Easy Fish Prep (DEAD ANIMALS)

[Pignut]

People often get a little concerned by the thought of filleting a fish. There is really no need. I will try and show you an easy way to do this in the wilds without the need for a filleting knife and with the minimum of food handling!



Firstly lay the fish on a flat surface and assemble your “tools” one knife is sufficiant! (I am testing these ones)

On the underside of the fish you should be able to see the anal vent. Insert your knife at this point and make a clean cut level with the front fins of the fish.

Open the fish up and remove all of the organs

Clean out the fish with a quick rinse, the fish should look “Clean” and you should be able to see the rib cage.

Now remove the head of the fish just behind the gills

Next remove the fins from the back and side of the fish

Now make a small cut from the where the anal vent was the tip of the fishes tail.

To remove the bones simply spread the fish out “Butterfly” style

And push down along the spine of the fish with the palm or thumb (The full length of the fish)

Now turn over the fish and take the “Head end” of the backbone and gently pull it upwards

Pull with gentle pressure all the way to the tale and hey presto the whole backbone and ribcage should come free!

This works with most fish from salmon down to mackerel. Though particularly bony fish such as Pike may need additional preparation.



Hope this is help to someone!

 

[spamel]

Are those knives gonna stink of fish for the rest of the passaround?



Nicely done. I saw a clip of a trout being gutted in a remarkably efficient way, cutting from the vent all the way up as far as you can go, then cutting around the inside of the jaw bone, grab the tongue and bottom of the jaw, leaving the lower jawbone in place and pull. The guts come out in one go. Gotta get me some trout to give it a go, but the clip is from Ron Hood courtesy of the Cave Lady (Hubba Hubba!)

I'll see if I can find a clip, I'd never seen a fish being prepped like it before.

 

[Pignut]

LOL No they dont smell (Much)

If you can find a clip that would be great!

 

[spamel]

I've had a look on the ususal places, not found anything close to what i described yet. I can't put the clip up from the film neither due to copyright. I may have to get hold of a trout and have a go at putting the clip up.

 

[jon r]

Thats a great tutorial! thanks!:You_Rock_

 

[Bushcraft4life]

I have been waiting for one of these for ages

Cheers Pignut :You_Rock_

 

[Pignut]

No troubles!

Glad you can use it!

 

[Matt Weir]

Excellent stuff, thanks Pignut.

 

[john scrivy]

very nicely done are you a fish monger

 

[KAE1]

Great info, nice clear shots. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mikehill]

Nice one mate I would of used the bottom knife though
Mike.

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

very good, I would love a tutorial of a rabbit being gutted.

 

[mikehill]

very good, I would love a tutorial of a rabbit being gutted.

I'm sure I've seen one on here ... try a search It may have been rapidboy, can't remember now.

 

[tomtom]

If you re-size your pics to fit the frame your text wont get cut off on the right hand side.

Other than that, nice job matey!

I love Smackerel

 

[penvisser]

Mate,

after 30 years of angling and cleaning fish, I thought I had seen it all.....

Very nice way to clean fish.

:You_Rock_

 

[Pignut]

very good, I would love a tutorial of a rabbit being gutted.

Thanks all!

Got a rabbit and pigeon one to do!

 

[commandocal]

great tutorial i will try it out in a few days a rabbit one would be good yes

Keep up the great work!

 

[bushyboo]

nice one mate
a squirt of lemon juice gets rid of the smell ,its nice with the fish too

 

[Diamond Dave]

Great tutorial, many thanks.....................

 

[mjk123]

Great tutorial. It's stuff like this that are making bcuk a valuable resource for years to come.

BTW, I can understand that you can clean the knives after use by rinsing them off, but how do you get rid of the mackeral smell from your cameras buttons?