fish cleaning and fish care

[visa]

Cleaning a Fish - Fish Care, Fish Cleaning Tips
   

Fish care - What to do after you catch a fish. If you catch your own fish the most important fish cleaning tool is a cooler or chilly bin with a slurry made from ice and a little water.

Saltwater ice mixed with a little seawater is best because it melts at below zero degrees and will chill fish very quickly.

Normal "Party Ice" is also very good and is available at most gas stations if you can't get salt ice.

The fillets from fish which have been chilled in an ice slurry immediately after capture will last three to four days longer than fish that have not been iced.

Cleaning Fish Photo

The results when cleaning cooking fish depends on the condition of the fish before you start. The fish above was "Iky Jime" killed (See Below), and slurried for two days before this photo was taken at the Chesters Fishing Contest - it looks like it has just been caught! Clear full eyes, firm flesh and good color are the three main indicators of well looked after fish. Cleaning cooking fish looked after this well is a pleasure!

Commercial fisherman say every hour delay in icing fish results in one day less shelf life before it spoils.

How To Kill A Fish - Iki Jime Fish Tool



Cleaning fish tool number two is a sharp screwdriver, knife or "Iky Stick" and is used to kill the fish immediately after capture. Fish left to die or suffocate in a sack or fish bin build up a lot of lactic acid and waste products in the flesh. The fillets from suffocated fish will have a stronger taste and be flaky or soft and mushy. To prevent this the fish is killed instantly by inserting a sharp knife or screwdriver in the spot marked X on the fish head in the fish photo below.

The blade is angled toward the brain which is in the center of the fish head at the end of the spine. The brain is in line with where the curve of the lateral line of the fish would meet a point behind the fishes eye. It is a bony structure and if the iky tool is wriggled or inserted several times the fish will arch its back momentarily, then go completely limp - never to move again. If it moves you have not hit the spot. When done properly the color floods back into the fish within seconds.

After killing the fish put it straight into the cooler or chilly bin containing the ice slurry

Cleaning Fish Tool Photo

How To Bleed A Fish

Not all fish should be bled and they need to be alive to succeed so don't Iki Jime them first.

Our most common panfish like snapper, gurnard, john dory, trevally, blue cod, hapuka and sea bass do not require bleeding. On the other hand I always bleed kahawai kept for cooking otherwise the taste is very strong.

The best way to bleed any fish is to lift the gill plate and insert a knife over the gill cluster and sever it completely. The fish will bleed out and die very quickly. After this rinse the blood off before putting the fish into the ice slurry in the cooler or chilly bin.

Cleaning and Preparation of Fish >>> Fish Care >>>

[visa]

Tips For Filleting Saltwater Fish

When filleting saltwater fish the taste is improved immensely if the fillets are washed in seawater. A very sharp knife, frequently honed, will help maintain the delicate texture.

[visa]

Filleting Fish - How To Fillet Fish (PART1)

Novices should learn how to fillet a small fish before trying anything too big.



First cut behind the head while angling the knife toward the front of the fish. There is a lot of good flesh on the top side where the fillet extends under the bony plate of the skull and angling the knife will ensure you don't waste it. Cut down to the bone and follow the line through to just behind the fins on the gut cavity.



Turn the fish and run the knife just clear of the fins with a slight downward angle. When you feel the knife is down to the bone reduce the angle and follow the bone until you come up against the backbone.



Peel the filet back and run the knife over the backbone severing the small lateral fish bones in the process. Stop at this point.



Turn the fish over and repeat the first cut you made behind the fish head on the other side



Repeat the second cut near the dorsal fin with the knife angled slightly down.
Many fishermen have their own favourite knife. Some prefer high quality custom filet knives while most are happy with off the shelf fillet knives. The main thing is to select one that is comfortable in your hand and, keep it sharp!

It is also a fact that cheap knives will often require more downtime for sharpening to keep a decent edge on them.

[ramio]

Thanks Visa, very helpfull hints. Now all we need is the boats back in the water. cu

[SPNOTTA]

great tips!!! Unfortunately for some reason...I cannot see the pics.

[SPNOTTA]

Excellent quality thread visa...thumbs up...both hands...
THANKS!!!

[shanook]

Part 2


Continue this along the lenght of the fish

Reverse the direction of the filleting knife and follow the bones by "feeling them" with the filet knife until the fishes backbone is reached

Peel the fillet back and cut around the backbone and through the small lateral bones. Run the fillet knife right through to the skin on the underside of the fish.

Cut over the belly flap either through or over the belly bones, Lewy has easily cut through them here with his razor sharp Victorinox filleting knife.

Cut any remaining attached sinew or skin.

[shanook]

Part 3


Remove the first fillet



Flip the fish back to the original side and cut the bones around the gut cavity


Release the rest of the fillet from the backbone.



Your fish is filleted and ready for skinning and deboning

[shanook]

The above is courtesy of VISA....good site mate

[MartinB]

Thanks alot visa! very instructive! Usually i make such a mess when trying to cut a proper fillet i don't bother! ill definetly give it a try! cheers mate 

[fishfinder]

Thanks Visa, a very good and detailed presentation. 

[SPITEC]

Well done visa very detailed.

[visa]

Basic fishing gear for beginners need not cost the earth or be terribly hard to find. Now that we are in the information age, it is easier than ever for potential fishermen to do a bit of research and avoid making a bad purchase. It is also easier to find equipment which will give the fisherman a satisfying experience, as technology has developed to solve many of the problems inherent in early equipment. Much of the fishing gear which is suitable for skilled, experienced fishermen can be glanced at and then forgotten, because there has been plenty of fishing gear manufactured with the beginner in mind.

The largest expense, and the most difficult choice, will be in selecting the fishing rod. Fishing rods vary considerably, and it's important to buy one that is a good match for the type of fishing that is planning.
It is also important to consider the practical element of transportation, because many fishing rods are now available in two parts. Although some degree of sensitivity and control is sacrificed, it is minimal, and will certainly not be noticed by a beginner.

A beginner should start with a graphite fishing rod. Graphite combines lightness with an inherent strength, making the rod much easier for a beginner to handle, yet offering a degree of insurance against breakage. The main variables of a fishing rod are weight, size and the way the rod casts the line. Starting with a medium weight rod is a good idea, because it gives you the opportunity of experimenting. You can always add a second rod later if you choose to specialize in an area which is better suited by a heavy of light rod. Any angler can break a rod at some point in their life, so do consider carefully rods which come with a lifetime warranty.

The fishing reel and fishing line are the other essential basic fishing gear for beginners which need consideration. The first vital point with a reel is to consider whether you are going to be fishing in salt water. If you are, please make sure that the reel is protected from salt water. There will be an extra expense for this, but this will be far less than having to replace the reel because the salt water has damaged it. It is also important for a beginner to choose a rod which has a synthetic or cork drag system. Keeping pressure on the fish with hand only should be left until you have more experience.

The fishing line is considered by many to be the most important part of the purchase, even more so than the rod or reel. A decent quality line can still work well even on a cheaper road and reel set up. If you are on a budget, it is recommended that you spend whatever money you have ensuring you have a quality line, even if it means having to manage with a cheaper rod or reel. A good quality line will make your fishing experience far more likely to be pleasurable, and should be the top priority when choosing basic fishing gear for beginners.

Before you look for fishing gear at your local discount store, you might want to read some tips about buying fishing gear online. If you need more help finding just the right fishing gear for you, head over to Fishing Gear 101.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Clark_Fargo

[SPNOTTA]

great reading