When buying the fresh salmon, ask an attendant in the fish department to skin and de-bone it for you. If that’s not possible, here’s how to skin a salmon fillet at home: Place it on a cutting board, skin side down. Sprinkle one end of the salmon with salt to make the fish less slippery or use a paper towel. Hold the salted end of the fish and use a sharp knife to cut between the flesh and the skin slowly until the fish pulls away from the skin.