Storing your keepers?

I've only done C&R on my yak so far, and there hasn't been much C yet . What do you guys do with your catch if you plan on keeping it.  I see pics of guys putting there fish on a stringer but are you throwing them back in the water to keep them fresh or just on the deck?  What about on hot days in full sun on a river or lake?

Any tips would be much appreciated, I'm hoping to continue my "hot streak" with some Salmon this season.

There was quite a bit of discussion on this awhile back, not sure how you would find it even with the search function.

Here's what I do.  In fresh or bay water the fish hang off the side unless I'm moving.  In saltwater the fish get dunked but are never left hanging over the side except maybe momentarily.  Keep'em onboard covered with a wet sack (got that from the previous discussion).  The sack will keep'em cool and keep'em hidden.

The salt precautions for me at least have much more to do with furbags than sharks.  I once had a sealion rip fish off my belt at 50ft while scuba diving, scared the shit outta me, if they were to do that to fish tethered to a yak it would probably end up bad.  Also they have good eyes and can see tails sticking up out of a tank well.

on a clip in the tank well and cover with some burlap and splash water on it every once in while. If its not sunny I 86 the burlap and just splash water on them

on a clip in the tank well and cover with some burlap and splash water on it every once in while. If its not sunny I 86 the burlap and just splash water on them

+1

I got the sack from my local coffee house.

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

i use a burlap sometimes, but forget to bring it many a times. I just put it over the side of my tankwell.  Haven't gotten bit yet.   
But if your stringer is too heavy, it will affect speed/tracking of your yak.  Just don't put it in your hull like someone did once...

5 gallon bucket in Tankwell with water inside. It's big enough to hold quite a few rockfish on a stringer or clip. I have a  second stringer for big fish (lings etc). Buckets good if you have concerns about keeping blood out of the water

On a game clip over the side. I like to keep my catch as cold as possible to keep it fresh.

game clip, then in the tankwell and covered with something to keep the sun off them (I do not hang fish over the side). I used to bring burlap, but in recent times I have been trying to reduce the gear I bring, so i have gone to using my diver's mesh bag as a cover. If it was going to be a hot hot hot day, I would bring the burlap.

Most important is to have a chilled ice chest at the car to get them on ice asap. I fill plastic juice bottles or milk cartons with water & freeze them-works like a charm. Stays cooler as a block, then i just smash the bottle on the ground or with my billy to crush up the ice. Cut the plastic (or tear the paper if it is a milk carton) and dump the ice on the fish.

I had a ling from the SMC last weekend that was in the well for an hour or so, then in the chest for another couple hours and it was still floppy (no rigor) when i went to clean it. The meat had that translucent jewel tone to it that means it is as good as it can get.

Cool, thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

Guess I'm lucky, My older Malibu X-13 has the fish well in the front, keeps fish alive and kicking till i dispatch them when I get back to landing ready to fillet.

I used to go with the bucket, then the burlap sack, but have been using one of those giant insulated Costco bags and love it.  Add a 1/2 bag of ice to it, insert fish throughout the day, keeps them cold, out of sight of the sun and furbags, and all juices stay in the bag.  I stole one out of my wifes car, it's a lovely floral print so I don't have to worry about losing it.    I think you can get them at Wally World for around $15, similar to this one:

http://www.keepyourcooler.com/freezertote.html

if its rockfish i just toss um in the tank well and try to cover them , sometimes i use my jacket to cover them ( my wife loves me on laundry day) . if its a prized catch like a salmon , halibut or seas bass ill throw it in my front hatch. when on the ocean it stays cool down there. plenty of room in the front hatch of a x factor

A little kelp will keep fish moist and cool in your tank well. I still prefer to hang them on a clip.

Do yourself a favor, DON'T put them in the hatch,and don't "troll" with them in the water on a clip. Just throw them in the back and place a burlap sack over them and wet it down every so often.

Can't take credit for this one (nor can I remember who to credit) but I just recently picked up a nice rockfish sized insulated freazer shopping bag from Trader Joes for $7.