how do you clean a catfish and get the most meat?

Answer 1

if u fillet the fish right u get rid of all the bones and keep all the meat

the first link shows how to just skin the fish

Lay the fish on it's side and slice behind the head to the backbone. Turn the knife at the bone and start cutting back toward the tail along the spine. You'll be cutting rib bones while you do it, but don't cut the spine. You end up with the entire side of the fish coming off nice and neat. Do the same with the other side.
Then slice the ribs out with a stroke of the knife under the rib bones.

Last, put the fillet skin down and slide the knife between the skin and the fillet, slicing the skin off while you hold it with your thumbnail. You use the fillet table as the guide. It's very neat. Discard the head/backbone/tail and entrails, which are all one piece. This will get you the most meat out of the fish in the least amount of time and it works for virtually all fish.

ps: Some use an electric fillet knife, slice down the backbone ALMOST to the tail, then flip the filleted part over and run the knife between the skin and the meat. Pull back on the skin and keep it tight as you run the knife through and you will be less likely to cut through the skin. You can fillet a catfish in less than 30 seconds that way.

Answer 2

Skinning

Removing the skin improves the taste of many fish. It also removes a layer of fat just under the skin. Catfish are usually skinned.

To skin a catfish or bullhead, hold its head firmly on a flat surface with a clamp. For safety, it is a good idea to snip off a catfish's spines before skinning. Then, cut through the skin behind the head and the pectoral fins. Use pliers to remove the skin from the body, pulling from the head toward the tail. Grasp the head of the fish with one hand and the body with the other. Break the backbone at the head. Pull the head and guts away from the skinned body. After you wash the fish in clean water, it's ready for cooking. You remove the fish's bones just before you eat it.

People also fillet catfish. However, they are more difficult to fillet than most other fish.

Answer 3

best way i found is , to filet them, if you fish for catfish,
also rember, they are great eatting
but keep smaller, ones, and not to eat the belly meat,
reason, catfish, or bullheads are a, fish that eats almost any thing, an what ever they eat, goes to the belly , like lead , mecury, depending were you fish,.
I fish lake ont, majoredy in lake ont, you want to filet,
just have fun fishing, an good luck fishing, remember , it s better filiet fish, than picking off bones, what do you think, ?

Answer 4

first cut 1in below the skin stick a knife through the skin down the cat's back twist the knife up pull out leave the head on next grab it behind the fins take some pliers and pull the skin off you will need a old rag cause them cat's is slick

Answer 5

I agree with enginerd, with one exception I go with the primitive way and nail head to board and skin with pliers instead of usin' a clamp. The end results are the same...

"There's no head like Steelhead" ;) ...

Answer 6

Remove the skin, gut it and then cut off the head, fry the entire body.

Answer 7

you gut them then cut there head off then put them in boiling water. just for about 5 seconds. then you peal the skin off.

Answer 8

Skin it and fillet it!