Short table for fish (4)
I believe the answer is:
char
'for fish' is the definition.
(char is a kind of fish)
'short table' is the wordplay.
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'table' becomes 'chart' (I've seen this before).
'chart' with its final letter removed is 'CHAR'.
(Other definitions for char that I've seen before include "clean > burn" , "Scorch, small fish" , "Blacken by burning" , "way to make carbon" , "'Mrs Mopp'" .)