Coolers - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Surf Caster · 05-22-2011, 08:44 PM

Guys - I need to get a coller to use for storing ice / drinks / and the occasional fish i keep. Likely may keep eels in there when i travel to islands, etc. I have a 4 door wrangler and it will be kept in the trunk.

Curious what brand coolers you guys use and what size. Any recommendations are appreciated.

ivanputski · 05-22-2011, 08:53 PM

when you occassionally keep fish, is it a 28
incher to eat, or a trophy 40+ pounder? that will have a lot to do
with size... I have a 100 quart coleman which fits upper 30# fish if you curve them... Thing I hate about large coolers is the amount of ice you need to simply
cover the bottom!

Surf Caster · 05-22-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanputski

when you occassionally keep fish, is it a 28
incher to eat, or a trophy 40+ pounder? that will have a lot to do
with size... I have a 100 quart coleman which fits upper 30# fish if you curve them... Thing I hate about large coolers is the amount of ice you need to simply
cover the bottom!

Smaller fish to eat usually.... if I'm fortunate to break 30 (ha, even 20!) she's going right back in the h2o!

ivanputski · 05-22-2011, 09:29 PM

Get a cooler that will hold the fish you plan to store in it. Huge coolers take 20 bucks of ice just to coat the bottom, and the top of the fish is still exposed! I like to cover a fish I am going to eat with ice. I would not go over 100 quart in size. you can get them for 60 bucks on sale. maybe less.

toaster816 · 05-23-2011, 07:53 AM

The wholesale clubs usually have good deals on decent coolers of varying sizes. If you are rich and want to get the most bad ass cooler ever made, check out Yetti coolers. They will be the last cooler you ever own.

Mike P · 05-23-2011, 11:19 AM

I have a 90-something quart Igloo that I use once a year, for a 36 hour tournament in June. Because the weigh-in is at the end of the 36 hour period, I have to keep a fish iced. I find that two 5 lb bags of ice keep the fish in great shape for that length of time. It's not the ice that preserves the fish--it's the temperature inside the cooler. Once the lid is snapped shut, it's as cold, or colder, inside that cooler after an hour or so as your refrigerator. Lots of that ice hasn't even melted by the time of the weigh-in.

Chubby-Chaser · 05-23-2011, 03:01 PM

For that size jeep go with the 100qt and If you have the money and want the best around get a Yetti it will last a life time. If money is a factor a Coleman will do the trick.

If you like to keep fish don't get a small cooler, the larger ones the tail will stick out plus you will use a ton of ice.

MakoMike · 05-24-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanputski

Get a cooler that will hold the fish you plan to store in it. Huge coolers take 20 bucks of ice just to coat the bottom, and the top of the fish is still exposed! I like to cover a fish I am going to eat with ice. I would not go over 100 quart in size. you can get them for 60 bucks on sale. maybe less.

Are you kidding? Find anothr ice house, I pay $10 to FILL a 162 quart igloo.

MAKAI · 05-24-2011, 09:14 AM

Or get a small freezer and make your own blocks, pays for itself in no time.

fishbones · 05-24-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAKAI

Or get a small freezer and make your own blocks, pays for itself in no time.

I fill half gallon milk cartons with water and freeze them in my basement freezer. That way, I always have ice when I need it for fishing or for filling a cooler for the beach, etc... It's free and I never have to worry about going to pick it up.

Circlehook · 05-24-2011, 01:14 PM

Hint....drive behind an ice rink......all the ice you could want.

Chubby-Chaser · 05-24-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Circlehook

Hint....drive behind an ice rink......all the ice you could want.

i thought I was the ony one

MAKAI · 05-24-2011, 04:24 PM

full of spit,snot and blood

Circlehook · 05-25-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAKAI

full of spit,snot and blood

So is the fish.

toaster816 · 05-25-2011, 09:43 AM

I freeze gatorade bottles. Anyone do that slurry of sea water and ice? I've seen a few charters do it.

MakoMike · 05-25-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toaster816

I freeze gatorade bottles. Anyone do that slurry of sea water and ice? I've seen a few charters do it.

Yeah, if I'm fishing for something I want to keep "sashimi grade" I do it. Not a big deal, bucket or two of ice and a bucket of sea water, kust remember to seal the cooler before you add the water.

MAKAI · 05-25-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Circlehook

So is the fish.

And other stuff I'm sure.
In my case my coffin cooler for the beach also carries my food and beverage and I do dip into the ice for beach blender adult beverages and kiddie slush drinks. So I have to keep it a little clean.
If it was just me I'd eat out of the dog bowl.