I'm flying to Cabo in a couple weeks to fish and was hoping to bring back a cooler with some filets. I've hauled lots of fish back in the truck but
never flown with it. The airline website (United) is a little hard to get any info out of so I was hoping some folks here would have input. Has
anyone had any problem checking a cooler with frozen filets? I was planning on leaving the skin on for identification. Is there any paperwork needed
on the Mexican end?
ThanksLoretana - 6-4-2012 at 06:41 PM
Spearo,
It shouldn't be a problem. When you come back into the US, you'll need to make sure you have filled out the declaration properly, where you declare
the fish. That will send you to the agriculture guys, and they may want to look in the ice chest.
I have packed shrimp, scallops, and octopus along with the fish in my cooler, and just passed right thru.
Cooler fee on Alaska is $25.00, I believe. United is probably the same.
Those guys over on Bloodydecks have good info for you about the tape, and packing tips.
Good fishing!Spearo - 6-4-2012 at 07:19 PM
very helpful. thanks.BajaBlanca - 6-4-2012 at 07:58 PM
and I have found that going thru agriculture is even faster than going thru regular customs .... so sometimes I do it on purpose ....dtbushpilot - 6-4-2012 at 10:53 PM
Don't worry about it, the sea of Cortez is fished out, you'll be lucky to catch enough for dinner....rhintransit - 6-5-2012 at 05:51 AM
in LA once I watched a cooler no longer full of fish and little packages of frozen fish all over the conveyer belt go round and round. be sure to
pack well!
fish
captkw - 6-5-2012 at 06:08 AM
I would first try and catch some fish.and call the airline before you came down..fishing has gone to hell if you havnt heard !! K & T Alan - 6-5-2012 at 07:01 AM
Don't exceed 55 lbs.Pacifico - 6-5-2012 at 07:09 AM
It's not a problem at all. Take a roll of duct tape to secure your cooler at the airport. I never do it really good in advance because sometimes they
look inside the cooler at the airport. They don't like to see any standing water that could leak out, so drain any water out of the cooler outside of
the airport.
Another interesting point - I've been told by the airlines that you don't have to declare fish as a "meat". So, I never have. I guess they are looking
for pork which they have concerns about. However, I like the idea of getting through faster with the agriculture guys if that is true!
Good luck!Cypress - 6-5-2012 at 07:55 AM
Six months ago United limited me to a total of 50 lbs., no dry ice, leak-proof, crush-proof container. This was a domestic flight from MS to ID. Don't
remember how much it cost. They inspected the contents of the ice chest.Good luck!sd - 6-5-2012 at 09:14 AM
No ice allowed, so freeze solid before you leave. Tape up after allowing inspection as noted above. Have fishing license available (I was told) in
case you are asked for it.bkbend - 6-5-2012 at 09:38 AM
Yes, no ice. You can use blue ice or similar non-liquid products if you have a way to freeze them. In addition to duct tape, I've used a belt around
the cooler to help keep it from popping open.DavidE - 6-5-2012 at 10:07 AM
Whatever happened to the FedReg about leaving the tail fin attached to I.D. the type of fish? Did that go by the wayside?karenintx - 6-5-2012 at 12:21 PM
You probably already know this but "no styrofoam coolers are allowed as checked baggage or as a carry-on. I have seen a few unhappy passengers when
they were told their styrofoam cooler would not be going with them. I have a friend that has had her tuna smoked and vacuum sealed then she is
allowed to put it in her carry-on luggage...that was US Airways.
Can't Resist the Oppourtunity to Tell This Story
Gypsy Jan - 6-5-2012 at 12:39 PM
A few years ago, we were going to visit friends in San Miguel de Allende.
They really were good beef deprived, according to their complaints. I went to our butcher and bought about thirty pounds of steaks and other cuts,
went to a dry ice supplier and packed all of the conglomeration into a Styrofoam ice chest.
When we got off the plane in Leon, and had collected our luggage, including the ice chest, I noticed a huge amount of interest in our progress in the
line by the authorities.
When we arrived at the counter, we were given a "Big Red Traffic Stoplight".
So, we waited while the aduana cut open our Styrofoam ice chest and the agents were very disappointed looking over to their bosses, keening, "Solo
carne, solo carne!"
I still have no idea of what they were expecting/looking for.Alan - 6-6-2012 at 11:00 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by karenintx
I have a friend that has had her tuna smoked and vacuum sealed then she is allowed to put it in her carry-on luggage...that was US Airways.
Maybe because it wasn't frozen? Last month my son tried to just bring a few fillets home that were vacuum
packed and frozen in his checked luggage rather than lugging an additional cooler. The Mexican TSA took it in La Paz.
[Edited on 6-6-2012 by Alan]Skipjack Joe - 6-6-2012 at 05:03 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Don't worry about it, the sea of Cortez is fished out, you'll be lucky to catch enough for dinner....
I've got a feeling these fish were speared.UnoMas - 6-6-2012 at 10:13 PM
Have flown many coolers of fish to the U.S. with out any problem ever. Have never left a piece of skin or anything to determine species. If you have a
full cooler of frozen filets do not tape it up prior to inspection at the airport, they will do that for you. There can be no ice in your cooler. You
may want to take a soft side cooler bag just in case you don't fill the cooler and put your fish in that and place it in side your cooler and pack
other things around it for insulation. When you fill out your declaration card on entry to the U.S. do not declare meat as it does not pertain to
fish. Did that the first time and was told that fish was not MEAT....my reply was that is why you find it in the PRODUCE section......Wrong answer
