Travelling With Your Catch

Your Florida Keys fishing vacation has unfortunately come to an end (we hope you come back soon!). You've packed your bags, loaded your vehicle, said goodbye to all the great people you've met on your trip, and now you need to figure out what you're going to do with all those leftover fish fillets.

You can't bear to see them go to waste (nor should you), but you're not quite sure how to take the fish home with you while still preserving its freshness.

Fortunately, there are a few tricks to storing and travelling with your catch. Just follow the steps below and your fish will taste just as delicious in your home kitchen, as they did the day they were caught.

If you are Flying

Always check with your airline before flying with your catch. Airlines often differ in regards to perishable baggage allowances, and what may be acceptable on one airline may not be permitted on the next.

Most airlines will allow you to check whole fish or fish fillets in a tightly sealed, leak-proof container, as long as you DO NOT pack the cooler with "wet" ice.

A majority of airlines will also allow you to pack your catch in dry ice, so long as the storage container is ventilated, and you declare to the ticketing agent that you are travelling with dry ice.

Most air carriers allow five pounds or less of dry ice in your checked baggage, and four pounds or less in your carry-on. Some airlines (such as Delta) charge extra fees for travelling with dry ice.

If flying overseas please check with your airline as International flight restrictions may vary.

WHAT WE DO: To avoid excess baggage fees and the need for dry ice, here is how we fly with our catch:

• Deep freeze the fish (turn your freezer setting to the lowest temperature) for at least 24-hours before heading to the airport.

• Pack the frozen fish in a tightly sealed, hard-cased cooler (airlines will not allow Styrafoam®), and fill in the excess space with firmly packed newspaper.

• Tape the lid of the cooler shut and check the cooler as a checked baggage item.

From our experience this method will keep fish frozen anywhere from 6 to 24 hours and should allow you to reach your destination before the fish thaws. As long as the fish has not thawed completely you should be able to safely refreeze it when you get home.

TIP: If travelling with smaller amounts of fish (around 15 pounds or less) there are a couple more options:

• Take your catch as a carry-on item. Some airlines will allow you to transport fish in your possession so long as it's in an enclosed and approved container and is not packed in "wet" ice. We've found that for short trips (8 hours or less), packing frozen fillets in a soft-cased cooler (along with frozen ice packs) does the trick.

• Pack the frozen fish inside your suitcase. Clothing will insulate the fish and help keep it from unthawing for several hours. If you're flying with your catch and do not want to pay excess baggage fees, simply deep freeze your catch and pack it in the middle of warm clothing.

TIP: Keep the fish on ice until you reach the airport and then immediately transfer your catch into your checked or carry-on baggage.

If you are Driving

• If unfrozen, you can keep your catch in a well-iced and well-insulated cooler for more than a week. Just remember to add two pounds of ice for every pound of fish and to mix the fish and ice as evenly as possible. Always drain melted ice (melted ice will cause the fish to thaw) and replenish with solid ice as soon as possible.

TIP: Have your catch vacuum sealed (as soon as possible after catching) to preserve freshness.

If you are Shipping your Catch

Major shipping companies, such as FedEx and UPS, will allow you to ship your catch to your destination.

This is the most convenient method of getting your fish home; however it is also the most expensive.

Check with the shipping company and ask if they have any dry ice restrictions. Also make sure to send your fish "next day priority" to ensure it arrives at your destination before it can thaw.