be hard to clean.
edsr

[Nofish]

Pilar and edsr,
Thanks very much for the reply and the good ideas. You both have provided me some food for thought. Totes might be one option,I have a Bimart not too far from where I live. I thought about purchasing one of those Canyon insulated fish bags as they really don't take up much room until the fish go in. The $200+ price tag (which holds 200 lbs of fish) is a bit more than the totes. I like the idea though...here is a link to one outfit that sells them:

http://www.alltackle.com/canyon_fish_bags.htm

My swim step is small, but it will handle a garbage can. Edsr's idea of bleeding and chilling in the same tank is a good one to try.

Maybe on our next trip to Depoe, I will have a chance to sneak a look at the Pilar. I haven't really participated on the board for all that long, but I can tell that the boat is treated with a unique reverence. Thanks again.
Bob (aka Nofish)

[Nofish]

Pilar (or anyone with experience cramming fish into a small space),I have only seen photos of various portions of your boat, but it sounds as if you have something similar to what I currently own (20' Bayliner cuddy cabin). The guy I purchased the boat from had pulled the carpet and made a few other fish friendly modifications. Other than the space problem, I do like the boat, especially the 3.0 liter engine - which allows me to afford a long day chasing tuna. Someday perhaps I will have the bucks to purchase a real fishing vessel, but for now, this will have to do.

I am curious about how you have "created space" for fish storage on your vessel? Maybe some pictures of the Pilar? Mark Mc's thread on fish care got me thinking about this. I currently bleed fish in a garbage can on the swim step before sticking them in a large ice chest. I really don't have much room for more than 6-8 albacore.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks very much...Bob