Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help What do I do with my fish?

First off I don't know if I am allowed to post this seeing as I'm trying to sell my fish but I Want to know where I can sell my fish?

I recently called a taxidermy school in the area and he offered me what he says the trout farm sells their fish for but he really low balled me by offering 4 dollars for a 18 inch trout. Yeah right!

I'd call some restaurants to see if someone would be interested in some large trout but I'm worried that some jerk wad will call the police to come and see if I have the proper licenses/permits to sell my fish. Do you actually need a license to sell fish to a restaurant, or am I just being a nervous nelly?

Several options. Be creative. Try a newspaper add but maybe you need a license to sell pond fish in PA. Try the local fish market? Maybe don't sell them, but trade them for services or products? There are probably pondowners around that would want trout in the fall (water65F) to catch them before the next summer. Once you find a user they will be a dependable customer if your fish are always healthy and survive transplanting.

I'm not trying to raise fish to sell I simply have to get them out of the pond to continue with my renovation projection. I'll restock with golden trout this fall. Thankyou for the advice!!!

Ummm catch them and clean them if all else fails!! Put them in the freezer! Make for some good dinners down the road!

RC

How many do you have? Maybe clean them, eat one or two, freeze a couple, and smoke some and give the smoked delicacy to friends and family as gifts or repayment for helping you or buying you some fish food to feed more fish?

Do you have a local farmers market? If so go there and talk to the vendors...Ask them if they have a need? Look for someone selling canned meat or smoked products...

Have a fishing contest?

Yes - you can 'can' the trout like they do the salmon. I did that once with my dad. Catmandoo will have some ideas and recipes.

To tide you over until Catmandoo gets here.......

http://nwoutdoorwriter.com/Recipe/Canning.htm

Very likely you do need a license or permit to sell them. Not sure what it would cost. Here in Indiana it's free.

Selling them gutted and cleaned will require a haccp certification (were prepared in a facility that meets the minimum sanitary requirements etc. etc.).

Selling live at a farmer's market could circumvent that requirement.

Something I do to get a TAX break is donate fish to a Church (mostly youth groups) to cook for fund raising selling of fish plates. The church provides people to take, clean, and store the fish. They then right me a donation receipt for the going $ price per # for the #'s of fish I provided to deduct from taxes.
Another is I have also on occasion provided nearly everything for the fish plate sale with VFD's. They provide the labor and I get a receipt for the total amount of funds raised and donated to the volunteer fire department to deduct of taxes.
Basically I have come up with ways to help the community and ease my tax burden when I have to move fish and do not have the time or demand to handle the supply of fish.