My dad always says, “Use the right tool for the job.” When the job is filleting fish, chopping bait or cutting fishing line, the right tool is a quality fishing knife. Of course, a great fishing knife is sharp, and the material and construction make it easy to maintain the blade. A knife should also be comfortable to hold and offer a solid grip to carefully skin a fish or quickly slice through rope. One won’t do it all well, so I’ve put together a collection of the best fishing knives for every job.
Best Fishing Knives: Our Picks
- Best Fillet Knife: Bubba Pro Series Cordless
- Best Bargain Fishing Knife: Gerber LST Ultra
- Best Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Adira
- Best Fishing Scissors: Toadfish Ultimate Shears and Sheath
- Best Safety Knife for Kayak Fishing: NRS Pilot Access Folding
- Best Multi-Tool: Victorinox Spirit MX Clip
Best Fillet Knife
Bubba Pro Series Cordless
MSRP: $269.99
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Why I love it
When I have a pile of fish to fillet, Bubba’s Pro Series Cordless Fillet Knife makes quick work of the job. The Pro Series is powered by a brushless motor boasting speed, power and durability. After hours of motoring through meat, skin and bone, I appreciate the large ergonomic handle and paddle-style trigger. The kit includes two batteries and four blades for everything from skinning panfish to steaking a tuna.
Reasons to buy
- Brushless motor
- Four blade profiles
- Cordless lithium battery
Consider another if
- You are on a budget
- You don’t clean many fish
Bottom line
When I have a pile of fish to clean, I grab the Bubba Pro Series Fillet Knife. Four blade profiles are provided to match the size of the fish. And upgrades in the new Pro Series knife include a paddle trigger that is more comfortable for hours of cleaning fish. To top it off, the knife, batteries and blades fit in a semi-soft-sided case I can carry everywhere I go fishing.
Best Bargain Fishing Knife
Gerber LST Ultra
MSRP: $44.99
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Why I love it
I always say, don’t take anything fishing you aren’t willing to lose overboard. While I’d hate to lose my LST Ultra, at least I can afford to replace this inexpensive pocket knife. The no-nonsense knife features a corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel, drop-point blade and ultralight glass-filled nylon handle. To avoid losing it in the first place, the wire belt clip and lanyard hole provide options to keep the knife in the kayak. I like the sharpening choil: a small notch at the base of the blade that allows me to sharpen the entire edge.
Reasons to buy
- Great value
- Light and compact
- Stainless steel blade
Consider another if
- You need a longer blade
- You are hard on your gear
Bottom line
I keep the Gerber LST in my kayak gear bag for a convenient knife I can rely on in a pinch. The six-inch folding knife weighs just under 1.4 ounces, so it doesn’t take up much space in my bag. The glass-filled nylon handle and stainless blade are corrosion-resistant, so the knife doesn’t require regular maintenance. When I need a sharp, convenient blade to make a quick cut, the LST answers the call.
Best Pocket Knife
Benchmade Mini Adira
MSRP: $240
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Why I love it
In the mundane world of pocket knives, the Benchmade Mini Adira makes a statement. Whenever I pull my Benchmade out of my pocket, people notice the blue titanium-coated blade and impact-resistant glass-filled thermoplastic handle. Under closer look, it also boasts a laser-cut blade and a locking mechanism loaded with stainless steel springs. Owning a Benchmade is an investment in a lifestyle; to earn my loyalty, the company offers lifetime sharpening and maintenance.
Reasons to buy
- Durable handle
- Reliable blade
- Cool looks
Consider another if
- You are on a budget
- You don’t carry a pocket knife every day
- You need a smaller knife
Bottom line
For professional anglers, the quality and reliability of Benchmade make these knives a necessity. I pull out my Adira a dozen times a day to cut line, open packages, slice cheese and more. I know the Mini Adira will cut through anything I encounter.
Best Scissors for Fishing
Toadfish Ultimate Shears and Sheath
MSRP: $48
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Why I love it
From opening a bag of soft plastics to cutting bait and fishing line, scissors are the most-used tool on my kayak. The Toadfish Ultimate Shears feature a micro-serrated blade to cut bait or slice braided line. They have oversized rubber grips that provide solid leverage for maximum power. Something else that is especially beneficial for my daily angling is that the marine-grade materials prevent corrosion. To keep them close and prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the bay, the sheath offers versatile mounting options with a belt clip, Velcro loop or suction cup.
Reasons to buy
- Spring loaded
- Serrated blades
- Sheath included
Consider another if
- You need less expensive scissors
- You don’t like spring-loaded blades
Bottom line
The Toadfish scissors are powerful for chopping through bone and skin and manageable for fine work like snipping braided line. They quickly become the most utilized tool in the boat.
