Cleaning a Catfish?

LundLover · 07-17-2008, 10:02 AM

What's the best way to clean a catfish?

vrentropy · 07-17-2008, 10:04 AM

Power Washer. . . . .

Ducking and running.

hav2hunt · 07-17-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrentropy

Power Washer. . . . .

Ducking and running.

Now that was funny!!

But seriously, I have found that filleting them is very easy and effective at getting most of the meat. Also, I've found that it helps to clip the barbs off first.

Pike Hunter · 07-17-2008, 11:55 AM

Agreed with hav2hunt. Fillet them like a walleye. I go around the rib cage and fillet on both sides.....works real smooth.

Nelly206 · 07-21-2008, 03:22 PM

Bleed 'em out first by cutting off their tails and you will see the fillets come out much whiter.

**Catfishsteve** · 07-26-2008, 04:39 PM

I'd agree, the easiest way to clean any fish, if it's big enough, is to filet them.

Catfish are built a little weird, their ribs are way up front and sometimes there's not a lot of meat over them. But fileting them is easiest as that gives you a good shot at skinning them, which is must.

I like to use one of those boards with the clamp for the tail at one end to help you hold on to them.

I've had good luck bleeding a few of them by cutting off the tail. They have to be alive for this to work really good.

Also, if you've got a few to do, I've found that if you take and sprinkle the skin with table salt and then rinse it off, the fish will be a lot less slimy to handle when you are trying to work on the fish. That's a good tip for cleaning pike too, those slimy devils!

jarredbehrendt · 02-17-2009, 11:05 AM

You can skin them easily by fileting them first then laying the filets skin down, using a sharp knife pin one end of the skin down and holding the blade at a 20degree angle to the cutting board slide the blade through effectively skinning the fish. This requires less hernia surgery than pulling the skins

Harold · 02-17-2009, 02:18 PM

I only keep the smaller cats, under two pounds. If you cut through the skin behind the "ears" all the way around, then nail (clamp) the head, and with a good pair of CeeTee's, you can pull the skin all the way down to the tail.

Filleting from that point is fairly easy. But I prefer to wrap them in foil and toss 'em on the campfire. If it ain't messy, it ain't eatin'!

Hope this helps.

Harold F.

OldBaldGuy · 02-17-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold

I only keep the smaller cats, under two pounds. If you cut through the skin behind the "ears" all the way around, then nail (clamp) the head, and with a good pair of CeeTee's, you can pull the skin all the way down to the tail.

Filleting from that point is fairly easy. But I prefer to wrap them in foil and toss 'em on the campfire. If it ain't messy, it ain't eatin'!

Hope this helps.

Harold F.

Maybe I'm just squeamish, but I hit them on the noggin with a hammer FIRST before pulling off their skin and driving the nail through their heads.

Hawkeye · 02-17-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Maybe I'm just squeamish, but I hit them on the noggin with a hammer FIRST before pulling off their skin and driving the nail through their heads.

Sorry, off the subject, but my step-mom used to have a hammer in the fish-cleaning house that she had to use before cleaning fish. The poor fish got whacked in the body a couple of times and dropped on the floor several times before she connected with a good head shot. Much more brutal than just cleaning them.

Way off subject is this Jack Handy quote about hammers:
"If you go through a lot of hammers each month, I don't think it necessarily means you're a hard worker. It may just mean that you have a lot to learn about proper hammer maintenance."

scoots60 · 02-19-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Maybe I'm just squeamish, but I hit them on the noggin with a hammer FIRST before pulling off their skin and driving the nail through their heads.

I just use the Cee Tees as a hammer and if I forget them any good BFR
(big found rock) works well also.

Frankie B · 02-19-2009, 09:38 AM

I found this out last year....we packed catfish in ice 4 the ride home...when I went to clean them 1. The snow does something to the skin (it's not so slippery) 2. The meat was snow white after skin was removed 3. No bloody mess (I didn't even have blood on the knife)

obert · 02-19-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

But I prefer to wrap them in foil and toss 'em on the campfire

.

Whole? Gut, cut the head off and on the fire?

Harold · 02-19-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obert

.

Whole? Gut, cut the head off and on the fire?

Someone's been watchin' too much "Survivorman"...

A nice slit from the "vent" to the noggin, remove entrails and "pop" head back and remove if you like. I don't.

I like to have a camping pan of warm water to assist in the feed! My mommy taught me not to lick my fingers...

Harold F.

(I wouldn't attempt this with a "Kershaw"!

)

obert · 02-19-2009, 04:05 PM

That's the way I cook a catfish as well. Grill same way. I do remove the head though.

playin4funami · 05-31-2009, 01:27 PM

I fillet them just like any other fish,with the exception that on the smaller channel cats the opening (front) cut goes in right behind the front side of the dorsal fin,that way I'm not messing with those high ribs,and the meat there is usually pretty fatty. even on a 5 lb. cat it's only a bite of meat.

Nelly206 · 06-01-2009, 02:44 AM

Skin 'em then fillet 'em.

jarredbehrendt · 06-01-2009, 09:30 PM

I fillet them then skin them, its much easier than trying to pull the skin off. Just take the skin off with you filet knife by holding the fillet skin down and using your fillet knife at about a 10 to 20 degree angle and pull the knife through the fillet.

