Catch storage?

Where do you store the fish you catch?  Do you use a deck bag?  a cooler? I am trying to avoid having my kayak smelling like fish at the end of the day.

I carry a medium size cooler, on my rowboat. When I have a kayak, I'll either build my own bag from reflectix (mylar/bubble wrap), or buy a commercially made bag.

Check out the fish bag that scwafish (NCKA) sells here- http://www.gwkc.com/accesories.htm

Do you mean you actually catch fish big enough to take home??

  YES!   

islandboy, you're in that wooden SIK, right?  And you're hoping not to have the inside smell like fish?  Just clarifying your situation.

For me, I just put the fish on a diver's game clip and toss in the tank well out back.  I might drape a towel over them if it's a hot day (rare).

-Allen

I posted this a while back but it seems to apply:

The old school is a wet burlap sack. The water evaporating keeps your catch pretty fresh even with alot of sun. Just keep wetting it.
 That works pretty good up here, but in the south, where evaporation works in reverse, most yak fisherman have been using big insulated bags from Costco or Sam’s club. Think pizza delivery bag. They run about $10 and will hold a limit 28” reds and specks and 10lbs of ice for most of the day when the air is 90+ and the water is 91   (I’ve caught redfish that felt warm to the touch!) You can also freeze a few quarts of drinking water or Gatorade, just drink a bit before freezing for expansion.  Man, there is nothing better than ice cold Gatorade with fish slime! YUM! You can stuff the bag inside the big hatch or really test the insulation and leave it the tankwell.
I’ve been toying with the idea of stuffing an partially inflated air mattress (pool float) inside the hull for additional insulation and floatation.

 I don’t have a problem with the hull holding a smell. (assuming your in a plastic SOT) When it has gotten funky I’ll hose it out, add a bit of bleach, hose it out again, and leave the hatches open for the drive home. That's part of the beauty of fishing from tupperware!  Actually it’s a lot better to take the hatches off so you don’t loose them (ask me how I know) 

The old school is a wet burlap sack.

This is what I always use and it works great even on a warm day. Throw your fish on the clip, in the back tankwell w/ the wet burlap sack on top. Then about ever 30 min or so splash water on your catch to keep it wet and it does well for quite a while. If you are planning to spend a lot of time on the water I don't think you can go wrong w/ that cooler bag posted by Pisco. Sean (GWKC) was telling me he used them in Mex and after a long time on the water had nice chilly sashimi when he got back to shore.

Z

I also opt for the divers game clip as well (heavy duty metal ring that is very easy to slide through gills.  But I usually just hang the fish over the side clipped to the handle of the yak.  At Moucha this kept the salmon fresh and alive (especially when paddling) so I didn't have to worry about bleeding and/or gutting the salmon right there and come out smelling like bear bait.  When it was time to head in I'd just toss the fish in the tank well (if empty) or in my lap for the paddle back.  Worked great except when the sea lions game a calling.....they eyed me, but kept their distance.

I also have a catch bag that I'll stock with 2 frozen gatoraid bottles on hotter days or if needing to paddle a longer distance with my fish.

Darren

Worked great except when the sea lions game a calling.....they eyed me, but kept their distance.

That's the reason why I dispatch the fish and put them onboard. I've had sealions / seals get pretty aggressive sometimes stealing fish and the thought of them getting physical w/ me is just scary. They've done it to me surfing and it's not fun. That and also the drag of a big fish kinda sucks when paddling.

Z

Nothing hangs from my boat!
 I refuse to be chum for the large Sea-lions we have here. One old fart sits at the Coast Guard dock (first dock in the Basin) and follows us in every time. Even after I started plugging my rear scuppers to stop the blood trail! Is he smelling the fish or did he learn a kayak may have a meal on board?
 Iether way, his head is as big as my torso, don't wanna f#@% with him!