Hi folks, as new to SD long range / mexico fishing there were plenty of questions overall that became answered, one of course was fish processing, logistics and cost.
Purpose of this thread is not to praise or flame any processor, rather to provide data sets for folks to see what yields and costs are. I'm all for praise where appropriate - and flame - well sometimes stuff happens - but let's leave that to other posts.
None of this is confidential or secret - rates are well known, however examples are helpful. I like helpful.
I'll start:
3 day Excel trip June 2021. Two of us. 6 fish total, two over 100#. Used Fisherman's Processing. Combined the catch.
Reservations ahead and 1# packs, 5 mil bag option, w/bellies and collars, frozen and shipped SWA cargo to OAK.
Total gross weight to processor at landing: 362# ALL bluefin tuna.
Total shipment weight (including airline boxes and ice packs): 205# in four basically 17x16x24" boxes.
Coolers/boxes and ice packs likely 50 pounds total (I'll weight them and edit) but this seems about right. so net fish in 5mil bags: 155#.
Basically 43%. I assume it's higher than average because we wanted the collars.
Cost:
1.45/# plus total of 31$ for collars: 555.90.
Four airline cooler/shipping boxes and handling to airport: 244.00
Total processing: $799.90
Airfreight San Diego to Oakland: 208.52. Paid at destination.
Total all in processing/shipping: $1,008.42 or basically $6.50 per pound.
So in keeping this post non performance review related I will say the box cost is very typical and was expected. The air freight was pretty standard and fast, four hours and change from delivery to SD airport to available at OAK. The local SD delivery charge to the airport was 30$ included in the above.
For MY purposes shipping was a much better time/cost option than a return drive to San Diego. I will keep the coolers and boxes for future use. Playing that forward the average cost will go down.
Hope this helps folks looking at costs, yields and shipping. Please add your experience - but please let's keep it data/cost, not praise and/or flame here. Cheers!
Purpose of this thread is not to praise or flame any processor, rather to provide data sets for folks to see what yields and costs are. I'm all for praise where appropriate - and flame - well sometimes stuff happens - but let's leave that to other posts.
None of this is confidential or secret - rates are well known, however examples are helpful. I like helpful.
I'll start:
3 day Excel trip June 2021. Two of us. 6 fish total, two over 100#. Used Fisherman's Processing. Combined the catch.
Reservations ahead and 1# packs, 5 mil bag option, w/bellies and collars, frozen and shipped SWA cargo to OAK.
Total gross weight to processor at landing: 362# ALL bluefin tuna.
Total shipment weight (including airline boxes and ice packs): 205# in four basically 17x16x24" boxes.
Coolers/boxes and ice packs likely 50 pounds total (I'll weight them and edit) but this seems about right. so net fish in 5mil bags: 155#.
Basically 43%. I assume it's higher than average because we wanted the collars.
Cost:
1.45/# plus total of 31$ for collars: 555.90.
Four airline cooler/shipping boxes and handling to airport: 244.00
Total processing: $799.90
Airfreight San Diego to Oakland: 208.52. Paid at destination.
Total all in processing/shipping: $1,008.42 or basically $6.50 per pound.
So in keeping this post non performance review related I will say the box cost is very typical and was expected. The air freight was pretty standard and fast, four hours and change from delivery to SD airport to available at OAK. The local SD delivery charge to the airport was 30$ included in the above.
For MY purposes shipping was a much better time/cost option than a return drive to San Diego. I will keep the coolers and boxes for future use. Playing that forward the average cost will go down.
Hope this helps folks looking at costs, yields and shipping. Please add your experience - but please let's keep it data/cost, not praise and/or flame here. Cheers!
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) I've not got to be on the salt in over six years. (Accident. Surgeries. All that bs. Don't break ANYTHING spinal. Trust me. Not worth it) But I can finally see light on the horizon. When I can finally get back down there and do my thing. I'm just thanking my lucky stars that I learned how to take care of Tuna, YT, Dorado, Wahoo, Grouper, Halibut etc as a kid. It always felt kinda primal doing it myself. I'm not cheap. I just have to be more careful about spending money now than I had to be in the past. When you add everything up. Even the little stuff helps. Now..That I'm about ready to jump back in the saddle. LET'S GET THE ISLANDS OPENED BACK UP! 
