I was at Home Depo grabbing supplies for a job today and seen these step guards. They are a rubber mat that has an edge guard molded into them. 24 inches by 9 inches.




wws

Look at Walmart. They have a plastic harry doormat that works excellent to hold fish while cleaning. It's in the fishing section. It's black plastic and has a top like stiff astro turf. I have cleaned hundreds of salmon on on in Alaska. Hose it off and your back in business for more fish. They have a handle cut into it as well. You can just buy one of them. Not sold in pairs.

The finest fish cleaning mat is made from Coco fibers. I used one for many years commercial fishing. They are about 3 inches thick, won't dull your knife and hold the fish perfectly still. They cost about $75 bucks now up here in Alaska. They do hold the fish smell for a long time. I just tied our off on the side of the boat overnight and let the sand shrimp clean it for me. Spotless and no smell.

Apparently you aren't skinning them.

wws what kind of fish, and how are you cleaning the fish?

I need a flat smooth surface for the way I fillet the fish I catch.

Yup...smooth.

I'm a regular stalker at Wally World, and I've never seen any kind of mat's in the sporting gods section?? How much are they?

I love the fish cleaning stations they have on the coasts and on some resorts on lakes. They are really useful for travelers. Here, if doing fish outside, I process them on the bottom of a plastic, 55 gallon barrel. It's a decent height and very easy to clean. A drilled hole for the pectoral fin on catfish, holds them in place well for filleting.

Keith

… good idea drilling the hole

They are labeled as a fish cleaning mat and sold in the marine isle for boats stuff. They cost less than $20. They are in every Walmart up here. You might have to go online to find them if they are not stocked at your local Wally World.

If you're using a wood cutting board instead or even a piece of throw away firewood, a few seconds with a drill makes filleting catfish much easier.

Keith

I use newspaper

ADC, I mostly ocean fish. Salmon halibut and tuna are my main targets, king cod and rockfish are second priority. Our marina has nice facilities with stainless steel tables. Salmon I use a horse comb to scale with just pull out guts and bring home on ice, can fillet at home if you like easier and better once cold. Tuna are loined out. Halibut are different all together.

wws

Keith I usually run that fin into the palm of my hand for a good grip.............. I like that hole idea. I use and old piece of composite counter top to clean fish on.......

I see. I'm not familiar with those fish as far as cleaning them, so I'm glad you found something that work for you.

Google "star board". When I worked at a fish cleaning station, our table surface was a sheet of star board. It is tough, yet soft on knives. Will last a lifetime, even when used for hours every day.

this is what I found on that search

https://buyplastic.com/HDPE-boat-board-marine-grade-plastic-sheet-various-sizes-and-colors/

looks like decent cutting board material