I want to rethink fish butchery. Deba knife

does anyone use a Japanese Deba knife to break down fish instead of a fillet knife?

Taku from outdoor chef life certainly Deba's the head from the spine.  His knife tutorials are quite informative at least his filleting videos...

I have been using one for several years.  It is more work to use a daba knife for me but it saves more meat from the fish.  I keep both deba and filet knives in my fish cleaning toolbox to choose from.  If I have a lot of fish to clean and don't have much time, I go with a filet knife otherwise I go with the deba knife.

Deba is what I use to cut head of the body and slow fillet.
Bigger fish it’s better. But smaller fish a Dexter fillet knife will do

Using a fat blade like that to cut through the rib bones you'd likely clean your fish before filleting but If your intention is to reuse the carcase for crab bait after I think leaving the guts in and a standard thin flexible knife is best.

Conversely if it's some fancy fish perhaps yellow tail or something and you intend to grill or boil down the bones then a deba might be best?

I've never used or owned a thick blade knife or cleaver, should probably add it to the quiver.

My FIL Tat Kan , rest his soul, used his trusty as he called it “Cantonese Clever” . Keep that thing sharp , used for everything.

He gave it to us ..well ok my wife .. I must admit that I laud that over my BILs

Guess I was his favorite gwai lo ..LOL

I use a Chinese cleaver 90% of the time.  but not sure I can break down fish with it. 

Deba is what I use to cut head of the body and slow fillet.
Bigger fish it’s better. But smaller fish a Dexter fillet knife will do

+1 on using it this way
I sure like mine

I can tell my wife’s mood by the sound and tempo of the cleaver

I can tell my wife’s mood by the sound and tempo of the cleaver

Aha!

Serves as moodometer as well......yet another benefit.

We don’t cut heads off even for the gwai loas who eat at our place

Something we do also if filleting is leave more meat on the bones

Either rub w oil salt and bake it in a really hot oven

Or scrape it off with a sharp edged big spoon and make patties Works great for salmon