Patent ID: 7674163

Claim:
A fillet board usable to fillet fish having horns extending outwardly from the sides of the fish body, comprising: a planar member having a continuous solid upper surface and having a back end; the member defining a plurality of first apertures of approximately circular cross-section passing from the upper surface downwardly through the member, and spaced linearly in a single row along at least a portion of the length of the member whereby each first aperture will be located a different distance from the member back end; the first apertures each having a diameter of at least ⅜ inch; the member further defining a plurality of second apertures of approximately circular cross-section passing from the upper surface downwardly through the member and spaced linearly in a single row along a portion of the length of the member, each second aperture having a diameter of at least ¼ inch and less than ⅜ inch and being located closer to the back end of the planar member than are the first apertures, each second aperture being located a different distance from the member back end; said first and second apertures being arranged substantially along at least a portion of a centerline of the member; said first and second apertures each being adapted to selectively receive and engage a horn of a fish so that the body of the fish is positioned flat on its side upon the substantially continuous solid upper surface of the supporting member with the tail of the fish extending substantially to the member back end, and to retain the engaged horn and the fish in a substantially fixed position on the continuous member to facilitate removal of a fillet from the upwardly exposed side of the fish, the larger first apertures being located more distant from the member back end to accommodate larger horns of longer fish than the smaller second apertures located closer to the member back end; a first fastening structure mounted on the back end of the planar member in substantial linear alignment with the first and second apertures for securing the tail of a fish retained on the member; the member being supported a sufficient distance above a support surface by a spacer element to provide clearance for an engaged fish horn to extend through any receiving first or second aperture and a substantial distance below the planar member without contacting the support surface, the spacer element comprising a plurality of legs attached to the member, which legs are adapted to be disposed upon or rest upon a support surface.