How to freeze fish in Islamorada

[Rich M]

That really surprises me, you’d think people want to take their fish home. I guess not though.

We dont have the volume like you-all do w salmon and halibuts and cod.

If you got a swordfish, would be diff but we really dont get vast quantities where you get an appreciable amount of good fish to ship.

If you came in may, could get you tarpon and bonefish, maybe a couple mahi and tuna, some small snapper 12-20 inches, and a buzz at a really cool local bar watching the sun set.

It’s more like a vacation with some fishing.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

My charter’s response on the phone was “no problem, do it all the time”, which is great, but it’d be nice to have a backup plan

You won’t find anything remotely close to being as convenient and dependable as what your charter is offering. Do t over complicate it. He does this for a living. You aren’t his first rodeo.

 

[willtim]

Islamorada Fish Company, located next to World Wide Sportsman, will clean, pack, freeze and ship.

 

[Davyalabama]

Just a question, have you priced shipping from Fedex, UPS and DHL, they want a kidney to ship something.

I think I caught you were going in February, you might hook into a big cobia or two, I think the limit is 1 per person 2 per boat, the water is just starting to heat, so could be good. They look like a big turd floating on the water.

Redfish, tuna, mahi, yellow tail snapper, grouper (I'm not a fan, too mushy for me). I know I'm different when it comes to grouper, but I'll take mahi or yellow tail snapper over that any day.

Frozen fish vs. fresh fish, hmmm --- you may want to just take it to different restaurants and let them prepare meals for y'all. Put it in some baggies, put a little ice and dry ice on it to keep it cool for a few days. You'd be surprised how much you have left. Oh yeah, have them cook extra for lunches, a good fish sandwich can't be beat during the day. Now, if you really tie into them like I hope you do, then, you may need that ice box the guy offered you.

Now, if you do the shipping of fish, just .02, you might as well grab you a few rock lobsters and a big bag of shrimp too. Have the shrimp flash frozen, this allows you to only have to thaw out how much you want not the whole bag. I'd do the oysters too, might as well go all in on it.

 

[summs]

Also caught Barracuda (not good eating - too bony I think).

Ciguatera - that is why you don't eat barracuda

 

[4Truck]

Don’t want to derail the thread, but headed to Islamorada in July myself to fish. Any of you local guys have a line on decent charters that you trust? More interested in flats than offshore. Family of 5 that all have saltwater experience.

 

[Windigo]

Don’t want to derail the thread, but headed to Islamorada in July myself to fish. Any of you local guys have a line on decent charters that you trust? More interested in flats than offshore. Family of 5 that all have saltwater experience.

Lemme report back in a month; I booked a flats guide who moved down from NC 2 years ago, so he doesn't have 200 5 star reviews yet, but seems like he's got a decent operation based on our correspondence.

 

[adieatrick]

When we went last year there was nowhere that would freeze and ship. We ended up buying a cooler from the home depot and cut rigid foam board to "double insulate" it. Think all 4 sides and top/bottom. We purchased dry ice from publix and froze everything 2 days prior to travel and kept it frozen. We used it as a checked bag and flew out with it. FYI - it needs to be completely frozen when checked at TSA. I took a roll of ductape and once inspected taped the cooler shut and threw away the rest of the tape. Worked great for us and when we got back home everything was still frozen solid.

 

[yfarm]

Keys fishing is typically December to May as water temps in the summer cause movement to deep water. Reef fishing is particularly affected, lots of flats guides work in the rockies in the summers returning in early winter. Main summer fish will be mahi via trolling. If I had to fish in the summer in the keys it would be deep dropping. Avoid going to the keys the week of the recreational lobster season, absolute chaos on the water inshore.

 

[2ski]

Eat at Herbie's in Marathon for some great fried conch and fried fish. A really nice array of craft beer too. I was surprised how good.

 

[Windigo]

Ok, update #1. As of today, the publix market in Islamorada sells both styrofoam coolers and dry ice. So it seems possible to freeze the bejeezus out of your fish, remove dry ice, tape cooler, and fly home.

 

[Liv2HntBigBullz]

Sea senorita will take your fish, cut, pack and ship. It's the only service I use and go down yearly.

For Capt recommendations shoot me a PM. Spent lots of time offshore as well as inshore.

 

[Windigo]

Don’t want to derail the thread, but headed to Islamorada in July myself to fish. Any of you local guys have a line on decent charters that you trust? More interested in flats than offshore. Family of 5 that all have saltwater experience.

We booked Josh Benton of Spartina guide service, and that is a serious dude. I’d book again in a heartbeat. He can only fit 2 in his skiff (which is a bad a$$ boat) but has a partnership with another guide that can take at least 2, maybe three. Hard to fit 5 in a skiff that can get into the skinny stuff. The guy moved heaven and earth to get a bonefish in the boat, and the only reason there weren’t any tarpon was because I kept botching the hookset.

We also booked Jon Costanza of Reel attack charters, and he’s a good dude that could probably accommodate 5, but he’s in a bay boat and would probably steer you towards snapper fishing in the bay. We limited out on snapper in about two hours. He also likes to soak some big shark/grouper baits in the last hour or so of the charter, which is kinda fun. He’s a Bruins fan though, but I tried not to hold it against him.

For what it’s worth, both guides seemed to scorn the guys who steer people towards spanish mackerel.

If you want, I can DM you both of their info. I booked through fishing booker and realized upon arrival that they take a percentage off the top from the guides, which I guess I get, but I’d rather see those guys keep all the cash.