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Where to fillet fish

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=138260
Printed Date: 14 Feb 2025 at 4:59am


Topic: Where to fillet fish
Posted By: Jacobfishing
Subject: Where to fillet fish
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 2:17pm
Hey everyone
I'm semi new to fishing and I currently live with my friend and his partner in their brand new 2 bedroom town house in Auckland. The house has no garage or outside storage or even a lawn so I basically have no where to fillet fish or clean and store stinky fishing gear like Chilly bins, bait boards etc
I don't want to stink their new house out with fish smell
Does anyone know if there's such thing as self service cleaning stations for fish/fishing gear in auckland?
How do you guys recommend getting around this problem?
Any answers appreciated



Replies:
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 2:56pm
One solution would be to fillet the fish where you catch them, but you have to be mindful of proving your catch is legal and responsible disposal of fish waste. Alternatively, I'd be eating a lot of whole fish if I were you. Scales off, guts out and done. In your special circumstances, I would consider lure fishing or using clean baits like salted mackerel or Fishbites. Tough situation. Welcome to the New New Zealand.


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 5:35pm
Find a fishing buddy - and you can fillet at his place :-)
You aren't saying what sort of fishing you do - but if off rocks etc - like MB says, and feed the fish with the rest.
 Alan



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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: lawabidingpoacher
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 7:20pm
Move out


Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 8:35pm
I had similar issue after a productive day fishing in a whitianga comp while staying in an upstairs apartment. We went to the local camping ground and gave them 2 bottles of wine and made sure we left their filleting facilities spotless. 

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The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent on fishing - Assyrian Proverb


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 8:40pm
I shot a deer while we were staying down south in a tiny Airbnb. Mrs said she came home from the shops and I had the whole place covered in sheets and there was blood everywhere. She thought I had murdered someone!


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 8:46pm
Originally posted by lawabidingpoacher lawabidingpoacher wrote:

Move out

That is the best solution in the long run, but it doesn't help him right now. Maybe he's just dipping his toes in to fishing, so will have to work out what's most important in his life.

I have moved across countries and continents for fishing opportunities LOL


Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2024 at 11:05pm
I couldn't imagine city life. Not for me.

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Best gurnard fisherman in my street


Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 7:44am
Maybe a portable filleting bench. Go to the beach, fillet fish, dump the scraps in a public bin. Then clean the bench up with salt water.



Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 11:26am
I pity the bin man. Weekly collection?
Alan


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 12:02pm
I know dumping fish waste is controversial, but can't help feeling that it is better in the ocean where it goes back in to the food chain rather than stinking out bins and ending up in landfill.  


Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 12:18pm
Originally posted by Alan L Alan L wrote:

I pity the bin man. Weekly collection?
Alan
My fish scraps go in public bin by dairy, knowing it gets emptied every morning so deposit around 8.00pm or 6.00am

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"Times up"


Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 12:38pm
Originally posted by MB MB wrote:

I know dumping fish waste is controversial, but can't help feeling that it is better in the ocean where it goes back in to the food chain rather than stinking out bins and ending up in landfill.  

You raise a good point there. I think the problem occurs when frame's ect get discarded in shallow non flowing water. Off a wharf or something similar is preferable to a beach. I still see public bins as an option though.



Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 1:12pm
Originally posted by kitno kitno wrote:

Maybe a portable filleting bench. Go to the beach, fillet fish, dump the scraps in a public bin. Then clean the bench up with salt water.
An old fold up ironing board makes a good portable filleting table.


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 1:41pm
Public bench is fine as a filleting board.








JOKING! Any flat rock would do.


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 1:44pm
Originally posted by smudge smudge wrote:

I couldn't imagine city life. Not for me.

Ditto. Living in suburbia now, but at least I have a place to store a boat and fillet fish. Did the Auckland thing, It was fun for a while, could wheel my kayak across the road and get fishing. Nice little setup. BUT, sitting in traffic for 45 minutes twice every day to get to/from work. **** that! Auckland is not a functional city and there is better fishing in the north.


Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 2:26pm
Originally posted by kitno kitno wrote:

Originally posted by MB MB wrote:

I know dumping fish waste is controversial, but can't help feeling that it is better in the ocean where it goes back in to the food chain rather than stinking out bins and ending up in landfill.  

