Abstract: A catfish fillet machine for filleting fish, such as a catfish, with ribs extending through the belly flesh up to the skin. The catfish fillet machine includes a pair of scraping tools for dividing the flesh of each fish half into at least two independent segments up to the skin. Advantageously, the belly flesh is stripped from the ribs on both sides, thereby resulting in a minimum wastage of fillet flesh. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the catfish fillet machine includes a pelvic fin and bone cutter/remover. A mechanism advantageously stretches the nuggets (belly flaps) of the fish tightly against the scraper knives and cutting support of the scraper tools. A fish saddle which engages and moves the fish along the conveyance path has top rail removably fastened to a base and made of a polymer material softer than the cutting blades.