Any tips on shipping fish????

BassMan · 12-10-2003, 10:31 PM

Hey guys, I wanted to ship my grandpa some fish, that is if I catch any. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] He lives in Missouri and I was wondering how I would go about shipping him a steelhead or 2??? Pack in dry ice in a cooler??? Thanks in advance for any help.

jb

Thumper · 12-11-2003, 05:53 AM

You can use up to 5 pounds of dry ice, but it is not really necessary. Pick up one of the new Coleman 5-day coolers. They are amazing. Your fish will be rock hard for the 2-3 days it may take to get the fish there.

iwanttofish · 12-11-2003, 06:54 AM

I stop by the FM pharmacy and the get in styro boxes for drugs that they throw away or the fish dept. Then pack in dry ice tape it closed with at least one hole in it so that the ice can vent or I am told that it can blow up from the vapors expanding. Then mail it on a monday so that there will be no delay for weedend times.

dampainter · 12-11-2003, 08:18 AM

I have a styrofoam box which is in a cardboard box that was used for shipping fish back from alaska(perfect!),says made by the lafayette corporation in seattle on it. approx. size is 2` deep x 2` across by 3` long, am going to vacuum pack smoked fish and some fillets, all frozen to put in it with a couple lbs of dry ice, thumper is right, only 5 lbs max.....but the post office will not look in your box

either, after I pack it all should have a weight of about 50lbs. $$$ depending how fast you want to get it there? mine is going to run about 100.00.(stuff is going to california, am going to use post office) just to give you an idea.... u.p.s. was going to charge around 260.00. The post office did not mention anything about venting and this box that was used does not have a vent and dry ice was used, also I have bought omaha co. steaks, they used dry ice and that container was not vented either. should`nt need much dry ice,stuff goes along way too.

update: went to post office again today,can ship up to 70 lbs, stuff is going to lompoc,Ca. cost will be just under 70.00 two day priority, the guy at the P.O. said they have not had any problems with dry ice... said that the cooler/box has enough vent as is, but a totally sealed container...like a soda bottle with dry ice would explode/vent.

[ 12-12-2003, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: dampainter ]

reeldick · 12-11-2003, 12:27 PM

I've been shipping frozen fish on and off since 1981. I have never had a problem with thawed or spoiled fish. Never used dry ice either.

We would freeze fish solid. Wrap the packages in newspaper for some extra insulation. Place a plastic liner (Garbage bag) in the box and pack the packages tightly in the box. Best to use styrofoam liner for the box if available but not necessary. The sealed box will be good for at least 48 hours. Ship the box UPS or FedEx overnight and you won't have to worry. Do make sure the receiving person will be around to accept the delivery.

The Overfishin Condition · 12-11-2003, 01:28 PM

When I visit friend in Minnesota I usually bring them a whole silver. This year I brought them a mix of salmon, halibut, and smoked fish. I put it in a small styrofoam cooler, newspaper, and maybe a small lunchbox sized ice pack or two. The silver I brought a couple years ago was probably in there 16 hours. The thing was still ROCK SOLID when I got there, like no softeness on the outside at all.

onebadfish · 12-11-2003, 06:09 PM

smoke it and vaccuum pack it. they'll appreciate it more and you won't have to worry about it. i have sent my brother smoked fish to tokyo several times with absolutely no problems.

BassMan · 12-11-2003, 09:12 PM

WOW, thanks for all the tips guys that is exactly what I was looking for. Now I just have to catch some fish.

Mr. Shannon O'Brien · 12-11-2003, 11:36 PM

Gel packs work great with the other stuff mentioned above. Butcher paper from Costco works well.

Longhunter · 12-11-2003, 11:45 PM

If you use Dry Ice and seal it it will explode.
Try a small peice in a plastic pop bottle with the top screwwed on tight, make sure you put it out in the middle of your yard.
There was a guy working at a body shop in Beaverton a few years ago who use a quart bottle and some dry ice from a Ice Cream Truck someone called the police and he was arrested for making a bomb. I was their and saw it all happen.