How to Skin a Catfish
Catfish are caught in rivers and streams. They are bottom feeders, and can grow to be very large, sometimes as heavy as 15 lbs. However, the typical size of a catfish is somewhere between 2 and 5 lbs. Because of the nature of the fish, their skin is very tough. Catfish are one of the hardest fish to skin. However, with the right tools and know-how, it can be done.
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Things You'll Need
- Catfish
- Wooden board
- Butcher knife
- Fillet knife
- Large nail
- Claw hammer
- Regular pliers
- Table
- Bucket
Instructions
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1
Take the fish out of the container that it was sitting in. Check for signs of life. If the fish’s gills are still moving, it is still alive. Hit it between the eyes with the claw hammer to ensure that it is dead before skinning. Trying to skin a live fish is not only inhumane, but also much harder, as the fish will flop around.
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2
Cut the skin behind the gills, and remove them and all organs. Cut the skin down the entire length of the fish. Two to three incisions are best, depending on the size of the fish. This process with result in strips that are easier to peel off of the fish rather than trying to peel the whole skin off at once.
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3
Use the pliers to hold each fin and cut away from the body with the fillet knife. Repeat for all fins. Nail the fish’s head to the wooden plank. This will be what holds the fish steady while you skin it.
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4
Place the board against something sturdy so that your work space is anchored. Use the pliers to carefully peel the skin from the fish starting at the head and moving down. Work slowly, or the skin will break. Peel each section of skin off, and throw away. Cut the head and tail off of the fish.
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5
Use the fillet knife to cut the fish lengthwise just over the ribs. Start from the tail, and move toward the head. Do this for both sides of the fish. Remove the bones with your hands or pliers. Your fish is ready to cook!
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Tips & Warnings
Sharp knives will make the job much easier. A dull knife will waste a lot of good meat.
There are pliers that are designed for skinning catfish. If you fish often, it is a good idea to invest in a pair of these.
Fish spurs can be very painful if they stick into your skin. Watch out for these when skinning the fish. Fish spurs are located just behind the gills on a catfish.
If the catfish is caught in dirty water, it is very likely that the meat will taste like dirt. Clear water is the best place to find good-tasting catfish.
