Kill bags

Kill bags

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Whether fishing from boat, kayak, beach, bridge, dock, or pier, fish bags—or what are often called “kill bags”—are a convenient way for storing and transporting the fish you keep. Transferring fish from a boat’s fish box to a cooler and then to the location where you clean the fish is much more efficient if you store and move the fish using a fish bag (plus, if you put your fish directly into the kill bag, you don’t have to clean the fish boxes on your boat). On the beach, pier, kayak, or bridge, putting fish into the fish bag makes transportation easy and the insulating properties of the bag keep fish fresh, unlike using a bucket. Likewise, many fish bags also double as live bags, fitted with aerators for transferring live fish from live well to weigh stations at tournaments or for keeping live bait. So, fish bags can be important and efficient parts of your gear, but it is important to understand what to look for in a fish bag to find the right one for your fishing applications. These are the primary criteria to consider when selecting a good kill bag.

Kill bags are available in a range of sizes. Two factors play into deciding what size bag to select. 

First, your targeted fish species should be the primary guide in what size bag you need. A 40-inch pike or a 40-inch snook isn’t going to fit in a 30-inch bag. If you’re targeting panfish or mangrove snapper, you probably do not need a 60-inch bag (unless you plan to keep a lot of fish). 

Second, consider the space in which you will use the bag. On the one hand, smaller bags are more efficient in smaller spaces. A smaller bag will be much more useful on a kayak than a bag that takes up most of your deck space and gets in your way. If you’re fishing from a boat and your deck can accommodate a larger bag efficiently, then larger bags are a great option. 

Consider the weight of a full bag, as well, and how far you have to carry it. Dragging a 60-inch bag along a riverbank or beach might be less efficient than carrying a 30-inch or 36-inch bag on a shoulder strap. 

Keep in mind, too, that one of the benefits of a kill bag over a cooler is that when you’re not using it (that is, before you catch the first fish), you can fold it up and store it more easily than you can a cooler. So, it requires less out-of-use storage space.

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