You raise a good point there. I think the problem occurs when frame's ect get discarded in shallow non flowing water. Off a wharf or something similar is preferable to a beach. I still see public bins as an option though.
 
Problem we have at Kawakawa bay with HFO/Fisheries is when they get rid of undersize fish,they slit it so it sinks but washes back on to beach/ramp. YES to bins provided they emptied everyday at beaches but some dont get collected for 2 or 3 days.

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"Times up"


Posted By: DIY
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 5:08pm
The Auckland food scrap collection bins take fish frames. Maybe fillet carefully in the kitchen and put the waste in the scrap bin outside. If it’s going to be a few days then maybe freeze first.

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Oh what a smasher - two eggs and a rasher!


Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 6:07pm
Originally posted by DIY DIY wrote:

The Auckland food scrap collection bins take fish frames. Maybe fillet carefully in the kitchen and put the waste in the scrap bin outside. If it’s going to be a few days then maybe freeze first.
HaHa we have had it in Papkura for a couple of yrs now and just lately they havent been picking it up,so most neighbours now deposit in council bins. Rang,We are short of drivers so put with normal rubbish. No time frame given 

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"Times up"


Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 7:41pm
Ask on Facebook on gardening forums and see if anyone close wants for garden. My garden is just about all scales and bones I’ve buried so much. I know what it must be like to be a serial killer with a small dirt underfloor crawl space, as I struggle to find places for the bodies 

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The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent on fishing - Assyrian Proverb


Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 8:15pm
I put my frames in the freezer, then put them in the rubbish bag on collection day.


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 8:35pm
I prefer to put them in the deep ocean for the aforementioned reasons. I was pretty good with the free fish heads thing for a while, but it's a hassle. I rarely bring home more than three or four fish (by choice!), so not really worth it for the recipient. Then I started stock piling them in the freezer, but that meant gutting the fish and some sort of wrapping. More hassle.

These days, I'm bringing home more fish (have to feed in-laws now) and have got in to the habit of gutting fish as soon as I catch them, so may give free fish heads another go.  


Posted By: bigred1
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2024 at 10:24pm
For about the past year I have been filleting at sea. Being Tauranga based snapper ia the main specics caught. Another less than about 33cm goes back if suitable and most fish I take a photo of on a measure mat. This means not only is there no mess at home, I now only take a small chilly bin and a few freezer pads, instead of a big chilly and a bag of ice. I can throw a fish or two in the anchor well if the action is hot, e.g. when I'm chasing kahawai but usually there is ample time to fillet. I have met fisheries officers at the ramp and they want to see (and count) the fillets but are really resonable and say they know what legal fillets look like, usually without wanting to see the photos, although I always offer. The Niwa researchers want to see the photos for their measurement records. I can't remember the last time I caught my limit (due to both incompetence and impatience) so that probably helps as I am clearly not pushing the rules.


Posted By: Schecter
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2024 at 5:34pm
I usually gut and clean my fish at sea.  I discard guts far away from the boat ramp and swimming holes.  

As with fish smell, you could spray a little air freshner around the filleting and storage areas.  Cleaning your gear is as easy as a spray and wipe with a damp cloth.  

As for storage for fishing gear, perhaps a foldable warerobe that you can fit into the room might work for you?  


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2024 at 2:57pm
I did the free fish heads thing today for the first time in a long while. It was super efficient! I think the advent of Facebook groups that are highly localised to a small geographical area has made it more relevant to people. 


Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2024 at 7:39pm
Originally posted by MB MB wrote:

I did the free fish heads thing today for the first time in a long while. It was super efficient! I think the advent of Facebook groups that are highly localised to a small geographical area has made it more relevant to people. 

Skoti and I have an fb page called Fish Heads Waiuku  https://www.facebook.com/groups/595179341725304" rel="nofollow - https://www.facebook.com/groups/595179341725304

I asked Skoti to set it up because I couldn't give the stuff away. Sometimes we keep it, sometimes it's easier to forward it on. Never missed with that page and have a few regular 'customers'.


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Best gurnard fisherman in my street


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2024 at 7:53pm
That's the idea smudge! For us northerners: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516331398752307

Facebook isn't completely useless LOL


Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2024 at 8:49pm
Good work MB, yes fb does have it's uses but ... yeah

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Best gurnard fisherman in my street



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