07-17-2008, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
LundLover LundLover is wishin' he was fishin' Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 4,137 Thanks: 102 Thanked 84 Times in 68 Posts	Cleaning a Catfish? What's the best way to clean a catfish? __________________ There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it!

07-17-2008, 10:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
vrentropy vrentropy is Internet Scouting. Where were you fishing again? Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dang Hot South (Houston) Posts: 1,045 Thanks: 165 Thanked 107 Times in 91 Posts	Power Washer. . . . . Ducking and running. __________________ ______________________ Don Rolfson "The problem with doing nothing is that it is so very hard to tell when you are done!" -- unknown "No grudge ever had a better nurse." -- Peace Like A River - Leif Enger

02-17-2009, 11:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
jarredbehrendt jarredbehrendt is hoping to find some time to get out soon! Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE for now.... Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,332 Thanks: 496 Thanked 357 Times in 267 Posts Blog Entries: 66	You can skin them easily by fileting them first then laying the filets skin down, using a sharp knife pin one end of the skin down and holding the blade at a 20degree angle to the cutting board slide the blade through effectively skinning the fish. This requires less hernia surgery than pulling the skins __________________ Fish when you can...... Work when you have to.

02-17-2009, 02:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Harold Harold is missing his friend, OBG. 2008 Catch and Continue Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kearney Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 1,272 Thanked 490 Times in 295 Posts	I only keep the smaller cats, under two pounds. If you cut through the skin behind the "ears" all the way around, then nail (clamp) the head, and with a good pair of CeeTee's, you can pull the skin all the way down to the tail. Filleting from that point is fairly easy. But I prefer to wrap them in foil and toss 'em on the campfire. If it ain't messy, it ain't eatin'! Hope this helps. Harold F. __________________ "If I had a picture, I wouldn't have given you 1,000 words..." (OBG) "Perhaps a better way of measuring wealth is by the number of unique experiences you have had..." Esther Dyson These are OUR FISHERIES! Report All Violations! .............1-800-742-SNAP

02-19-2009, 04:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
obert obert is not schocked Sorny hates everyone different than him. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 100 yards from Reddoggs boat Posts: 2,518 Thanks: 126 Thanked 210 Times in 160 Posts	That's the way I cook a catfish as well. Grill same way. I do remove the head though. __________________ I'll keep my money, my guns and my freedom and you can keep the "change."

07-17-2008, 11:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pike Hunter Pike Hunter is ready for first ice. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bennington Posts: 1,083 Thanks: 17 Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts	Agreed with hav2hunt. Fillet them like a walleye. I go around the rib cage and fillet on both sides.....works real smooth.

07-21-2008, 03:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nelly206 Nelly206 has no status. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Sioux City Posts: 43 Thanks: 13 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	Bleed 'em out first by cutting off their tails and you will see the fillets come out much whiter.

07-26-2008, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Catfishsteve Catfishsteve is Getting ready to move... fun, fun fun! Director Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Plattsmouth, NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 7,776 Thanks: 204 Thanked 544 Times in 170 Posts	I'd agree, the easiest way to clean any fish, if it's big enough, is to filet them. Catfish are built a little weird, their ribs are way up front and sometimes there's not a lot of meat over them. But fileting them is easiest as that gives you a good shot at skinning them, which is must. I like to use one of those boards with the clamp for the tail at one end to help you hold on to them. I've had good luck bleeding a few of them by cutting off the tail. They have to be alive for this to work really good. Also, if you've got a few to do, I've found that if you take and sprinkle the skin with table salt and then rinse it off, the fish will be a lot less slimy to handle when you are trying to work on the fish. That's a good tip for cleaning pike too, those slimy devils!

02-19-2009, 09:38 AM	#12 (permalink)
Frankie B Frankie B has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 25 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I found this out last year....we packed catfish in ice 4 the ride home...when I went to clean them 1. The snow does something to the skin (it's not so slippery) 2. The meat was snow white after skin was removed 3. No bloody mess (I didn't even have blood on the knife)

05-31-2009, 01:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
playin4funami playin4funami is thinking about fishing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 507 Thanks: 74 Thanked 207 Times in 127 Posts	I fillet them just like any other fish,with the exception that on the smaller channel cats the opening (front) cut goes in right behind the front side of the dorsal fin,that way I'm not messing with those high ribs,and the meat there is usually pretty fatty. even on a 5 lb. cat it's only a bite of meat.

06-01-2009, 02:44 AM	#17 (permalink)
Nelly206 Nelly206 has no status. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Sioux City Posts: 43 Thanks: 13 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	cats Skin 'em then fillet 'em.

06-01-2009, 09:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
jarredbehrendt jarredbehrendt is hoping to find some time to get out soon! Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE for now.... Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,332 Thanks: 496 Thanked 357 Times in 267 Posts Blog Entries: 66	I fillet them then skin them, its much easier than trying to pull the skin off. Just take the skin off with you filet knife by holding the fillet skin down and using your fillet knife at about a 10 to 20 degree angle and pull the knife through the fillet. __________________ Fish when you can...... Work when you have to.

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