If the tank it too dry … This is where the flexible knife blade comes in handy. Take them out in the middle of the lake away from the banks so they don’t become a nuisance to others. Get more exclusive catfish fishing tips here by email, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Squeeze the fillet and it pokes out. With a small sharp knife, cut away portion from just behind the lower jaw or the fish to the start of the abdomen. Like anything else, you get better with practice. After taking the head off, use the shears to cut into the belly of the fish. Ice the fish down after they are removed from the live well and by the time you start cleaning, everything is good (it only takes a few minutes). Scale the fish by scraping gently with a dull knife. Catfish are too bony to start behind the gill..hence starting at the dorsal 🙂. Other fishes might require considerably more space per specimen depending upon their activity level, eating habits, territorial tendencies, and so on. These are all of the details on how to clean catfish and better yet not only how to do it but how to clean a catfish in fifteen seconds or less. Great article. In typical Youtube fashion, there are tons of armchair experts, colorful comments, and a whole rash of those PETA types that have an issue with everything hunting or fishing related that can’t comment without using foul language so we had to delete their comments. You must remove the entrails, clean and prepare the meat for cooking. If you’re not cool with cutting a live fish then put it on ice and wait for it to die. Using this water will minimize shock to the fish. Otherwise I do it the same as you do. Make sure you’re knives are sharp. You don’t need to do this with smaller fish as there’s nothing there. Skin might not be eaten/taste bad(?) I love their store and they make good products. I have always cut the fish at the gill plate and released them back into the live well. How To Clean a Catfish In 15 Seconds (Without Skinning). This is the hardest cut you will make when you clean a catfish (cutting through the bone). Dip a five-gallon bucket, or similar sized container, in the fish holding tank and fill it with water. Every time I’ve seen them in person it’s been at a fair or event and I didn’t want to be the guy that walks around with a big knife all day. More Less. How to Clean and Prepare Small Fish . Insert your index finger in the abdominal cavity and put your thumb opposite your index finger on the outside of the belly and pinch. Twitter Google+. Spray the filter with a forceful jet … The pressure from the hose sprayer gets all of the blood out of the fish. Some fish are too bony or strong flavored to be considered edible. If you’re willing to put forth the extra effort, then have it. Catch, photograph, and release is the only way to go with the big catfish. Not an electric model like previously mentioned, just a good old fashioned piece of sharpened steel that you’ll power with some elbow grease. Always put the fillets on the ice during transport. The larger the fish the more meat there is (go figure). If you have someone with you, have them cut the rib cages from the fillets while you are cleaning the catfish, this will speed the process up greatly. If a Livewell or ice chest isn’t an option this is your only choice. What happens if you puncture the stomach, intestines, or any other internal organs. Fish also produce endorphins which, in other animals, act as endogenous painkillers. Some fish have very sharp teeth, be careful if you're holding a fish by the head while cleaning your fish. My fillet knife of choice was always the American Angler Ultra MT3 Electric Fillet Knife. Your other choice is just to clean the darn things and quit being a tree-hugging sissy and just celebrate the fact that you’re at the top of the food chain. You’re cutting through the rib cage. Take some of the existing water from the fishbowl and fill a small, clean container that has never been washed with … As you finish cleaning fish, throw the carcasses into a bucket. +) fish to grow. The board grossed out some of my clients so I finally bought a huge Rapala Pro Series Fillet/Prep Board. I told them “the drag slipping”. You may be able to get away with a quick debris removal using a pool net, but if the pond is very dirty, you’ll need to remove most of the water as well. Three years ago a customer filmed me cleaning catfish on the tailgate of my truck and I posted the video on Youtube of me cleaning catfish (we’ll get to the video in a minute). Now, what should you do with the catfish prior to cleaning them? When I’m cleaning fish I’m on my time, therefore I need to get finished quickly so I can go home or get ready for my next trip. I am about to attempt cleaning my very first catfish that I caught about an hour ago at the lake I live by. The live well is bright red with blood and the fillets do not have ANY blood in them. I don’t wear this all the time now but try to as much as I can for safety reasons. Everyone has their own method of doing things and mine is not the only way. No matter what you do, Livewell, ice chest, or stringer you need to either keep the fish alive or keep them on ice. To make sure your work surface and knife blades are clean and free of germs prior to starting. Just pull it out with a pair of pliers. A major drawback to having a small-scale aquaponics systems, especially