Updated June 15, 2021
A good knife is an indispensable tool for a fisherman with many opportunities for use. Cutting bait, preparing lines, rope, and gear, or cleaning, boning, and filleting fish all benefit from a blade suitable for the task. Some knives can do a good job on all those tasks and some are more specialized.
To help you select the right knife for your purposes, some of the best are introduced below. There are specialized fillet knives, some that are for all-around fishing use, and others that serve well for fishing as well as for other outdoor activities. A comparison table is presented to start, followed by key features, photos, videos, and a buying guide to help you in your research.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of knives, boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
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Best Fishing Knives Reviews
- Spyderco Harpy Folding Fishing Knife
- Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife
- Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Fishing Knife
- American Angler Electric Fillet Fishing Knife
- Bubba Taper Flex Fillet Fishing Knife
- Case XX WR 2 Blade Fishing Knife
- TAC Force Spring Assisted Fishing Knife
- Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Fishing Knife
- Morakniv Comfort Fillet Fishing Knife
- WÜSTHOF Classic 7 Inch Fillet Fishing Knife
Fishing Knives Comparison Table
| Picture | Knife | Material | Blade Length | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Spyderco Harpy Folding Fishing Knife | VG-10 Stainless Steel | 2.75 inches | 4.8 | $$$$ |
  | Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife | Sandvik 12C27 Stainless Steel | 4.1 inches | 4.4 | $ |
  | Rapala Fish 'N Fillet Fishing Knife | Swedish Stainless Steel | 4, 6, or 7.5 inches | 4.6 | $$ |
  | American Angler Electric Fillet Fishing Knife | Stainless Steel or Titanium | 8 inches | 4.3 | $$$$ |
  | Bubba Taper Flex Fillet Fishing Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 7 inches | 4.7 | $$ |
  | Case XX WR 2 Blade Fishing Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 4.25 inches | 4.7 | $$$ |
  | TAC Force Spring Assisted Fishing Knife | Stainless Steel | 3.25 inches | 4.4 | $ |
  | Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Fishing Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 3.6 inches | 4.8 | $$ |
  | Morakniv Comfort Fillet Fishing Knife | Sandvik 12C27 Stainless Steel | 6.1 inches | 4.6 | $ |
  | WÜSTHOF Classic 7 Inch Fillet Fishing Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 7 inches | 5 | $$$$$ |
| Picture | Knife | Material | Blade Length | Rating | Price |
Spyderco Harpy Folding Fishing Knife
Key Feature: hawkbill shaped serrated edge blade for precise, pulling cuts of fishing line, netting, rope, or the like
- Materials: durable corrosion-resistant VG-10 stainless steel blade (12% chromium), stainless steel handle
- Weight: 3.9 ounces
- Blade Length: 2.75 inches
- Open Length: 6.5 inches
- Closed Length: 3.875 inches
- Hollow ground, serrated edge
- Back lock mechanism
- Pocket clip, lanyard hole, shackle key
- Drying vent for rust prevention
- Round hole for one-handed opening
Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife
Key Features: all-in-one use for fishing and other outdoor activities like camping, hiking, hunting, emergency survival, and food prep, holds a sharp edge longer than carbon steel
- Materials: hard Swedish made Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade, plastic sheath
- Weight: 4.1 ounces with sheath
- Blade Length: 4.1 inches
- Overall Length: 8.6 inches
- High-friction grip for good control
- Color-matching sheath with a belt clip
- Comes in a choice of navy blue, black, cyan, desert tan, green magenta, military green, or anthracite (gray)
- Limited manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
- Ultra-low priced
Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Fishing Knife
Key Features: classically-styled, sharp Swedish stainless steel fillet knife with a beautiful leather sheath and a sharpener included
- Materials: Swedish stainless steel blade, classic varnished birch handle, finely tooled leather sheath
- Blade Length: available in 4, 6, and 7.5 inches
- Progressively tapered full-tang blade
- Free-swing belt loop
- Safety notch secures the tang to the brass ferrule
- Single-stage sharpener included for maintaining a fine edge
- Reasonably priced
American Angler Electric Fillet Fishing Knife
Key Features: high-torque electric fillet knife, effortless cleaning and filleting of fish, powerfully cuts through bones and scales
- Materials: choice of stainless steel or titanium-coated 420 stainless steel blade
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Comes with an 8-inch curved blade, easy to detach and clean
- Compatible with 4 other blade designs available separately
- 110V electric power
- Shielded 40mm motor
- Navel brass/polymer transmission
- Cool airflow design
- Santorini cool-to-touch grip pad
- Includes mesh storage case
- 2-year limited warranty
View More From American Angler
Bubba Taper Flex Fillet Fishing Knife
Key Features: quality flex blade, non-stick coating, firm-gripping fillet knife
- Materials: high carbon titanium bond stainless steel blade with Teflon non-stick coating, thermoplastic polymer grip
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
- Blade Length: 7 inches
- Overall Length: 13 inches
- Full tang construction
- Textured, non-slip, sticky grip
- Safety guards, trigger grip, finger and thumb pads
- Includes black synthetic sheath with Velcro straps
- Reasonably priced
Case XX WR 2 Blade Fishing Knife
Key Features: pocket-knife with a bright yellow synthetic handle, two-blade design for fishing and general use, includes a hook sharpener
- Materials: 2 high-carbon stainless steel blades, yellow synthetic handle
- Weight: 2.7 ounces
- Blade Length: 4.25 inches
- Closed Length: 4.25 inches
