How to Split or Butterfly a Fish

A Finished Split Fish

A finished split fish

Holly A. Heyser

This is what the finished butterflied fish should look like. You are now ready to smoke it or stuff it.

• Gather Your Tools
• Cut out the Bottom Fins
• Cut Toward the Tail
• Remove the Bottom Fins
• Slice Around the Ribs
• Free the Meat from the Backbone
• Snip the Tail End of the Backbone
• Lift Out the Backbone
• Snip the Head End of the Backbone
• A Finished Split Fish