ones without pumps, is that they do not have the brute power of commercial or full-sized aquaponic systems. Lose some meat but worth it for the speed. I fish the allotted time and then clean fish. Your catfish cleaning technique is amazing. Very quick. After watching the video, I’m wondering (thinking as an amateur homesteader) what you do with all the guts. So, though not being settled science, it is reasonable to assume that fish do have at least some capacity for pain especially when viewed from a survival perspective. Clean the gravel. I’m not sure I could hold a candle to you. While removing, gently pull out the innards of the … First, slow down. That’s not a knock on Academy. I’ll say that the way I clean catfish is quick, efficient, and with minimal waste. You won’t get anything from smaller catfish but the larger five to ten-pound fish and up (that we hope you’ll throwback) have meat here that you can remove if you want to deal with it. It’s not an easy process and is incredibly time-consuming. It is an ecologically sound practice that is often overlooked. Amazing!!! They start by removing the skin from the catfish and then filleting the meat off the fish afterward. They’re super cheap and available at most big box stores or even dollar stores. Just slow down and follow the same process. If you’re cleaning fish you’ll want a great way to cook them. What You'll Need. For example, the FVB paper is contradicted by other research (both biochemical and behavioral in nature) that indicates that fish do feel pain albeit processed in a different way (perhaps via the brain stem which both mammals and fish do share). Now the doc’s went and put me on a low fat diet that has lean fish as part of the menu. There’s nothing special about it, it’s not as powerful as my beloved MT3, it won’t last for extended periods of time under heavy use (for a weekend angler you’ll get a lot of life out of it) and there’s really no “wow factor” at but in a slough of mediocre electric fillet knives, it’s the best! I used a piece of plywood for years. One of those PETA folks asked me once “what I felt when I rammed a hook into a fish’s mouth”. I’m often questioned about the process I use for cleaning catfish so I’ll break it all down in this simple step by step guide. (FVB)) concluded that fish do not feel pain as humans do. I think it would work on catfish also. Thank you for explaining how to clean them and good video. Find out other more ways you’ve been cooking fish … Your email address will not be published. The bottom line, just be aware of what you’re doing, the size of fish that you’re keeping, and how many. I have never personally done this but it is a great way of recycling and putting them to further use. One of these giant plastic buckets with the rope handles is great for using when you’re cleaning fish. The tank should be completely empty before you clean it. I took the combination of techniques that several friends used, added a few of my own twists and combined them all into a technique that is fast and easy and produces the same amount of fillets as skinning catfish. Algae scraper/pad. There are three approaches, none of them involve a club. Start by inserting the tip of your knife into the fish… Facebook Comment MORE. I have been cleaning fish like this for probably 30 years, pike, salmon, large crappy, etc. If you happen to be in a state park, you’ll likely find a cleaning … Required fields are marked *. Gently place into freezer (or enjoy them right away!). There’s a variety of options. I’ve tried everything on the market these days, some of them a couple of times, and finally settled on an alternative. I’d rather go to a Justin Beaver concert that has any of that stuff also! They need to be alive or be on the ice. Catfishing tips, techniques and information from professional catfish guides anglers. Draw an imaginary line from just past the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin and cut down and at an angle. Summer Channel Catfish Techniques and Spring Blue Catfish Techniques are both great ways to learn how to catch a ton of catfish in a short amount of time if you want to take a few home for a fish fry. Haha) I have never caught, cleaned, anything a catfish before unail today. Won’t it taste bad? the lack of a neocortex in fish), the 2016 research paper you referenced (Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. How to clean smelt "You're not catching the biggest fish but they're arguably one of the best eating fish out there," Paw Paw's Levi Riegle said. DO NOT use any kind of stone (like granite etc..) because it will ruin your knife blades on the first use. thanks again. There are tons of options that are complicated and not necessary. How should you store them? Otherwise, you’ll get some sort of really nasty ju-ju that ends with “ism” or “ella” or something weird like that and you probably don’t want it. The inside of the tank is cleaned by using a paper towel and wiping the sides of the fish tank clean. To clean your small fish tank, remove the fish, clean the tank and decorations, and add treated, fresh water. Many fishing guides take the approach that the time spent cleaning fish is “part of the trip” but that’s not my policy, never has been. They have an almost cult-like following. Now holding the fish with your thumb in the space underneath the gills, insert the point of your shears …