Best Safety Knife for Fishing
NRS Pilot Access Folding
MSRP: $99.95
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Why I love it
I always carry a safety knife clipped to my PFD in case I flip my kayak and become tangled in fishing line. Recently, I replaced my fixed-blade knife with NRS’s Pilot Access Folding Knife. Featuring the same blunt tip and serrated edge as a traditional paddling knife, the blade folds on a sealed hinge and opens with a flick of the wrist. Not only does the folding knife take up less space on my PFD, but I can store the knife in a pocket between trips. The multi-position clip allows me to hang the knife from PFD straps, a molle strap, or carry it in the corner of my pocket.
Reasons to buy
- Quick-open blade
- Four-position carry clip
- Stainless steel blade
Consider another if
- You fish saltwater
- You need a fixed-blade knife
- You need a lightweight knife
Bottom line
The Pilot Access Folding knife gives me more options for carrying a quick-response blade in easy reach. Instead of taking up valuable space on the front of my life jacket, I stick the folding Pilot Access in a pocket where it is out of the way and in easy reach.
Best Multi-Tool for Fishing
Victorinox Spirit MX Clip
MSRP: $150
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Why I love it
I don’t go anywhere without a multi-tool. I keep the Victorinox Spirit MX Clip in my dry bag to handle any emergency. The stainless steel tool is a statement piece with an elegant design that calls on the simple and smart looks of their famous Swiss Army knife. The knife houses 24 tools that lock open. This allows me to put maximum pressure on the screwdriver or knife blade without closing it on my fingers. I also appreciate that the one-handed opening knife blade is accessible without unfolding the tool.
Reasons to buy
- 24 lockable tools
- One-handed opening knife
- Hook remover and sharpener
Consider another if
- You need a carry case
- You want more features
- You are on a budget
Bottom line
The Victorinox Spirit MX clip has cool tools, quality materials and durable construction, housed in a compact and ergonomic package that is a work of art. When I’m unhooking a fish or cutting bait, I can open the tool with one hand and eyes closed. I have several multi-tools, but the Spirit MX is my daily carry.
Fishing Knife Buying Advice
Buying the right fishing knife is more complicated than it should seem. Dozens of blades hang on the tackle shop shelves and hundreds of fishing knives are for sale online. The first point to understand is that one knife will not do it all. I carry a half-dozen knives, blades, and tools, including a fillet knife, pocket knife, safety knife, bait knife and utility scissors. For big fish-cleaning jobs, I use an electric fillet knife.
That’s six different blades just to go fishing, but all of my knives have two things in common: durability and ergonomics.
Durable materials
When I purchase a knife, I first look for corrosion resistance and a sturdy build. A knife with a stainless steel blade and a high-impact plastic handle will survive exposure to salt and dirt. These blades will also have a combination of metal alloys to increase durability and still maintain a sharp edge.
Ergonomics
Comfort is key to knife performance. After cleaning a dozen fish, a comfortable knife handle pays off. When I’m cutting the tag end of fishing line close to the hook eye, a pair of scissors with an ergonomic handle and blades provides an accurate and clean cut. The best fishing knives employ carefully designed handles and blades to optimize power and control.
Cost
The big question beyond materials and build is how much you should pay for a fishing knife. The answer depends on how often you use the knife. My daily carry knife takes a lot of abuse, so I invested in the best pocket knife I could find. My fillet knives, on the other hand, are less expensive, so I can replace them after they no longer take a razor edge. The exception is my electric fillet knife, which I’ve invested in to mow through a pile of fish. In this case, you spend more for a reliable motor and quality blades that will not let you down.
Best Fishing Knife Brands
How We Tested the Best Fishing Knives
I put my fishing knives through the grinder. Weak and fragile blades do not survive. My utility scissors stay in my kayak crate in easy reach. Fillet knives clean a dozen fish at a time. The bait knife slices squid strips and sections a blue crab. My safety knife lives on my life jacket, exposed to the elements and all the abuse I can dish out. A fishing knife’s life is not pleasant, so testing these blades requires real-world use and unreasonable expectations.
A knife blade should be sharp, keep its edge, and be easy to sharpen. Slicing through flesh and bone and cracking clam and crab shells wears and chips the edges and shows which knives check these boxes.
Every angler has tried to use a knife blade to pry or twist. So I also check if a blade is stiff enough to serve as a pry bar or screwdriver.
The handle of a knife has to provide power and control. A comfortable grip with an ergonomic design provides the foundation for the tool’s performance, so I take note of how easy a knife is to grip and work into tight places.
Grit and grime are the Achilles heel. With this in mind, my final test is immersion in saltwater, sand, mud, fish slime, blood and scales. If the knife or scissors open and close and are ready for action after a quick rinse in the brine, they make it on this list of the best fishing knives.
Feature Image: Ric Burnley
