When it comes to cleaning fresh-caught fish in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, a fish cleaning table, is otherwise called a fish cleaning station. The flat surface makes the task easier and less painful on your back. Fillet tables can be mounted in multiple areas. The areas include along the banks or inland, well away from lakes, rivers, or coastal waters. Here is what you need to know about a fish cleaning table. 

What Is A Fish Cleaning Station

A fishing cleaning station or fish cleaning table is an upright structure built on level ground. Beams or poles support a polyethylene board, a type of plastic suitable for cutting fish. 

The structure is stable to prevent it from rocking, putting the person filleting fish at risk of cutting themselves. Many cleaning stations, particularly those inland, are fitted with a hole in the center. The hole allows the person cutting fish to drop the scraps below into a bucket. When the fillet table is mounted on the banks, the waste is thrown into the surrounding water. 

Running water is an essential component of a fillet table. Tables are plumbed directly and fitted with hoses or faucets. A second option is running a hose from the house on which the fillet table is positioned. 

Fish are incredibly slippery. The sides and back include a border to prevent the fish from sliding off the edge of the flat cutting board. Without the border, the fish would fall either onto the ground bruising the meat or into the water where it would be incapable of being retrieved. 

Lastly, while not all fish cleaning tables are fitted with an overhead covering, those that do help protect from the sun and keep the people hard at work cool from the shade. Even the smallest roof is a welcome addition. 

We recommend the Magma Tournament Series Dock Cleaning Station because of the stability and ability to store all of the gear associated with cleaning fish.

How Tall Should A Fish Cleaning Table Be

When it comes to height a fish filleting table should measure average counter height. The average counter height is thirty-six inches from the ground to the flat surface of the cutting board. 

However, when designing and building a custom fish cleaning station, base the height on what is more comfortable for you instead of purchasing a kit. Taller people should construct higher counter heights, while smaller people must reduce the size of the table. 

The height is critical to avoid reaching too high or stooping too low. Either of the two makes the task of filleting fish more challenging and increases the likelihood of becoming wounded by the knife. 

Add in a pair of bar stools. After the work is done, clean the surface, grab a stool, pull ice-cold beer from the cooler, and use the fish cleaning station as a bar. There is no better way to end a hard day’s work of fishing and filleting. 

How Do You Clean A Fish Filleting Table

It is essential to clean a fillet table properly after each use. Improper or lack of cleaning causes bacteria to grow in the cracks and crevices created by dragging a knife on the surface. 

While cutting fish, continue to discard the scraps and rinse the board during the process. Frequent rinsing prevents blood from seeping into the opening and becoming dry. 

Once all of the fish are filleted, and the scales and scraps are rinsed away, mix a soapy bucket of water and scrub to remove debris that has become affixed to the board. Spray the soap clear from the table. 

Lastly, mix one tablespoon of bleach in a gallon bucket of water. Allow the mixture to sit on the board for ten minutes. Once the time has passed, take the hose and rinse the bleach-water combination away. 

Safety Precautions When Using A Fish Cleaning Station

When using a fish cleaning station, take all necessary precautions to avoid injury. We recommend wearing gloves to allow for a better grip of the knife and fish. Most wounds are caused by the fish or knife slipping from the hands while cutting. Rinse fish slime from the table, gloves, and knife regularly. 

A second common cause of injury is the knife falling to the ground and landing on exposed feet. Avoid wearing shoes where the top of the feet are exposed. Additionally, place the knife in the back of the cutting board or knife slot when reaching to grab fish or perform other tasks. All too often, the cutting device is left on the edge of the board, where it becomes accidentally hit and falls to the ground. 

When deciding on a filleting knife, consider an electric fillet knife. Here are the top five electric fillet knives on the market. 

Now You Know About Fish Cleaning Tables

Anglers who fish consistently in the fresh or saltwater through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina will put a fish cleaning station to use regularly. Save yourself the trouble of leaning over the top of an unstable cooler or bringing the uncleaned fish in the house. A fish cleaning table makes the task an enjoyable experience.