Keep it simple! I use the cheapest simplest stringers I can find and then sometimes shorten them to about three feet. Fish should not really be on a stringer for more than 15-20 minutes, then head for shore, clean em and store the fillets in a wet chilled canvas or burlap bag. You won't be able to convince me that stressed out fish that have been hauled around for any length of time (even if they do stay alive) will taste better than quickly cleaned and properly chilled fillets.

nctry_Ben wrote on Feb 5^th, 2011 at 4:31pm:


Very true.  Nevertheless, I find that particular stringer useful for "displaying" the BAIT which I use to attract pollyhumpers.

Also, I should point out there is no question about eating pollyhumpers "soon".  The real trick is not to BE EATEN by pollyhupers soon.  SAFETY TIP:  Always keep the Standard PH Mallet (preferably the model with the 6 inch stainless steel spikes) close at hand (or you may LOSE that hand), especially when you are in the red zone!

By the way, if you conk'em good & catch'em in their chub stage, they fix well with onions & chili pepper & taste a bit like chicken.  Anything over 65", however, you would be wise to release... for numerous reasons.  And beware; ALWAYS keep on the lookout for the dorsal fin of "momma."  The female schools with its young & is very protective.  She can close on her prey with surprising speed.  

By the way, an ichthyologist friend of mine informs me pollyhumpers generally eat their meal within 15-20 minutes of catching it; people apparently taste loon-y to them (which is, of course, a PH delicacy).

Jimbo  

I use a metal clip stringer...which I can't seem to find online to show a picture of it.  You can get them at Gander Mountain, but apparently not online at Gander Mountain.

The main difference is that the clips slide along the chain and stop at various points down the chain.  Up near the top is a clip-keeper which holds the unused clips in place until you need one.  It keeps the stringer from tangling as long as you close your clips and reset them on the keeper when you finish using the stringer.

The main reason I like it over a nylon stringer is that it lasts forever.  It is louder, but I tend not to drag fish around too long until I fillet them out.

I'm definitely in these camps:

Metal stringer

Stringer thru both lips...or you'll be hauling a mini sea-anchor before long.

Fillet the fish ASAP.  As soon as I have a meal's worth, I'm heading for the nearest flat rock.

My problem w/metal stringers hasn't been the noise, so much.  Rather, I've found I have to use a minimum of two clips on larger fish to ensure they don't twist, pop the single clip, and self-release.  I've lost more than one bigger fish that way.  In other words, I have found big fish to be less secure on metal stringers.  On the other hand, I don't recall ever losing a fish on a nylon thread style OR a nylon line-with-plastic-locking-clips style stringer.

Of course, in the old days I tended to keep bigger fish more often.  That wasn't very smart.  Nowadays, I mostly release the big ones & keep only eaters.  I suppose a metal stringer would work fine now... unless, of course, it's a pollyhumper.  None of the above work very well with them.

Jimbo   

Jaximus, that's the best kind of stringer to have up there...one with dinner attached!