Keeping cooler of ice/drain plug open or closed

[FishermanTim]

Not wash them off with fresh water? What do these "experts" suggest you wash them off with, dirty laundry water?


As for the ice in the cooler, adding salt increases the salinity (du'h?) but lowers the waters freezing point.
That means that salt water will freeze at 24-26 degrees instead of 32 for fresh water, so you can have REALLY cold ice water in your cooler that can get colder than the ice in it.
They did a bit on this on Mythbusters.

I agree that ice alone or with SEALED containers: plug is in, let it remain.
Fish & ice: plug is out and let it drain!

[JackK]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Not wash them off with fresh water? What do these "experts" suggest you wash them off with, dirty laundry water?

Salt water

Boils down to osmosis- SW fish theoretically shouldn't be rinsed/submerged in FW because of the higher salt content in the cells. Fresh water rushes into the cells, causing them to burst, leading to a mushy layer. This can be minimized though by quickly drying them off (see: westportmafia).

I think it's overblown... Not like you're going to ruin it unless you let it sit in the water (so if you don't make a slurry, leave the drain open).

I personally don't rinse my fish at all- Table fish are bled right away, and any spots on the fillet I just use a paper towel or two to remove. Nothing to rinse off.