Getting the Fish you Catch from AK, Home to your Freezer
I can speak for most fishing guides around the world when I ask “what are these guys going to do with all of this fish?” Being a successful fishing guide usually means being a successful angler. People from all over the world have come to retain your knowledge and learn from your expertise. All of the years honing your skill and studying your environment has gained you an absolute edge over the “weekend warrior” fisherman. And customers want to see results!
A high quality fishing guide will also know his body-of-water and it’s ecosystem better than almost anything in his/her life. They will spend countless hours/days/years studying, worrying, discussing, dreaming about their, and yes they will consider it theirs, aquatic playground. Prowess becomes payoff and a guide will market that mastery to people who will pay for the wisdom without putting in the effort. To most guides, it is the gratitude from a group of folks after a successful day of fishing that keeps us enthusiastic about the next day… smiles on faces and photos in phones!
So, back to the topic. How do I get the fish that I just caught home and in the freezer!? If money isn’t a concern, the easiest solution is to simply ship it. Many people choose to just hand off their processed fish to the Post Office. You can’t, however, put a whole salmon in a priority mail package and expect it to arrive at your home. You will need to prepare it and keep it fresh. Fish is perishable after all.
Any good guide will be an artisan with a fillet knife. Thousands of fish have been practiced on before he cuts into your catch. The fillets will be beautiful!
I recommend to all of my customers, whether they ask or not, that they have a professional process their newly acquired fish fillets. Most places will vacuum pack and freeze fish in approximately one lb. chucks. I cringe when I hear “I don’t have a vacuum packer, but I want to do it myself.” Guides want every bite of fish that they helped harvest eaten and enjoyed. Waste is unacceptable.
So you have 100 lbs. of halibut? If an angler knows they will not be able to consume all of their fish, I will encourage them to donate some of it to a charitable organization in the area.
Okay, so now your week-long fishing adventure to Alaska is over and it’s time to go home. The fish that you’ve had processed is ready to be picked up and lets say you have 55 lbs of frozen, chunked and packaged fish. Give 5 lbs away, or better yet, take 5 lbs to a local restaurant and have them cook it for you to share around the table. A lot of restaurants in Alaska will be eager to show you what they can do for your fresh fish.
Why shave the weight down to 50 lbs? Well, a checked bag on an airplane can be up to 50 lbs without paying an oversized bag fee. It should be easy to find a “fish box” which is essentially a styrofoam cooler inside a cardboard box. Stuff your 50 lbs of fish in the cooler, tape it up, and check it like any other checked bag on an airline. The Anchorage Airport can actually receive your checked fish-box the night prior to your departure. Leave it to Alaska to have ample freezer space at an airport.
A question I get often is “will my fish thaw during the plane ride?” My answer is “well, maybe.” Most of the chucks, especially in the middle, will stay completely frozen. The truth is, the quality of the fish will not be compromised if a couple of pieces aren’t rock hard when you transfer them to your freezer.
My favorite way to prepare salmon is simple. Put a little salt and pepper on it and cook via your preferred method. Cooking halibut isn’t any more difficult. Because of its non-fishy and mild flavor it can be cooked in a wide variety of dishes. I like my halibut beer-battered, but that is for another blog.
Comment below if you have any questions or have a fishy travel story of your own. Enjoy your fish and check out our website! www.hgcfish.com
Cheers!
