How to gut a fish

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

In my reporting on women's reproductive rights, I've witnessed the critical role that independent journalism plays in protecting freedoms and informing the public.

Your support allows us to keep these vital issues in the spotlight. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to fight for truth and justice.

Every contribution ensures that we can continue to report on the stories that impact lives

Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

Find out more

Unlike the shrink-wrapped, freeze-then-thawed, filleted and bone-free fish that people usually buy, SoleShare fish goes straight from the boat to SoleShare members, bypassing any processing or middlemen. Members soon get the hang of handling whole fish, and to help, SoleShare offers fish preparation classes to its members and the public. Here’s a quick guide:

Turn the fish belly up. Next cut up from the fish’s bottom to its head. “With a mackerel, for example, you will see a black dot on the last third of the fish toward the tail – that’s the fish’s bum,” says SoleShare co-founder Theresa Douthwright. “Put the blade there, then cut towards the head, up to the gills. This will expose the guts which you can just pull out with a good tug, or snip the tissue where they attach to the fish near the gills.

open image in gallery

“Bearing in mind that most people find this step a bit messy, you can put a bag in the sink, pull the guts out with your fingers (squeamish people can use a spoon), decant the guts straight in to the bag, and transfer it to the bin.” Give the inside of the body cavity a rinse. “A blood line runs along the spine,” says Theresa. “It’s a deep red colour enclosed by a thin membrane. It can make the flesh taste bitter so scrape it with a teaspoon or rub with the back of the thumb and rinse. And that’s it… you can now gut a fish.”