storing catch?

[calispero]

I'm flying in from California for a trip on the ultimategetaway out of Fort Myers for 4 days of lobster and spearfishing! Very excited. I'm staying in Orlando for 4 more days after that to check out Disney world and stuff and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for storing my catch? My hotel is supposed to have a mini fridge but doubt I will be able to freeze the 100#s of fish and lobster I will catch! Does dry ice keep the stuff reasonably frozen even outside a fridge? Can one pay to drop off fish to get it cleaned/frozen somewhere near Fort Myers or Orlando? Thanks!

[TheMackDaddy]

my take, forget disney world and spend those 4 extra days spearfishing

[Spearo_Fla]

Unless your bringing rug rats I'd skip Disney too.

[apexpredator]

Cali dry ice will freeze your catch solid. I would try to pay special attention to how you wrap your fish to avoid freezer burn/dehydration. You could also look into cold storage facilities but many have restrictions if they are a certified food grade facility. I would also call local grocery stores (small ones are better) that might be willing to let you store a cooler in their freezers. Small towns with businesses (like butchers/processors) cater to hunters and almost allways will have the option of storing game in their freezers. If there are any hunters in the area you will be in they should have a contact at a place that can help you with your request. Good luck and I will drop you a line if I can come up with a storage facility that fits your needs. Happy Hunting!

[Spearo_Fla]

Apex- how is your wife?

[FredT]

LN2!
Use a heavy wall styrofoam chest (Lowboy brand is good), pack and seal any fish meat very well (plastic inside Al foil), freeze bugs whole and alive, unwrapped.
Hit the Welding Supply Shop and have them dump LN2 from the cryo storage tank into the chest until it stops bubbling.

In a lowboy 1" minimum wall chest those critters and fillets will stay frozen about 4 days without additional dry ice. Blanket wrapping the box can add another couple days. Be aware that LN2 and solid CO2 CANNOT be taken on a passenger aircraft. With LN2 you can dump any remaining liquid in the parking lot before going into the airport, and it's about 150 degrees colder than dry ice so even if the airline looses it you have a day or two's more grace time for the airline to find it before the meat is toast and you have to force the airline to pay retail for the lost meat. A "quality" ABS chest will self destruct when the LN2 hits it, so stick with the "cheap" styrofoam.

The bugs thawed in boiling water will cook and taste like they were boiled live. You can even get the meat out of the mouth parts and legs! BTDT

FT

[Don B]

Fred thats some dangerous stuff for the casual user. frost bite is a bad way to end a vacation.

[FredT]

I had the advantage of running the LN2 generator at school. The basic rule is Don't touch it! Of course a brass rod dipped in it (wooden handle of course) and applied quicly to a wart pretty much ruins the wart's day.

Lots of fun things to do with it if you have a supply or dewar available. Can you say "instant ice cream?"

[calispero]

Does anyone know of meat/fish packing places near Fort Myers? I talked to some fishing buddies and in California/Alaska they have places that will fillet, smoke and shrink wrap your catch for you. Even clean your abalone! Anyone know of these fish packing places in Florida?

[WreckDiver]

Just ship it to someone you know in Cali.