There’s no feeling like the one you get after a day of successful fishing - the glory of coming home with a fresh catch, knowing you’re about to eat a great meal. Like many victories in life, the glory of catching fish does come with a downside - the cleaning. In order to make fish cleaning easier and your day shorter, all fishermen should consider owning a portable fish cleaning table. In this guide, we will delve into everything you need to know about these convenient tools that make fish cleaning a breeze.

Why You Need a Portable Fish Cleaning Table

Having a portable fish cleaning table makes the entire fishing experience more streamlined and clean. They empower you to clean your fish where you catch them - meaning that you can descale and filet them while you are still dirty and are outside. This makes it so you don’t have to clean them at home - which means you won’t have to deal with the scales, the guts, and the other unusable parts of the fish in your home sink or driveway. You can filet the fish completely and bag it up while you are still outside, so that when you get home you have perfectly cut up fish ready to cook.

What to Consider when Researching A Portable Fish Cleaning Table

When you’re looking to purchase a portable fish cleaning table, there are several important factors to consider to ensure that you choose the right one for your needs. Here are some key considerations:

• Folding Tables:

Folding fish cleaning tables are designed to be compact and easy to transport. They typically feature a foldable design with legs that collapse, making them ideal for anglers who need a portable option for cleaning fish on the go. These tables often come with a variety of features like sinks, faucets, and storage.

• Collapsible Tables:

Collapsible tables are similar to folding tables but may have additional features like adjustable height settings. They are known for their space-saving design, allowing them to fit in small storage spaces when not in use.

• Tailgate Tables:

Tailgate fish cleaning tables are designed to attach to the tailgate of a pickup truck or other vehicles. They provide a stable and convenient platform for cleaning fish and can be a great choice for fishing trips where a vehicle is readily available.

• Adjustable Height Tables:

Some portable fish cleaning tables have adjustable legs or height settings. This feature allows you to customize the table's height to your comfort level, reducing strain on your back during the cleaning process.

• Multi-Functional Tables:

These tables are designed to serve multiple purposes beyond fish cleaning. They may include features like grilling surfaces, cutting boards, and storage compartments. This versatility can make them useful for camping or outdoor cooking in addition to fish cleaning.

• Rolling Tables:

Rolling fish cleaning tables come with wheels or casters, making them easy to move around. This can be particularly useful if you need to relocate the table frequently or if you have limited space for storage.

• Compact Tables:

Compact fish cleaning tables are small and lightweight, suitable for anglers with limited space or those who only occasionally clean fish. They may lack some of the features of larger tables but are easy to store and transport.

• Inflatable Tables:

Inflatable fish cleaning tables are extremely portable and space-saving. They can be inflated when needed and deflated for storage or transport. However, they may not offer the same level of stability as solid tables.

• Custom-Built Tables:

Some anglers opt to build their own portable fish cleaning tables tailored to their specific needs. Custom-built tables can be designed with unique features and materials to suit individual preferences.

How Portable Fish Cleaning Tables with Sinks Work

As we have mentioned, some portable fish cleaning tables have portable sinks or water spraying devices built-in. This seems like a great feature - but the question is, how does that work and where does the sink get water from? Let’s take a closer look to see.

Water Source

The biggest limiting factor portability-wise with portable fish cleaning tables with sinks is that they have to pump water from somewhere.

Hose Fed 

Most of them require that the sink be hooked up to an actual hose. If you’re a fisherman who likes to go off-grid, you can see where this could be an issue. Is it truly portable if you need access to a pressurized hose? What if you are at a lake or campsite without a hose or water source? This means they aren’t truly “portable”.

Water Tank Fed

Some other portable fish cleaning tables with sinks come with water tank attachments. These have limited capacity and are a separate piece you have to carry. They also require some form of pump in order to work, whether it is foot operated or by battery.

Bucket Fed

Like the water tank fed models, some portable fish cleaning tables draw water from a bucket. They require some kind of external pressurization method like a foot pump or battery - so that should be considered as well.

