What do you with no fish box???

Riverteeth · 03-25-2009, 08:21 AM

Folks,

I bought a used 20 foot Wooldridge-- really like it. But the previous owner never had a fish box on it (sigh). I'm looking at doing some after market work (wich is of course spoendy, and would have been soooooo much easier of it had been done when the boat was built, but that's water under the bridge).

So short of that "remodel", what other options do I have? Are any of the fish bags out there of good quality?

Road Rage · 03-25-2009, 08:58 AM

Why not use an ice chest?

Riverteeth · 03-25-2009, 09:35 AM

Thoughts on the ice chest: The one I have is used for human food, and I'd like to keep it from smelling "fishy"...............

Another cooler? Well, it would take up a lot of room (expecially to be big enough to handle the occasional 40" fish).

So I'm thinking somethin soft sided, like the fish bag. I know the better ones out there are $150+. Is it worth it? If it is, I'd happily pay it.

gatorslayer · 03-25-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverteeth

Thoughts on the ice chest: The one I have is used for human food, and I'd like to keep it from smelling "fishy"...............

Another cooler? Well, it would take up a lot of room (expecially to be big enough to handle the occasional 40" fish).

So I'm thinking somethin soft sided, like the fish bag. I know the better ones out there are $150+. Is it worth it? If it is, I'd happily pay it.

Fish bags take quite a bit of room also. Cooler can go on a swim platform at the back or way up in the bow.

12pulls · 03-25-2009, 02:24 PM

Get some burlap sacks, only gets in the way if you got a fish and that is a good problem.

fishkisser · 03-25-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorslayer

Fish bags take quite a bit of room also. Cooler can go on a swim platform at the back or way up in the bow.

baitsauce · 03-25-2009, 04:51 PM

My boat had no fishbox either. I put a big cooler on my swimdeck. Big enough that I've had several big fish in it at once!! It's completely outta the way and I can take it off to reconfigure my boat to ski or drag the kids around on their water tubes.

As far as the fish smell. Just wash it out really good with lemon joy and leave the lid open to store.

Starfish · 03-25-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12pulls

Get some burlap sacks, only gets in the way if you got a fish and that is a good problem.

For my first boat all I used was potato sacks. They actually work quite well, just get them wet to keep the fish cool.

Also not a bad idea to put a cooler up front. Just give it a shot of chlorox cleanup if it gets nasty.

Raining_Kings · 03-26-2009, 07:47 AM

I wonder if one of these would work?

http://www.surftosummit.com/insulate...ag-p-1615.html

This is a fish bag made for kayaks. I actually have one, but was overkill for the few little trout I've put in there. Thinking I may start carrying it on my boat as I'm in the similar situation. At 42" that would cover most fish I go for, with the exception of Sturgeon. I do have fish boxes on my transom, but they get pretty warm when it's nice out, and I tend to use those boxes for tackle & gear. Also, with my outboards on my offshore bracket I can't seem to get a cooler that fits there, and still be able to raise the motor (i.e. when trolling it's nice to get the main out of the way).

SandyRiverFisher · 03-26-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baitsauce

As far as the fish smell. Just wash it out really good with lemon joy and leave the lid open to store.

Gets the smell out of this one.

this cooler gets used for human food during hunting/camping trips.

baitsauce · 03-26-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyRiverFisher

this cooler gets used for human food during hunting/camping trips.

That looks a lot like my cooler! Mine also gets used for "human food storage" when it goes camping and/or hunting.

I do not understand what the problem is.........

//

Roperguy · 03-26-2009, 08:51 AM

I agree with the others, I use my Coleman cooler and just wash it out. Never any lingering smell.
one thing to never do though, don't ever wash it w/ pinesol. I loaned a cooler to a friend for salmon and after rinsing it, he thought it smelled fishy so he washed it with pinesol and THAT smell never came out. I gave it to him and told him to keep it and bought my current one.
Maury

No Reservations · 03-26-2009, 11:42 AM

I use a little bleach and water to clean my cooler but back to the subject. I removed one of my bench seats and bought a pad for my cooler just put it where the seat used to be. it is also easy to put the bench back in just a screw or two. I also use a captains seat that I can move around wherever I need or when the cooler is not needed or I can get away with a smaller one.

wsuweston · 03-26-2009, 12:05 PM

Get your self a big ice chest and mount seats to it, so you are not wasting the space.

