Q&A for How to Clean a Fish

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  • Question
    How do I cut a fish into fish steaks?
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    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).
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Clean it following the steps above, then cut off the head. Starting from that cut, measure back 1 inch and cut through the whole fish. One-inch thick is the recommended portion width—after pan-frying for seven minutes on each side over medium/high heat in a nicely oiled pan, it will be cooked to perfection!
  • Question
    What kind of knife should I use?
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    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).
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you're using a really sharp knife! I always carry a sharpening stone with me too.
  • Question
    How long can fish stay on ice before cleaning?
    Kody Lee
    Guide, Fishing Trips
    Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.
    Guide, Fishing Trips
    Expert Answer
    This depends on many variables so there is no one answer. At the very least, try to clean them the day you caught them.
  • Question
    If it has misty eyes and blood, is that okay?
    Community Answer
    If the eyes are misty, that means it died outside of water. When cleaning fish you're always going to have some blood.
  • Question
    Can I cook my fishing ice?
    Community Answer
    It is not recommended to cook with the ice that you used for fishing. There could be some kind of contaminant on it that you do not want to ingest.
  • Question
    Should a fish be dead before scaling it?
    Community Answer
    Yes; scaling a live fish is cruel and inhumane.
  • Question
    Can fish be cleaned the day after they've been caught if they were kept in water?
    Community Answer
    Yes they can, but it would be better if you freeze it for two days to remove any bacteria before consumption.
  • Question
    After fish is caught, can you freeze it and clean and scale fish when you defrost it and are ready to cook? is this method okay?
    Clheart
    Community Answer
    You can do this, but it's best to descale and clean the fish before freezing it.
  • Question
    I am going to a lake with my friends. The lake water could be a little dirty. How can I make sure the fish is completely clean?
    Community Answer
    Contact the state Game and Wildlife Resource Department. They will have any cautionary notices about fish consumption in the area. If it is a private lake, It depends on what you mean by "dirty". If it's a muddy lake, that should be of little concern. But if it a farm lake where the farmer uses a lot of fertilizers or a lake from rural home runoff, there could be raw sewage flowing into the lake. Don't eat anything caught from it.
  • Question
    Is it necessary to clean the fish (gut it), or can you just filet it and discard the guts and body as a whole?
    Caden Kaufman
    Community Answer
    You can filet the whole. But that being said, beware rupturing the stomach cavity on the fish. It will make a huge mess and ruin your filet.
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