- 2-blade design with a long clip multi-purpose blade and a serrated scaler with a hook disgorger
- Hook sharpening stone on the side
- Limited lifetime warranty
TAC Force Spring Assisted Fishing Knife
Key Features: spring-assisted opening, half-serrated blade, all-around use pocket-knife with a liner lock, glass breaker, bottle opener, and a super low price
- Materials: stainless steel blade, aluminum handle
- Blade Length: 3.25 inches
- Closed Length: 4.5 inches
- Open Length: 8.375 inches
- Black half-serrated blade
- Spring-assisted one-handed opening
- Liner lock for secure locking
- Pocket clip
- Glass breaker and a bottle opener on the handle
- Available in black, fall camo, grey, grey camo, orange, pink, pink camo, rainbow, red, red camo
- Ultra-low priced
Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Fishing Knife
Key Features: innovative, drop point half-serrated blade, ergo textured grip, all-around outdoor and survival use, reasonable price
- Materials: high-carbon stainless steel blade, rubber grip, nylon sheath
- Weight: 4.3 ounces
- Blade Length: 3.6 inches
- Closed Length: 4.9 inches
- Overall Length: 8.5 inches
- Half-serrated drop point blade
- Nylon military-grade sheath
- Dual-sided thumb-stub for one-handed opening
- Ergonomic textured rubber grip
- Lock back – locks the blade securely in place
- Reasonably priced
Morakniv Comfort Fillet Fishing Knife
Key Features: hard, sharp, Swedish stainless steel fillet knife, high-friction rubber grip, polymer sheath, bargain-priced
- Materials: Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, TPE-rubber handle, polymer sheath
- Blade Length: 6.1 inches (also available in a 3.5-inch version)
- Total Length: 10.6 inches
- Straight edge fillet blade
- High friction good-gripping rubber handle for right or left-handed use
- Slotted plastic sheath with two belt clips
- Dishwasher safe
- Lime green and black handle
- Low priced
WÜSTHOF Classic 7 Inch Fillet Fishing Knife
Key Features: premium German-made kitchen fillet knife, precision-forged carbon steel, extra sharp, excellent edge retention, great for boning, skinning, and filleting
- Materials: precision-forged from a single block of high carbon stainless steel blade, polyoxymethylene (POM) handle, leather sheath
- Weight: 12.3 ounces
- Blade Length: 7 inches
- Precision Edge Technology used for a 20% sharper blade with double the edge retention
- Corrosion-resistant
- Full tang triple-riveted handle
- Comfortable balanced grip
- Full bolster and finger guard
- Includes a leather sheath
Fishing Knives Buying Guide
Fishing knives fit into several different categories. There are knives you can carry with you or onboard your boat as you go about the business of fishing that are designed to cut line, prepare your gear and equipment, cut bait, and act as a general tool to facilitate the activity. Some of these are folding. Other knives are specially designed primarily for cleaning, skinning, and filleting fish. In some cases a knife can serve well in both ways, that is as a tool to use as you fish, and as a fish-cleaning blade.
- Fillet Knives – These have a narrow, pointed, very sharp blade used to fillet, debone, and skin fish. For use in other tasks, they are very limited.
- Electric Fillet Knives – These are an electrified version with a motor in the handle. They can offer more power for cutting through bones and require less physical effort to execute filleting and skinning.
- All Around Outdoor/Fishing Knives – For fishing use, these will have a pointed tip and may have straight-edge, serrated, or mixed edges. As sharp knives, they can be used for various cutting activities associated with fishing. In some cases, filleting and skinning fish are possible, but these models are not as efficient as the knives specifically designed for the purpose. They may include other features, as well, like bottle-openers or glass breakers that help to serve in outdoor survival or camping situations.
Blade Material
Most of the best knives for fishing are made of high-quality stainless steel which has resistance to corrosion and rust. In some cases, titanium or a titanium coating is used which cannot rust or corrode. The best quality stainless steel can be honed to a very sharp edge especially useful in a fillet knife.
Blade Edges
Straight-edged blades can be sharpened to a very fine edge, great for fillet knives. Some knives have a serrated edge or may have half serrated and half straight. Serrated edges work well for line and tough surfaces where a sawing motion can be effective. When the blade has both types of edge the serrated section is usually nearest the handle at the base of the blade.
Grip
When you have a very sharp knife in your hand you want to make sure it is firmly in your grasp when you use it. A number of substances are used in the handle including wood, plastic, rubber, nylon, and others. An ergonomic shape, texture, and features to assure that a good grip is possible are important to look for.
Other Features
Some method for storage is useful like a sheath, clip, or lanyard hole. Most fishing knives, though, are not loaded with features like a Swiss army knife is. Some of the all-around outdoor/fishing knives might have something basic like a bottle opener or glass breaker like the TAC Force knife reviewed above.
Additional Advice
Knife Care Tips Taking Care of Your Fillet Knife
For more reviews of knives, boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Sailing Knives Scuba Diving Knives Titanium Dive Knives Rain Gear for Fishing Boat Trailer Tongue Jacks Boat Trailer Winches Bimini Tops Inflatable Boat Launching Wheels Inflatable Dinghies Inflatable Pontoon Boats for Fishing Boat Ladders Kayak Rod Holders Anchor Ropes Boat Anchors Kayak Storage Racks Kayak Compasses Kayak Anchors Kayak Bilge Pumps Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Motorized Kayaks Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
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