Large predatory fish are not vegetarians. The best presentation to hook a trophy fish is a fresh chunk. To keep your chunks fresh, you need a cooler. An optimal chunking cooler is the Coleman 16 quart cooler. It’s hard shell can take abuse. It’s walls are stuffed with insulation to retain temperature. The non-removable flat top can be used as a cutting board. Hence, it’s a good chunking cooler. But, with a simple modification, it can become a great chunking cooler!
Customizing a cooler for portable, hands-free chunking is easy. All you need is basic tools and inexpensive materials.
Materials
- Coleman 16 Quart Cooler
- Shoulder strap
- 2 Carabiners
- 4 1/4″ x 1.25″ Stainless Steel Washers
- 2 1/4″ x 2 1/2″ Stainless Steel Eye Bolts
- 2 1/4″ Stainless Steel Nuts
Tools
- Power Drill
- 1/4″ Drill Bit
- Adjustable Wrench
First, make a 1/4″ hole on each side of the cooler using a drill bit and power drill. Be sure to make the holes at the same height from the bottom and centered on the sides.
Second, insert a stainless steel washer on to the stainless steel eye bolts. Insert each eye bolt into the holes.
Insert a second stainless steel washer onto the eyes bolts. Secure the stainless steel nuts on the eye bolts using an adjustable wrench.
Third, clip a carabiner to each end of the shoulder strap. Clip each carabiner to an eye bolt. Adjust the shoulder strap until the cooler hangs at waist level.
You could use a soft cooler with a built in shoulder strap. But! They do not hold up the demands of chunking the surf on a regular basis. The zipper is typically the first thing to break; followed by a punched wall or worn out corner. I have had my Coleman chunking cooler for 15 years!
