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Edited by Andre Larocque, Trackstar24, Hana, D perry and 9 others

Cleaning a fish is quite simple. These step by step instructions will tell you exactly how to bring a fish from your stream to your frying pan.

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EditSteps

  1. Clean a Fish Step 1.jpg
    1
    Check your fish for misty eyes and blood.
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  2. Clean a Fish Step 2.jpg
    2
    Using a sharp knife, cut the fish's head off at the gills.
  3. Clean a Fish Step 3.jpg
    3
    Flip the fish over so its belly faces you.
  4. Clean a Fish Step 4.jpg
    4
    Observe three-fourths of the way from it's head. There should be a hole.
  5. Clean a Fish Step 5.jpg
    5
    With your knife blade facing away from you, carefully make an incision from this hole all the way up to its gills.
  6. Clean a Fish Step 6.jpg
    6
    Using your finger, remove everything from its now open cavity. If this step is done correctly, you should now be able to observe the spine without anything in the way.
  7. Clean a Fish Step 7.jpg
    7
    Study the spine. If there is a black or blue coat covering the inside of the spine, scrape it off with your finger.
  8. Clean a Fish Step 8.jpg
    8
    Throw your fish into a pan and cook it.
  9. Clean a Fish Step 9.jpg
    9
    After your fish is cooked, open the stomach cavity once more and remove the spine and ribs. They should come out with very little trouble.
  10. Clean a Fish Step 10.jpg
    10
    You can eat everything except for the fish scales, but don't worry if you eat them. The human immune system and the process of cooking will remove almost any problem, with exceptions given to some tropical fish. Once could also note that fish caught in temperate conditions are so safe, they could be eaten raw. However, it is highly recommended that you cook all meat before consuming!
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EditTips

  • If you catch a brook trout, all of its fins are edible. The fins will taste like potato chips if they are put into a frying pan with butter and flour.
  • If you do not know what type the fish is, do not eat it. If you do eat it, remove all the fins. Some fish have dangerous spines on their fins!
  • Cook your fish in flour and butter to maximize the fish's flavor.
  • Only clean and gut fish if they're longer than three inches.
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EditWarnings

  • Some people have accidentally eaten the wrong tropical fish. The rule of eating fish is "Temperate eat all, tropical he falls." Do not eat a fish in the tropics unless you know it's not poisonous.
  • When you eat the fish, be aware that no matter how well you removed the spine, there will usually be ribs left in the meat. The ribs are edible, but make sure none of them go down the wrong pipe.

EditThings You'll Need

  • Butter
  • pepper
  • Flour
  • Knife
  • Frying pan
  • You could also fry your fish in Oil.

EditRelated wikiHows

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Article Info

Categories: Fishing

Recent edits by: Jacob, CoffeeLvr, Theburn7

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