Are you planning to go on a fishing adventure but don’t have an efficient knife to clean and fillet your catch? Or are you asking yourself, “How do I get a good fillet knife from the many available options?”
No worries, this guide will enlighten you on what to look for in a fillet knife followed by an in-depth analysis of the best fishing fillet knife on the current market.
Best Fishing Fillet Knives: A Comprehensive Analysis
Before deciding to order a knife, you must first evaluate your filleting needs to gauge if they will be fulfilled or not. Here are some key factors to help you.
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Blade Material
Knives have blades that are generally made from stainless steel, but the quality may vary from one knife to the other.
German-made stainless steel is considered the best followed by Swedish, Japanese, and lastly Alaskan steel. Knives that don’t state the origin of their steel should be treated with suspicion…no wants to end up with fake stuff from China, right?
Nevertheless, the steel should be durable, corrosion-resistant, and strong.
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Blade Length
This is an important factor to consider when choosing a filleting knife. Generally, blades between 7 and 8 inches are the most common ones.
However, you might want to go for a slightly longer blade or shorter one depending on your needs. For example, smaller knives might be ideal for filleting small fish or if you have small hands.
Concurrently, larger fish may require a knife with a longer blade for efficient handling.
Our review of top fillet knives comprises knives available in multiple lengths to choose from as well as ones available in only one length option.
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Blade Flexibility
A good knife should bend closer to the handle and should also possess some flex in its tip. This means that a knife with a longer blade is less flexible, while shorter blades are typically known to offer more flex.
Nevertheless, long thin knives are more flexible than the much thicker ones.
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Knife Handle
Knife handles are made from 3 basic materials, wood, plastic, or molded rubber. Rubber and plastic handles are the best since they have a good grip and are easy to maintain since their construction helps keep germs away.
Wooden handles aren’t too bad either, but they can become slippery when wet or “soak up” the fish smell over time which may later cause difficulties in cleaning.
Top Fish Fillet Knives: Our Detailed Reviews
We have searched the web on your behalf and listed the below 10 knives as the most sought-after ones for fish filleting.
1. KastKing Professional Fillet Knife
KastKing provides a range of blade lengths to choose from. They include 5″, 6″, 7″, 9″ and 12 inches each one meant to meet different fish filleting needs.
The 7″, 6″ & 9″ blade lengths are known for their enhanced flexibility. They’re the kind you go for when you want to easily maneuver through the natural contours of different fish species. On the contrary, the 5” and 12” blade lengths from this brand are known to offer limited flexibility and are, therefore, ideal for cutting applications.
All KastKing knives are equipped with premium-grade G4116 German rust-free stainless steel blades that feature a gorgeous black finish.
For added safety and comfortable use, each knife features a super polymer non-slip handle to ensure you get a sure grip. Additionally, the handle is ergonomically molded into the blade for enhanced build quality.
Pros
*Offered in multiple blade lengths
*Durable stainless steel blade
*Non-slip handle
*Corrosion-free
Cons
*Does not come razor sharp
2. Rapala Fish N Fillet NK03039-BRK
This knife from Rapala features a 7 ½ inch razor-sharp blade that can enable you to finish all your fish filleting needs in time.
The full tang blade is made from high quality Swedish stainless steel, which is considered by many people as extra strong and durable.
What’s more, the knife has a beautiful Birchwood handle which is vanished for a beautiful look and well contoured for easy handling. It also has a brass ferrule that reinforces it to the blade for enhanced safety.
However, you have to note that at the end of the day, this is a wooden handle. It may absorb water, fish oils, and odor over time.
Pros
*Non-slip grip
*Sharp and flexible blade
*Safety guard handle
*Rust-free
Cons
*Loses its edge quickly
*The brass ferrule traps tiny chunks of meat making cleaning difficult
3. Kershaw 7″ Clearwater Fillet Knife
This Kershaw Clearwater knife is available as a 7 inch or a 9-inch blade making it ideal for a wide range of kitchen applications.
The blade is made from Japanese 420J2 corrosion-resistant stainless steel which is great for both fresh and saltwater use. Moreover, the blade is great for filleting of large fish like Tuna, Catfish, Salmon, or Cod.
That isn’t all, the blade boasts high flexibility as it can bend without breaking to allow convenient cuts on any given fish. This helps you to get your desired fillet with ease.
Finally, the contoured co-polymer rubber grip is soft and non-slip for secure handling. It is also reinforced with neon-orange highlights for extra durability.
Pros
*Beautiful black rubber handle
*Unique Clearwater designed blade
*Durable Japanese steel blade
*Maximum flexibility
*Multipurpose
Cons
*Dulls easily
4. Rapala Superflux Fish n Fillet Knife
Are you a beginner in fishing and looking for a simple knife to lay your hands on? Then this 6-inch Rapala knife is just the right size, to begin with. You can also as well go for the 4-inch or 7 ½ inch blade knives to test your expertise.
