Fish Cleaning Gallery
Click-on an image to start a slideshow with larger images.
01. Step 1
Here's a nice Redfish, and a mess of Speckled Trout, so let's get to it.
02. Step 2
As the blade goes along it has to cut through the belly bones, on larger fish they can be a bit tough.
03. Step 3
The scales can be a little tough on some fish, using an electric knife make this far easier on larger fish.
04. Step 4
As you can see the knife is progressing easlily along the backbone, notice the way he holds the knife using his thumb to help push the knife through, using the electric knife it doesn't require that much pressure.
05. Step 5
Notice the knife is through the belly bones now, the fish is getting thinner and the knife will be moving easily.
06. Brother Tim
Getting close to the end now, be careful here, you don't want to cut the fillet off yet.
07. Step 7
He's almost at flip time.
08. Step 8
A pair of fine looking young sisters.
09. Step 9
At this point your almost ready to do the flip.
10. Step 10
And there ya go, just flip that fillet over on the table and leave it attached to the fish so you can now remove the skin and scales from the fillet.
11. Step 11
Here you start from the tail and go forward to remove the scales, the knife will slide easily along the sking and table and you just remove the skin and scales.
12. Step 12
Notice he's left the skin attached to the fish tail. This give you something to hold on to as you remove the skin and scales all at one time.
13. Step 13
Be sure to keep the knife running along the table, you'll be supprised at how easy this is with some practice.
14. Step 14
Just keep that knife running along the table between skin and the fillet.
15. Step 15
Your're getting it just keep doing the same thing.
16. Step 16
You're getting into the thicker part of the fish now, you need a little more pressure on the knife.
17. Step 17
Almost there.
18. Step 18
Almost there.
19. Step 19
About a second left.
20. Step 20
And you did it, the fillet is off.
21. Step 21
Notice now that another fisherman has taken over the fillets and is removing the belly bones, you can team up this way and surly speed up the process.
22. Step 22
Using his fillet knife he's removing all the belly bones and saving all that fillet he can, waste not, want not.
23. Step 23
On most fish the process will leave you with boneless fillets of fish, I've been cleaning fish like this for years.
24. Step 24
Be careful and make sure you get all the bones out, folks will love you for this care.
25. Step 25
He's almost done.
26. Step 26
There that's the last of the bones and the fish is ready for cooking, freezing, whatever, these guys are pros.
27. Step 27
And there ya go, clean and piled up ready for the next phase. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I hope this helps someone out, God Bless James Allen.