MyFishFinder Forum

MyFishFinder By Species => Catfish => Topic started by: Water Wolf on Sep 05, 2012, 11:16 PM

Title: Filleting catfish.
Post by: Water Wolf on Sep 05, 2012, 11:16 PM

I have never caught a catfish of any type before, but would like to someday.
I have just a few lakes and river systems where they can be found and if I caught a not bad one would like to keep at least one to see what they are like.

I am wondering how do you guys fillet your catfish?
Do you fillet them like most other fish, {pike, walleye and the like} or do you skin them first and then remove the meat like we do with the burbot? ???

The main catfish I probably would find would be the channel cat.

WW

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: Aeaglos on Sep 05, 2012, 11:53 PM

My method:  I cut around the head completely following from pectoral to dorsal, then use pliers to remove the skin. I then fillet them as normal. I lose a little bit of meat, but it's a perfect cut for fish and chips.

They are a great eating fish!

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: FIRETRAP on Sep 06, 2012, 12:25 AM

Filet them like a trout. Cut around the head and make cuts down the spine on each side. Then work your thumb and knife toward the belly around the rib cage. Filet behind the ribs toward the tail like other fish. Then you have a filet and remove the skin like any other filet. I cut off the gray meat just like trout. It's oily and gamey and supposedly where all the contaminants are stored.   I do bass the same way and you don't saw through the ribs and guts.

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: 315stickbow on Apr 23, 2014, 04:17 PM

I do mine like burbot

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: panfishman13 on Apr 27, 2014, 11:53 AM

i start at the back of the head, skin it, and then basically cut the meat off the fish.

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: davidcox on Aug 11, 2014, 03:50 PM

I think this guy has to hold the record for cleaning a flathead:


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Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: slipperybob on Apr 02, 2015, 12:37 AM

I filet them like any other fish.  I generally prefer keep from around 18-24" fish.

Title: Re: Filleting catfish.
Post by: panfishman13 on Apr 10, 2015, 12:19 PM

i usually keep them a bit smaller because they don't get very big around here, biggest i've caught is 4 lbs. so i keep the 1 and 2 lb fish.

if you do keep a bigger fish and want to fry it, i'd recommend cutting the fillet into steaks, it takes a long time to cook a large fillet and it will soak up the oil if it's in there for too long. it makes the fish slimy and pretty much overpowers any flavor from the fish or seasonings you use. if you cut the fillets into steaks they don't take as long to cook, and will come out firmer and much tastier