Slurry or Ice Only

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    Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:20pm
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Over the years I've been a big fan of a slurry in the chilly bin as opposed to just salt ice.

I've had numerous debates and even the odd argument on the boat with various people about it, but it seems more logical to me to mix one third salt water. I find it makes it easier to stack the catch, ensures a uniform temperature over the entire fish and stays just as cold for hours.

What are your opinions?                  
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Dagwood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:28pm
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I bring home a 2 litre ice cream container of salt water each time we're out. Freeze it down and next time place it in the bottom of the polystyrene bin with a bit of sea water.
Any fish we get fish come home chilled down and seem fine. If we don't catch anything, well at least the cost of ice doesn't have to be added to bait, fuel etc...

Got to be better than what my Dad used to do - he was proud of a damp sack.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote cirrus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:35pm
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Was a topic on this recently. Just cant think what it was called.

For me slurry. Have found cold does not transfer to air in bin as readily as water.

Slurry gives bigger area of cold to surround fish. Found if i put fish on ice the upper layers of fish did not chill properly ,especially if opening and closing ice box.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote P.T Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:42pm
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Slurry.    This keeps the fish longer and better.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pickles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:43pm
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Sweet. 3 out of 3! At least I know I'm not mad!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Lethal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:49pm
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fully agree slurry regardless of how you do it saltwater and ice,
either by ice cream container of saltwater frozen and dropped in with the salt water,
or by freshwater contained in a 2lt bottle as long as the fresh water is contained from polluting the salt water,
yep slurry is better all round as it cools the whole fish not just the air which disperses every time you open the chilly bin...
the old wet sack has long gone out the window, plus the sacks these days are hard to come by anyway...

Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote sappercatcha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 7:50pm
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slurry! it gets the temp of the fish down quick quicker than only ice and that's what you want with a good slurry you don't even have to kill the fish the ice is so cold it kills them instantly a good slurry can almost freeze fish and would be fine over night...... however if I cant filet when I get home I take the fish out of the slurry and pack in ice. ice the bottom of the bin then a layer of fish then more ice then more fish and so on this will keep the fish for a couple of days fresh as if you have a good bin salt ice is cheep in comparison to bait fuel rods reels etc and in my opinion just as important as if you are going trough the trouble and spending the money to go out and catch them what's another 10 bucks for a couple of bags of ice to keep them in the best condition possible for the table
keep up the good work boys
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote kaveman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 8:03pm
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definately slurry, thats why comm longliners use itWink
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote cirrus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 8:17pm
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Is it a problem to dilute the salt water with fresh. I often line bottom of bin with sealed plastic bottles of frozen fresh water. Then add one or two 2 litre blocks of freshwater ice. Then when out there add  about equal part of salt water.
Have assumed that the salt water added  to the blocks of fresh water ice + sealed containers of ice would still give a higher salt content than purchased salt ice.  
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Potty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 8:21pm
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I find slurry is only good for a day trip, packing in salt ice is better when away for a few days.
Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash.
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slurry for me. good point by potty.
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slurry for me and i spike them straight away
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We do a combo,,   Iki straight away then once have a few fish in the bin we mix up a saltwater/salt ice slurry.   However later before the ramp we do a gut, gill and cleanup, drain out the slurry and just do a 'ice down' for the trip home with the fish flesh being firm and ready to fillet.     We used to leave them in the slurry until filleting but on those longer days out,,found that the flesh went abit 'mushy' for filleting.  The slurry certainly chills them down quickly at the start though.
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Originally posted by cirrus cirrus wrote:

Is it a problem to dilute the salt water with fresh. I often line bottom of bin with sealed plastic bottles of frozen fresh water. Then add one or two 2 litre blocks of freshwater ice. Then when out there add  about equal part of salt water.
Have assumed that the salt water added  to the blocks of fresh water ice + sealed containers of ice would still give a higher salt content than purchased salt ice.  
how can it give a higher salt content than salt ice which is frozen sea water mixed with sea water to make slurry? Your method uses a mix of frozen fresh water and sea water the salt content of your mix would drop as the fresh ice melts that being said i think it will work fine not as good as salt ice and sea water slurry i some times use frozen milk bottles and salt water in winter but its deffently no where near as cold as slurry
keep up the good work boys
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Frozen blocks or milk bottles mixed with sea water in a chilli bin makes cold water...
A slurry is flake ice and sea water mixed so its of a consistent mix.
A slurry will hold fish at around 1 degree or colder ,perfect to keep them fresh
Salt ice contains about a tea spoon of salt per 20 ltrs,put some in your mouth and taste it,I use it in the rum when on charter boats..its bugger all salt
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote cirrus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 10:22pm
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Cheers sappercatcha. That clarifies things.  I thought that salt ice that you buy was fresh water with only a small amount of salt added,hence me thinking adding salt water to fresh ice would be about equal to salt ice in a slurry
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Originally posted by of2fsh of2fsh wrote:

Frozen blocks or milk bottles mixed with sea water in a chilli bin makes cold water...
A slurry is flake ice and sea water mixed so its of a consistent mix.
A slurry will hold fish at around 1 degree or colder ,perfect to keep them fresh
Salt ice contains about a tea spoon of salt per 20 ltrs,put some in your mouth and taste it,I use it in the rum when on charter boats..its bugger all salt


Wayne your saying salt ice is fresh water with added salt. In that case it would be way less than seawater.
So adding sea water to fresh ice should do the trick.?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote of2fsh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 10:38pm
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Originally posted by cirrus cirrus wrote:

Originally posted by of2fsh of2fsh wrote:

Frozen blocks or milk bottles mixed with sea water in a chilli bin makes cold water...
A slurry is flake ice and sea water mixed so its of a consistent mix.
A slurry will hold fish at around 1 degree or colder ,perfect to keep them fresh
Salt ice contains about a tea spoon of salt per 20 ltrs,put some in your mouth and taste it,I use it in the rum when on charter boats..its bugger all salt


Wayne your saying salt ice is fresh water with added salt. In that case it would be way less than seawater.
So adding sea water to fresh ice should do the trick.?


Yes way less than sea water,for hygienic reasons and its a lot easier salt ice is made from fresh water with added salt,sea water takes a lot more to freeze than mass produced flake ice ( salt ice)
The salt is there to lower the freezing point hence giving it a longer life,if you make a slurry with fresh water ice cubes and sea water its going to do the same thing but the initial temp will be higher so it wont last.
Flake ice mixed right lasts well because it has a colder starting temp ( in a slurry) and the flakes mixed into a slurry hold a consistent temp for longer,the flakes play a large part in keeping the slurry real cold as its a thicker mass than just water with a ice block thrown in.
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Try this system next time you get a fish.
Make a thickish slurry with flake ice ( more ice than water)
Iki fish and strait into bin.
When home fillet fish and put fillets back in slurry for 10 minutes.
Pat dry with paper towel and put in fridge till you cook it
Makes a diffrence to taste,and there easier to fillet as the fish is firm
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pickles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 10:52pm
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Originally posted by of2fsh of2fsh wrote:

Try this system next time you get a fish.
Make a thickish slurry with flake ice ( more ice than water)
Iki fish and strait into bin.
When home fillet fish and put back in slurry and wash.
Pat dry with paper towel and put in fridge till you cook it
Makes a diffrence to taste,and there easier to fillet as the fish is firm


Agreed. The only downside to pulling them all out of the slurry and filleting in winter is that your hands go blue and numb! Small price to pay for fresh, firm fillets though.
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