Fish Cleaning Services
During the spring and fall many anglers come to us with fish they have caught and would like it cleaned. Below are the steps to take to make sure your catch stays as fresh a possible for you to enjoy!
1. After the Catch
Keeping your fish fresh starts at the catch!
When fishing with the goal of having your catch cleaned for cooking, the first step is to always take care of the fish straight out of the water. Once caught, your fish should be stored in ice and under shade in order to keep the meat fresh. Quite often people bring in fish that was simply stored in a grocery bag with no ice and by the time we get them the meat is too rancid to eat. The same problem arises with fish stored in a bucket. The water scooped up from the lake isn't cold enough to keep them fresh in the bucket and the meat will sour fast. Ice is essential to keeping your fish fresh!
2. Storing and Transport
Keep them cold, then off to be cleaned!
Your next step is to get your catch somewhere to process before the ice in your cooler melts too much. Cold water is always better than hot but after fish have been submerged for too long the meat can absorb too much liquid and turn the fish into mush. The fresh taste may be preserved but the flaky texture will not. Always try to get your fish to us or home to a refrigerator within a few hours of catch if possible. If you plan on freezing them to have them processed at a later date use a freezer bag and keep them as flat as possible. Having them flat will help them thaw quicker later.
3. Dropping them Off
Bone in or bone out? Head on or head off? Choose how you would like your catch cleaned!
There are many ways to get a fish cut and depending on which you chose will determine the cost of processing. Smaller fish are more difficult and time consuming and generally cost more per pound. Fish that are scaled as opposed to skinned may be more expensive since it takes less time to skin them. Orders that are dropped off Tuesday, Wednesday or early on Thursday can generally be picked up later the same day. Orders dropped off late Thursday or anytime Friday won't be finished until Saturday. Saturday drop offs will be iced down over the weekend and cleaned for Tuesday pick up. These time frames can change depending on the amount of orders we have, amount of staff on hand, and how busy the day is. We will always give you an estimated time frame when you drop off.
4. Pick Up and Eat
Enjoy your catch!
When you pick up your order make sure to bring in the receipt you received upon payment. We have plenty of seasonings, breadings and sauces to help your dinner taste even better. If you don't plan on eating your catch right away, we recommend freezing your fish in freezer bags as flat as possible. This will help them thaw quickly when you're ready to enjoy them!
