Catfish are tough fish and the hardness of their skin reflects this. However, the succulent meat is well worth the effort it takes to clean and skin it. There are several ways to clean catfish, but the method mentioned in this article is the easiest.
Step
Step 1. Collect the required items
Rope, a pair of pliers (standard, not razor pliers), a filet knife, and a large knife, such as a butcher's knife or bendo.
Step 2. Make sure the fish is dead
This is a humane measure and will prevent injury from occurring. If in doubt, cut off the fish's tail to remove the blood.
Step 3. Carefully cut off the skin behind the gills
Next, clean the inside of the fish, but don't puncture any organs. Cut the fins at the base (use pliers to hold the fins as you cut them).
Step 4. Hang the fish by its gills from a tree branch or whatever you can use to hang the fish
Cut the skin in the middle of the back of the fish.
Step 5. Peel off the skin from the head to the bottom using pliers
In order to perform this process perfectly, you need practice.
Step 6. Peel off the skin to the tail
Trim the tail if it hasn't been done before and cut off the head with a large knife.
Step 7. Filet the fish from the tail up
Cut along the spine until you reach the ribs and cut from the top of the fish to the bottom, except for the spine, leaving the ends following the ribs.
Step 8. Prepare the fish for processing
Once the meat on both sides is peeled off, you can use or create any recipe for it.
Tips
- Make sure your knife is sharp. A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife.
- Catfish caught from clear water tastes more delicious
- Catfish do not have scales and can be eaten with the skin.
- Special pliers for skinning catfish can make your job easier. This tool can be purchased at fishing shops at a low price.
- If you are good at filets on the ribs, catfish can be filleted without cleaning the inside.
- To prevent stab wounds in this procedure, you can cut the fins first. Medical scissors are a good choice for doing this and can prevent your blade from dulling quickly.
Warning
- Watch for catfish stings; This stinger is on the fins on both sides, behind the gills. The sting is sharper in young fish and if the stinger penetrates the skin, it can cause a painful stab wound or infection.
- Be careful when using a knife-always cut “against” from your body and use pliers to hold the fish when needed.
- Some species of catfish have poison in their spines that can cause serious injuries; make sure you know the type of catfish you're catching so you can take the appropriate precautions.
