My Hatteras trip was canceled because of foul weather. Although the bigger boats were okay, 4 - 6 foot waves in Hatteras Inlet is too much for my 30 footer. So, yesterday I went out in the Chesapeake Bay and caught a nice batch of small croakers. They were fun, and it was a warm, beautiful, calm day on the Bay.
After scaling and gutting, I take the heads and tails off, and then make a slice down either side of the dorsal and ventral fins. Then I pull the fins out. It makes them very nice to eat, as there's nothing left except meat and the backbone. A few days ago I got a new Buck 103 Skinner, and I haven't even sharpened it yet (Buck sharpens them, but not to my satisfaction). I used it to make the fin cuts, and what a job it did!
As I write, I have some frying in a shallow pan with olive oil, and another batch baking (wife prefers her's baked). It's not mahi and tuna, but yum, they sure are good.