How to Fillet a Northern Pike With a Back Fillet

Pike fillets have a reputation for freezing well without losing any taste.

Many freshwater anglers love pursuing northern pike, as these hard-fighting fish not only have a reputation for aggressiveness but also for great-tasting meat. While many types of fish can be filleted effectively the same way, the back fillet of northern pike contain a tricky Y-bone. This Y-bone is connected underneath the rib cage and makes the proper filleting of a northern pike difficult. Many anglers take a lot of time and experience to learn how to properly remove these bones for a tasty and boneless fillet.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp fillet knife

Instructions

1. Cut off the head and remove the entrails of the northern pike. Cut away the skin and remove the fillets.

2. Place the back fillet on the table, flat side down.

3. Locate the line of white bones running up the center. Gently run a sharp fillet knife right underneath the bones approximately 1/8 inch away from the line of bones, cutting the meat. Repeat this gentle cut several times, deepening the cut in the flesh and listening for the ticking sound the knife makes off of each bone. This first cut is straight down and not angled. Do not cut through the bones.

4. Place your fingers in the cut of the fillet and run your fingers across to open the cut wider. Make a slight cutting motion from the bottom of the open cut, angling out and away from the bones, but do not cut all the way through.

5. Follow the center line that marks the middle of the fillet, and cut down and slightly towards the earlier cuts. This should isolate the rib cage from the rest of the fillet with cuts on both sides of the cage.

6. Take the top of the isolated cut of meat that contains the bones, and slowly begin to pull it out. With the deep cuts on both sides, you should be able to remove the entire strip of fillet in the middle. This chunk will contain not only the bag ribs, but cutting the fish this way also causes the Y-bone to be removed with those ribs.

Tips & Warnings

• If in doubt, cut more gently. You can make multiple gentle cuts to get it right, but if you cut through the ribs, you won't be able to easily remove the fillet.

• Always be careful handling a sharp fillet knife.

References

• Camp Manitou Fishing: How to Fillet Northern Pike & Remove Y-Bones
• Canoe Camp Fish: Cleaning Northern Pike
• Northern Pike Fishing Tips: Dealing with the Northern Pike Y Bone
• Pursuing Other Interests: What Is a Northern Pike Y Bone