Having a cooler for fishing is a smart idea. A cooler keeps your bait and catch cool, preserves your food and drinks, and can store your gear. Once you catch a fish you want to eat, put it on ice right away. This stops bacteria from growing and makes the meat firmer and easier to clean. Even if you release your fish, you’ll need a good cooler to keep your lunch and drinks cold.

Choosing the right size cooler for fishing depends on how you plan to use it. Coolers are sized by their capacity, so consider what you’ll need it for. A 10-quart cooler is great for bait or lunch, while a 150-quart cooler is typical for offshore fishing boats. 

To pick the right size, measure the space where you’ll put the cooler to ensure it fits. Keep in mind that different brands might have different dimensions even if their capacity is the same. Also, make sure the inside of the cooler is spacious enough for your catch. 

For storing fish, I prefer a cooler long enough to keep the fish flat without bending. For example, speckled trout and redfish are usually 20 to 25 inches long, so I choose a cooler that’s at least 30 inches long. If you mostly catch smaller fish like panfish, a 50-quart cooler will be enough. 

On my 20-foot boat, I use a 120-quart cooler for fish and a 35-quart cooler for lunch. For bait, I use an 8-quart soft cooler with a frozen ice pack to keep squid, clams, and cut bait fresh. I place the small cooler inside the larger one to keep the bait frozen all day.

First, empty all the water from your cooler. 

If there are no stubborn stains, use hot, soapy water to clean it. 

For tough stains, scrub them with a mix of bleach and water. If they won’t come off, use a strong spray. 

Finally, leave the lid open to let your cooler dry