How to Filet tuna??

[Bait O' Eggs]

Having a boat that wont due 100 mile round trips I am forced to buy tuna. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

My wife just picked up 153 pounds of tuna in Tillamook. (Caught yesterday) They couldnt arrange or had time to filet it for me. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I said no problem, I would rather get it fresh and filet it myself than wait another day.

I think I saw some instructions once and I seem to remember it being done like a halibut. Basically ending up with 4 pieces of meat????

[img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Any help before I try to butcher these tonight would be appreciated.

[dawhunt]

you should end up with 4 fillets off ea fish.
cut a 45 degree line behind the pectorial fin,to remove the top loin cut to backbone along the dorsal side of lateral line from head to tail,make another cut along the backbone along the dorsal fin just thru the skin on both cuts,I then use my thumb and peel the meat from front to back it will peel right off.you might have to use your knife a little but very little.DO NOT RUN YOUR THUMB FROM BACK TO FRONT YOU WILL BE SORRY !!!!(BONES) DO THE SAME ON THE OTHER SIDE.THEN JUST FILLET SKIN OFF. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]It works pretty much the same for the bottom fillets.Then cut off all the red blood meat and discard then can it. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Bob

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: dawhunt ]

[Threemuch]

I have a little different technique to loin albacore:

Make a 1/4" to 1/2 inch slice through the skin all the way around the outline of the fish on what you would normally think of as a fillet. Do not cut very deep.

Grab the skin right behind the fin and peel it back. It will be hard, so don't be shy. The belly meat will stick to the skin and tear off. You can fillet this out for canning or save it for superior crab bait.

Now make an incision the length of the fish, above an below the red meat line that runs through the middle of the fish.

I then use the knife to scrape the top loin off the middle bones, and then cut the bottom loin out with the ribs. Then I remove the ribs from the bottom loin.

Flip fish, repeat for other side.

With this method, I can clean a tuna in about 3 minutes. It's really easier to show someone than to tell them. If you want, I could show you tonight. Give me a call on my cell, 503.430.1864

[Threemuch]

Here is a website with step by step instructions with pics, same technique I described but leaving the skin on, instead of peeling it off first.

Kurt
http://www.geocities.com/sfbayareafishing/b_tuna.html

[Bait O' Eggs]

Thanks to those who responded, special thanks to Pilar for the phone advise.

I peeled the skin before removing the loins. It was easier than I thought it would be. After making an incision down each lateral line and down the back, just cutting the skin, I did the rest of the work with my hands. The first 3 or 4 fish were pretty chunked up, but after that it was 4 beautiful loins with no cuts or tears in them. I was not fast but it looked good when I was done.

I can say at $2.50 per fish I would never get rich.

[Rip'N'Lips]

I am interested in picking up some Tuna as well. Where did your wife go? What do they charge?

[Pilar]

You're welcome, when is the Bar b q?? Or smoked is good. Hell, I'll settle for a boat ride to T. bay south jetty some fine fall day.

[img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Bait O' Eggs]

We got our Tuna from a buddy in Tillamook who commercial fishes. He charged $1.25/lb. His name is Jim Coon and his number is 503-842-4126

This is the 4th year I have gotten tuna from him. I have seen some pretty bad tuna from other commercial guys, but every year we get tuna from Jim it is well bled and clean. I think he does a way better than average job handling his catch at sea.

Wife is canning like the wind today. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I saved a few loins out for the BBQ, but might try and smoke a little batch of it this week also.

Wow! Has it been that long since you caught a fish Roy? You now have to buy them???? I guess that story about you buying tules was true. So much for that shad magic huh?
Stew [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]