A salmon cleaning trough that holds a king still.
A Better Fish Table is a 70° V trough sized for king salmon from 9 to 20 lb. The fish lies belly-up and can't roll, the gill cutout gives you room to bleed it, and the ruler on the back wall checks it against the limit. Built by a commercial salmon family in Santa Cruz, California.
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Sized for the fish you're actually catching.
A 70° V, not a flat board
Two walls at 70° hold a king belly-up with no hand on it. The belly cut runs straight, and the fish stays put while the boat moves.
Gill cutout for bleeding
An open head end so you can cut the gills and bleed the fish right away, with the blood going where you want it and not across the deck.
9 to 20 lb kings, tail notch for bigger
The trough is cut for kings from about 24 to 31½ in to the fork. A bigger fish rests its tail in the notch past the end wall.
Ruler, 1 to 29 in
Cut into the back wall, so the measurement happens where the fish already is.
Tool ledge, ikejime spike slot
Two knives, pliers and a spike at the head end, where your hand goes next.
Screw it down, or drop it in a rod holder.
Four 316 stainless screws hold it to the cleaning station or bait board. Four more holes in the base take the Magma LeveLock mount for a gunwale rod holder. At the dock or the ramp it sits flat on its own. The boat page has the details; the full specifications are on the home page.
| Size | 35¼ × 8 × 6¼ in |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 9.3 lb with hardware |
| Material | ½ in FDA-compliant food-grade HDPE, 316 stainless screws |
| Cradle | 70° V, gill cutout at the head end, tail notch |
| Ruler | 1 to 29 in on the back wall |
| Fits | King salmon 9 to 20 lb, and most inshore fish |
| Price | $319.99 plus shipping. Lifetime warranty |
Salmon cleaning trough: FAQ
Why a trough instead of a flat board?
A king on a flat board slides, rolls and takes one hand to hold. In a 70° V the fish lies belly-up and stays there, so both hands are on the knife and the belly cut runs straight. The gill cutout at the head end is where you bleed it.
What size king does it take?
The cradle is sized for king salmon from about 9 to 20 lb, roughly 24 to 31½ in to the fork. The tail notch lets a bigger tail hang past the end. Cohos, steelhead, rockfish and lingcod fit too.
Does it have a ruler?
Yes. A 1 to 29 in ruler is cut into the back wall, so you can check the fish against the limit before it leaves the tray.
Where does it go on the boat?
Screw it to the cleaning station or bait board with four 316 stainless screws, or drop it into a gunwale rod holder with the Magma LeveLock mount (four holes pre-cut in the base). It also sits flat on a dock station, a tailgate or a bench.
What is it made of?
½ in FDA-compliant food-grade HDPE, the same plastic as a commercial cutting board, with 316 stainless screws and no glue. Non-porous, so it won't hold moisture, bacteria or the smell of last week's fish. Hoses clean, comes apart.
Who makes it?
Santa Cruz Salmon, a commercial salmon fishing family in Santa Cruz, California. The HDPE is cut in the USA and the Table is assembled here. $319.99 plus shipping, lifetime warranty, first Tables in November 2026.
Get the first email.
$319.99, made in America, first Tables in November. One email the day it's ready to order, nothing else.