How to Fillet a Fish: 13 Steps (with Pictures)

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Professional Fishing Instructor

This article was co-authored by Michael Reynolds. Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over five years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). This article has been viewed 401,428 times.

Co-authors: 24

Updated: March 7, 2023

Views: 401,428

Article SummaryX

To fillet a fish, lay the fish horizontally on a cutting board. Hold a long, sharp fillet knife directly behind the fish’s gills and cut down toward the fish’s head, then flip the fish over and repeat the cut to remove its head. Cut off the tail as well, then run the knife along the fish’s ribcage near its backbone to separate the meat from the ribs. Continue cutting along the bones until the fillet ends at the tail, then pull the fillet away from the ribcage and slice it off. Turn the fish over and repeat the process to get the second fillet. To learn how to remove the pin bones and trim the fish, read on!

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