Round Fish Vs. Flat Fish

Round fish, such as salmon or snapper, and flat fish, such as sole or flounder, have very different bone structures and consequently, are prepared differently and yield different cuts. We find it helpful to think of round fish as three-dimensional, with a plump, cylindrical shape, and eyes that lie on either side of the head. The backbone runs along the center of the fish, separating the two thick fillets on either side. A row of bones lines the top of the backbone, and two more lines of bones fan out from the bottom of the backbone around the viscera. Round fish can either be filleted or cut into steaks.