Jsteel · 03-26-2009, 12:45 PM

You will never be disappointed with a fish bag. Search the Salty Dog forum -- a lot of discussions on there about fish bags.

River Bum · 03-27-2009, 08:24 AM

The bleach trick works great, few cups of bleach and fill the cooler to the rim, let it sit for while, and BAM! Brand new cooler again, it gets rid of any stains and odors. Doesnt take long either.

RB

Road Rage · 03-27-2009, 09:44 AM

A little baking soda and dish soap will also remove anything fishy. It's a little less costic too. I usually have a 2-qt spray bottle with a cap-full of bleach mixed in the water that I use for dissinfecting counter tops, cutting board and knives, etc after filleting, or even working with other raw meats. No germs, no smell. Works in the cooler too.

Dinikin · 03-27-2009, 09:01 PM

I really liked the idea of mounting a seat on the cooler. What a space saver. Will have to put it to good use.

12pulls · 03-27-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinikin

I really liked the idea of mounting a seat on the cooler. What a space saver. Will have to put it to good use.

Buy a quality cooler then, no cheapies.

fish junky · 03-29-2009, 04:07 PM

I have 4 fish boxes on my boat and don't use any of them. I like to ice my fish down as soon as they come aboard. I once put ice in my fish boxes and it melted in less than a hour. So what I came up with you might be interested in to. I have bench seats on the sides of my boat. I took one of them out and replaced it with the Marine 150 QT ice chest made by Coleman. It has dividers in it along with a deep tray. I put one divider in one end and that's where I keep my drinks. The tray I use for food. The rest under the tray goes for fish. My drinks or food has no contact with the fish. No fish smells or taste. Also after getting the chest I got a piece of marine sponge and covered it with the sunbrella material for a nice seat. The guys seam to like it over the bench seat as it is taller and easy to get up off it.

If you need a pic, let me know I'll post one.

Dinikin · 03-29-2009, 06:23 PM

would like to see how it looks like

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish junky

I have 4 fish boxes on my boat and don't use any of them. I like to ice my fish down as soon as they come aboard. I once put ice in my fish boxes and it melted in less than a hour. So what I came up with you might be interested in to. I have bench seats on the sides of my boat. I took one of them out and replaced it with the Marine 150 QT ice chest made by Coleman. It has dividers in it along with a deep tray. I put one divider in one end and that's where I keep my drinks. The tray I use for food. The rest under the tray goes for fish. My drinks or food has no contact with the fish. No fish smells or taste. Also after getting the chest I got a piece of marine sponge and covered it with the sunbrella material for a nice seat. The guys seam to like it over the bench seat as it is taller and easy to get up off it.

If you need a pic, let me know I'll post one.

Riverteeth · 04-02-2009, 01:02 PM

Yes fish junkie, a pic would be great.

Salmonid · 04-02-2009, 01:24 PM

I have the same problem, no fish box, inboard boat so limited room inside for the ice chest. I bought an extra long drybag (had to order it from Fishermens) but is has worked well. I just take a small ice chest for food and drinks and some extra ice. Caught fish go in the bag with ice and fit behind the bench seats. The bag cost about $35. When not in use, it rolls up and fits in the bench seat with other accessories. The only problem will be when I get that 48" salmon ( I keep dreaming), it won't fit in the bag.

misfitangler · 04-02-2009, 07:34 PM

I have put an icechest on my ladder with bungee cords. When I catch a bass, I throw some water in it and use it sort of a live well. It has worked very well. I throw peep food in a softsided cooler.

fish junky · 04-05-2009, 08:46 PM

Sorry guys it took me so long. I worked 72 hrs last week and fished 2 days. Here is a pic that I already had. Tomarrow I can post more if needed.

baitsauce · 04-05-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish junky

Something's wrong here. This boat is simply way to clean!!!

Lured In · 04-05-2009, 09:33 PM

The only place on my boat that isn't in use or needed while fishing is the swim deck. Bench seats hold smaller coolers, coats, sea anchors, dock lines etc. I just ratchet strap the cooler to the swim deck and voila...a fish box.

If you don't have a swim deck or if you have an offshore bracket, the bench/cooler option is definitely the way to go.

NW Pest has a fishbox/storage box, mounted on the bow deck in front of his windshield on his boat...another clever and out of the way place.