Pressurization Method

The pressurization method used to pump the water from the source to the faucet to your portable fish cleaning table is very important. Some provide more pressure than others - and some require more parts. Let’s look at the various pressurization methods to see how each of them work and what they require.

Hose Pressure

As we have talked about, hose fed portable fish cleaning tables use a garden hose to supply water. They utilize the pressure from the hose to drive water through the sink faucet - which creates the pressure.

Foot Pump Pressure

Some portable sinks use foot pumps to pressurize water in a tank. The pump pushes air into the tank which compresses against the water, creating pressure in the tank. Then when the faucet on the sink is opened, the pressure releases and pushes the water out. The pressure is typically not great, and you have to keep pumping it in order to maintain pressure.

Battery Pressure

Some portable sinks use a battery powered pump to pump the water out of a bucket or container through a hose and nozzle. There are many different varieties of this type of pump, and some create more pressure than others. 

RinseKit as an Alternative to a Portable Sink

The thing about these portable sinks is that they either require a water source in the form of a hose, which technically makes it not portable, or they require exterior pumping methods like a battery or foot pump. In both cases, it makes using the portable sink more complicated and time consuming, which you don’t want to deal with while you’re gearing up to fish. A RinseKit + Auto Nozzle Bundle can serve as a great alternative to a portable sink, providing pressurization, a water tank and a touchless water dispenser all in one.

 

 

What is a RinseKit?

The RinseKit is a portable shower system ranging in capacity from 3.5-5 gallons that relies on battery-powered pressurization to ensure a consistent and powerful water flow. Unlike conventional portable showers or portable sinks, it requires no manual pumping; a simple push of a button activates the battery and pressurizes the water within the tank, which is neatly contained in a small cooler like container with an easy to carry top handle.

The RinseKit serves as a versatile portable sink for fish cleaning stations. You can either hold the nozzle and squeeze the handle to spray like a normal hose, or mount the nozzle, and use an on/off valve to activate the spray. 

For those seeking an advanced portable sink solution, adding the Auto-Nozzle to the RinseKit transforms it into the only touchless portable handwashing station available. The Auto-Nozzle is an optional accessory compatible with all RinseKit models. It operates as a touchless faucet, connecting to the RinseKit’s hose with a quick connect. When the RinseKit is turned on, the Auto-Nozzle dispenses water with a simple hand wave, thanks to motion-detection technology.

You can attach the Auto-Nozzle directly to the RinseKit or mount it to smooth surfaces using the included suction mount. This flexibility allows you to create a touchless fish cleaning station anywhere, making it ideal for cleaning fish in off-grid areas.

With the RinseKit’s high capacity, battery-powered pressurization, and the touchless convenience of the Auto-Nozzle, you can create a fully portable, high-capacity, portable sink for your fish cleaning station wherever you need it. Whether it's at the beach, at the dock, at the campsite, or lakeside, the RinseKit offers an excellent solution.

 

 

Pros:

• Super Portable
• Touchless water dispensing
• Suitable for personal use or small groups
• Versatile for various applications (handwashing, dishwashing, gear cleaning, etc.)
• Mountable on vehicles and other surfaces
• Easy to transport and use

Cons:

• Best for small to medium-sized groups
• Moderate price

So you can see that if you’re looking to add a portable sink to your fish cleaning table, the RinseKit + Auto-Nozzle is a great option. It’s super easy to use and setup, ultra portable, can carry a ton of water and offers touchless water dispensing. This will allow you to set up your cleaning table quickly and clean your fish easily, without having to touch any kind of nozzle or handle.

Conclusion

In summary, portable fish cleaning tables with sinks are a valuable addition to any angler's toolkit. Their convenience, durability, and efficient design make them a must-have for those who enjoy the art of fishing. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a novice, investing in one of these tables can enhance your fishing experience and simplify the post-catch cleanup process.

If you’re looking to set up the ultimate portable fish cleaning table, you undoubtedly need one that has a portable sink. As we discussed, there are several options for this portable water, but the RinseKit + Auto-Nozzle is probably the best option. 

So, equip yourself with the right tools and enjoy more memorable moments by the water's edge, knowing that you have a versatile companion by your side.