Put the fish on ice. But it is especially important after dressing the fish, to freeze it. Iced fish is also the best way to store fish for transport. Use an insulated cooler and leave the cooler drain plug open to run out of ice water.
Water spoils the taste of fish. The first thing to do after filleting the fish is to freeze it. You won't be able to do it right away, so keep the fish on ice until you reach dry land. When you return to dry land, freeze the fish with dry ice.
Fish stored in dry ice does not thaw and the container does not drip either. That's why airlines allow you to carry it in your baggage, sometimes even as hand luggage. With the fish cleaned, it's time to prepare it for cooking. The way it is prepared depends on the intended cooking process.
Some prefer to cut all the fish into fillets, while others like steaks. You can also simply leave the fish whole, although you'll have to remove the fins to avoid incidents. Simply cut off all the fins with scissors or a knife to prevent sharp bones from causing problems. Once the fish is ready to cook, it can be placed in the fridge or freezer for later.
A cooler can also keep fish fresh for a few days, as long as it seals well and replenishes the ice regularly. However, before you start dreaming of filling your freezer with tropical game fish, you should know which species are protected and which fish are legal to become table food. You should limit the weight of the fish you are transporting and, at the same time, leave enough for the TSA official to recognize the species. After washing the fish, you can wrap it in waxed paper, plastic or foil and place it in the refrigerator.
If you already know how to make fish fillets or have a guide who will do it for you, scroll down to the “How to pack fish for your flight back home” section. Immerse the fish in the headwater again and massage along the spine to help the blood flow out of your body. However, not all fishing destinations have such a company nearby, so it's best to check in advance. Without a doubt, processing fish from start to finish and send it to your front door is very practical.
So we've answered the first half of the question: “Can I take home fish? Yes, it's legal, but how can you physically travel thousands of miles from Central America back to your kitchen? Many of our fishermen have fished in Alaska and had their steaks returned in the mail, but it's an understatement to say that the infrastructure of Alaska and Central America is almost as different as their climates. Once the fish has been cleaned and cut, it is very important to put it on ice throughout the preparation process. Your fishing trip is that you had a great time, you caught lots of fish, but now you don't know how to take them home. If you plan to eat the fish you've caught, you'll want to keep it alive or refrigerated with ice from the time it's caught until you're ready to store it.
Most of them will offer to cut the fish into fillets or fillets, and then they can do it, smoke it, or throw it away.