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Fishing Knives that Every Angler Needs to Keep in Their Tackle Box

Fishing is not an easy task, and catching one is just the first step. You do not have to be a Pro Angler to understand the importance of having the best tools. The best tools tend to include the best fillet fishing knife used to rip those pesky fish scales. 

person filleting tuna with a fishing knife

Fishing knives have to be sharp and resilient as they constantly are wet and need to beat the test of time.

Most fillet knives are slightly curved and usually made of more durable metal or steel. These knives have to be flexible enough to correctly descale any fish you happen to catch while out fishing.

There are many knives readily available to anyone searching on the internet, but what knife can do the job?

two trout on a tree stump next to a fishing knife

Below are ten knives that are found to be the best knives for fishing. Continue reading to find out what they are.

Top 10 Fishing Knives

  1. Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Fishing Knife
  2. Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife
  3. Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Knife
  4. Bubba Tapered Flex Fillet Fishing Knife
  5. Gerber Controller Saltwater Fish Fillet Knife
  6. KastKing Fillet Knife
  7. TAC Force Spring Assisted Fishing Knife
  8. Spyderco Atlantic Salt Folding Knife
  9. Wüsthof Classic Fillet Knife
  10. AFTCO Fish Fillet knife

Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Fishing Knife

This knife endures multiple tests to ensure that it is up to any form of hunting or fishing situation. The handle is textured rubber to enhance grip.

The length of the blade itself is 3 inches and 6 centimeters. This knife comes with a handy sheath to make carrying it easy, though it is slightly too big to fit in a normal-sized pocket. 

Gerber Bear has been around since 1939, when it began in Portland, Oregon. The design of the Grylls Fishing Knife allows for easy folding and handling, but it tends to be challenging to open the knife with one hand.

It is sharp straight out of the package and robust enough to keep up with any adventurer. k


Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Fishing Knife

Available in eight colors, the stainless steel blade comes from Sweden. Morakniv has been making knives for centuries and has a rich, detailed history of a local community and their desire to make things. The blade is about 4.1 inches long. 

This knife can do much more than cutting fish, as it can carve and chop wood, too. It is pretty durable, but it can rust if left in the elements too long and sometimes may dull a little. Overall though, Morakniv creates a sturdy, dependable fishing knife. 


Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Knife

This knife comes with its own sheath and even a sharpener to keep the blade from getting dull.

Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet offers two lengths to choose from, one of four inches and one of six inches. The handle is crafted out of birch, and the blade is stainless steel. 

Rapala is a fishing brand. From lures to tools and tackle to knives, they have got what any angler could ever need. Rapala has been serving Pro Anglers since it began in 1936. This knife may be on the thinner side, but it has what it takes to get the job done.


Bubba Tapered Flex Fillet Fishing Knife

Bubba may be relatively new, as they started in 2009, but they have made large waves with their Fillet Fishing Knife.

The blade’s stainless steel material and 8Cr13MoV shape allow premium slicing. It is also pretty long with its 7-inch blade. 

There is a sheath included, and the blade is covered in titanium nitride to prevent rust and allow for better cuts against scales.

The flex design of this tool allows for better use and mobility, and it has a flexed, non-slip grip for better handling. 


Gerber Controller Saltwater Fish Fillet Knife

Gerber is no stranger to knives, especially fishing knives as they already have another one on this list.

This particular knife is designed to best cut down saltwater fish and even has anti-corrosion protection to ensure the blade will last. While the handle is hardened plastic, the blade is alloy steel.

This sheath has vents for the missed water to drain out after use. The handle has a unique shape that allows for the best use of traction so the knife will not fly out of the hand when cutting through a tough fish. 


KastKing Fillet Knife

KastKing is no stranger to fishing supplies. They offer it all, from rods and reels to tools and knives.

This knife comes in an assortment of shapes and lengths best suited to each of the tasks a Pro Angler faces. 

All of the KastKing Fillet Knives are made of German stainless steel and feature a non-slip polymer grip.

The sheath offers a unique locking mechanism that makes pulling the knife out intentionally easy but near impossible to do so accidentally.


TAC Force Spring Assisted Fishing Knife

TAC Force is distributed by Tackle Supply Depot, which purchased well-known Northern Bass Supply in 2014.

They sell all types of fishing gear, including knives. TAC Force sells dozens of different knives with designs of all kinds.

This tool is different from the others in that it folds into itself, and is much smaller when closed up.

While the other knives need sheaths to protect them and prevent users from accidentally cutting themselves, TAC Force eliminates this problem with their design.


Spyderco Atlantic Salt Folding Knife

Spyderco, like TAC Force, utilizes the simplistic safety of a foldable blade. It features the unique shape that has become the trademark of Spyderco as well as the trademarked hole.

It is composed of alloy steel and has a specialized grip on the handle for a better hold. 

A built-in lock protects the user from accidentally opening the blade. This tool is part of the company’s salt series, which focuses on making sure this knife is up to any problem that comes in the saltwater fishing territories.  


Wüsthof Classic Fillet Knife

These knives are made specially in Solingen, Germany, and this company has been working on the perfect knife for any occasion for over two hundred years!

This tool has a clean, professional design with a curved blade suitable for slicing fish. This knife is longer than most others to allow for less movement for the same cut. 

Polypropylene makes up the handle, but the blade is stainless steel. The edge of the blade is a hollow design to help cut the scales of the fish easier.

It is anti-corrosion and should not rust even though the tool will be around water often. 


AFTCO Fish Fillet Knife

This knife presents options in length from seven to twelve inches and a uniquely gold tin finish on the blade made of German stainless steel in collaboration with Böker Germany. The gold tin finish helps prevent corrosion and rusting. 

The blue handle has a non-slip grip design, and the curve of the blade works together with the handle to make gutting a fish easy work.

The American Fishing Tackle Company or AFTCO has been making their specially crafted fishing gear since 1958. All materials go through testing in Southern California, and the saltwater tools are guaranteed against rust.  


Final Thoughts

Fishing is an art, and cutting a fish is no easy task. It takes time and precision to master, and part of that precision is finding and utilizing the right tools. These are the best fishing knives to fillet any salt or freshwater fish caught anywhere.

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