How to Clean a Bass Fish
You made your first catch. Now you want to eat it. You need to follow a few simple steps to ensure you can get this to your dinner plate.
Cleaning a bass fish is fairly simple, much like the way you clean any other type of fish. The difference comes in that there are some additional steps like gutting and filleting that are involved.
Cleaning a bass fish is a step you don’t want to skip, otherwise, you could get sick.
It’s not only safe to know how to clean a bass fish, but also effective if you want to to really learn about fishing. This is because you can see food samples eaten by the fish, which can be used to match the hatch.
In this article, you will learn how to clean a bass fish.
Why You Need to Clean a Bass Fish
Many reasons make it necessary to clean a bass fish. In most water bodies when you look around there are various components and plants. Bass like the striped bass can live in brackish saltwater where they are ale exposed to a lot of salinity.
Some are healthy whereas others are not. You cannot verify whether a fish is clean or not, it is always a good habit to do it.
Still convinced on why you should clean your bass fish, then these 5 reasons will explain why it is important.
For Preservation and Storage Purposes
For preservation purposes of any bass fish whether: white bass, smallmouth, largemouth, or striped bass it is good to clean them.
This prevents it from decaying due to components like E-coli and salmonellae that fasten decay. When you clean the bass these items are washed away.
You will not be in a rush to eat the fish before it spoils. The bass will still be edible after several days.
On the same note, many researchers have found it convenient to clean any bass before storing it. This will minimize the storage space, offering more room to store more bass.
Remove Unnecessary Body Organs
Anglers are people that focus on what is important; from choosing lures, actual fishing, holding the bass, etc. This same notion is applied when it comes to the catch.
An angler will only focus on the meat, but will not care about the innards, like intestines that have no benefit to them. That it is cleaning a bass is necessary to get rid of unnecessary body parts.
For Easier Cooking
Cooking an unclean fish can be a difficult task. Note that when we say cleaning the fish, we don’t only mean the mare act of cleaning with water, we also include the process of gutting and filleting.
When you do this it becomes easy to cook the fish. Whether it’s your first time cooking a bass fish or you are an expert, cleaning the fish will be a walk in the park.
You can even better your cooking skills by deep-frying or steaming it.
To Remove Impurities From The Fish
A bass is a great feeder that feeds on almost anything that comes their way, provided it fits their mouth. In the process, they feed on items that are harmful and dangerous for human consumption.
This can cause harm to the body. But, when you clean the fish, such impurities are removed. This makes the fish safe for human consumption.
4 Tips to Properly Clean a Bass Fish
Here are important tips to help you to clean a bass fish. This will make the cleaning more effective.
- Right Tools – To properly clean the bass, gather the right tools. A scaler to scale, a sharp knife for cutting, & a cutting board to place the bass on.
- Gut Before Filleting – Before you fillet the fish, do the gutting and remove all the innards. This will give you an advantage when filleting. Check out our fillet section below for more tips
- Use Running Water – When rinsing the bass use running water. This will prevent leaving stains behind on the utensils. Then rinse the bass for some minutes.
- Scale the Bass – Ensure you scale the bass carefully using a scaler carefully. This should be the first step, to avoid touching the bacteria-harboring the scales.
Why You Need to Gut Your Bass Fish
About a bass fish, to gut simply means to remove the entrails, like the intestines, internal organs, and to also crash sharp bones. This is a practice done by many anglers for various reasons.
Many people think that the reason for gutting is to maintain the custom of what anglers have been doing. Even though that is true to some extent that is not the main reason to gut your bass fish.
The bass fish like any other fish have bacteria and liquids in their body that are harmful when they spill. But when you gut the fish before cutting it, you avoid such faults, to the meat.
When the fish is left like that without gutting. It can cause bursting in the fish’s stomach. This will result in the release of acids that can cause harm. Gutting also makes it easier to cut and fillet the fish.
Therefore to prevent spillage and bursting, when you cut the fish, always remember to cut the bass fish.
How to Fillet a Bass Fish Guide
Learning to fillet is a process that takes time, practice, and of cos necessary tools. In case you forgot to fillet is to remove the fresh piece of fish meat.
These tools will be a:
- Sharp knife to gut
- Fillet knife
- Cutting board
With time you will be an expert to fillet any bass, even the striped bass. By following these simple steps, you will get your meat ready for frying.
1. Scale the Bass
The first step is to scale the bass using a scaler. Scales not only carry bacteria, but they produce a bad smell. You will, therefore, need to ensure every bit of the scale is peeled off. It might be tricky at first, but with patience, all shall be well.
It is recommended you scale the bass in an open space away from your home to avoid the fishy smell. Take your fish and place it on a cutting board, then apply downward pressure with your left and.
Use your right hand to scrap, they should peel off.
2. Gut The Bass
Place the bass on the cutting board and identify a vent that is near the anal fin. Start to open the belly with your knife towards the jawbone.
Avoid going deep to avoid cutting the organs. Using your hand scope the innards.
You will need the knife to detach from the cavity. Be sure not to exact pressure, to avoid bursts. Then run water through the fish to rinse it.
3. Fillet The Bass
You can either fillet the bass with the fish head removed or not. It is advisable not to remove the head at first. Take a knife and place it behind the gills.
Cut the fish pointing towards the neck. Use the tip to slice the top part, next to the backbone. Then move down to near the tail fin. Place your knife at the tail and skim it between the fillet and the skin.
Have your knife slightly angled as you glide. Then, you’ll have a fillet free from the skin.
Final Thoughts
It takes time to clean a bass fish, but the important thing is to ensure the whole process is worth your time. For that, the above steps will help you clean your bass effectively.
Whether is striped bass, a smallmouth, largemouth, bluegill, or white bass, these steps will work well. It will take some time to perfect your skill, don’t give up, and trust yourself.