This knife just as its name Superflex has an extra thin, highly flexible blade that enables you to have perfect control over your catch.
What’s more, its razor-sharp blade is made from hand-ground Swedish stainless steel with full tang construction for enhanced durability. Such a type of steel works appropriately in any environment as it doesn’t rust.
The polished brass ferrule reinforces the blade to the wooden handle to keep it intact no matter the kind of work you might subject it to. But you need to be careful when using the knife in wet conditions as the handle can get slippery sometimes.
Pros
*Corrosion-resistant blade
*Razor-sharp blade
*Non-stick coating
*Flexible
Cons
*Quite short and not good for large fish filleting
5. Morakniv Comfort Fishing Fillet Knife
The next knife in our review is none other than the Morakniv fillet knife which is available in 2 blade options for more versatility. Firstly, the 3.5-inch blade length which is great for the deboning of fish and filleting of small panfish.
This is followed by the 6.1 inches knife which is efficient for most (or almost all) filleting tasks.
One thing we like about this Swedish-made knife is that it features a Sandvik 12C27 strong stainless steel blade. It is corrosion-resistant and retains its sharpness through extended filleting sessions.
However, the blade seems rigid and has minimal flex. This makes it challenging for you to cut through large fish.
The ergonomically designed TPF rubber handle gives a sure grip even if your hands get wet. Also, the fact that the rubber doesn’t conduct heat makes the knife convenient for all-weather use.
Summing up on the handle, it doesn’t absorb odors and makes the knife easy to clean.
Pros
*Rust-free
*Easy to use
*Dishwasher safe
*Easy grip handle
Cons
*Less flexible
6. Buck Silver Creek 0220BLS Folding Fishing Knife
Are you a foldable knife fun? Then this foldable buck knife allows for easy handling and compact storage. It also features a thin yet flexible blade that cuts through meat chunks and fish easily.
What’s more, its 420J2 stainless steel blade is coated with titanium to boost its rust resistance and also to improve durability.
Besides, the reinforced glass polypropylene composite handle is equipped with TPE rubber to provide a safe grip.
Still on that, the handle features a lanyard for convenient carrying and a stainless steel guard for added safety.
The 6 3/8 inches blade is neither too long nor short and is excellent for the filleting of small or large fish.
Unfortunately, this is the only blade size for this Silver Creek knife offered by Buck Knives.
Pros
*Easy to store foldable knife
*Non-slip rubber handle
*Corrosion resistant
*Sharp blade
Cons
*May hold up dirt at the folding point if not washed appropriately
7. Rhinoreto Flexible Fishing Fillet Knife
Rhinoreto offers its knives with 5 inch, 6.5 inch, and 8 inches blades to meet different buyer preferences.
Besides that, it comes as a curved blade. And can you guess what that means? Well, it provides you with a pointed tip that simplifies your work and provides great flexibility even when working with fish of different shapes and sizes.
You can use this knife on all saltwater or freshwater fish species as it comprises a corrosion-resistant stainless steel blade. However, the knife does not state the origin of its steel blade, and this is a major downside since no one would like to end up with fake stuff from China.
The non-slip rubber handle is ideal for use by both left and right-handed persons as it ensures a comfortable grip even in wet or slippery conditions. There’s also a finger guard that gives you total safety from the sharp blade.
Pros
*Non-slip handle
*Flexible blade
*Multiple lengths to choose from
*Curved design for simple operation
*Sharp blade
Cons
*The blade loses its edge quickly
*Not versatile as it’s only meant for fish filleting and not other tough jobs like meat cutting
8. Victorinox Cutlery Straight Fishing Fillet Knife
The Victorinox 8 inch fillet knife is suitable for those people who like filleting their fish or meat with loads of confidence.
This knife has a Swiss high carbon stainless steel blade that provides maximum sharpness throughout thanks to the prior ice tempering process it has undergone.
The well-textured Fibrox handles are NSF approved as slip-resistant and properly constructed for extreme comfort.
Since the knife has a straight blade, this means that it has limited flexibility and may be difficult for amateur users to use.
Pros
*Durable and sharp blade
*Slip-proof handle
*Great for big fish filleting
*Longer sharp edge retention
Cons
*Less flexible
9. ZWILLING J.A Henckels 7-inch Four Star Fillet Knife
This German-made knife features a hand ground high carbon stainless steel blade knife that offers the perfect geometry for your home and fish filleting needs.
Besides, the 7 inches long blade cuts through large fish or meat with ease thanks to its more consistent angle. Plus, the blade is stain-free and rust-proof, making it a preferred choice for many.
The blade has a super bolster for added balance and a full rat tail-tang for greater strength or flexibility.
Lastly, the well-molded polypropylene handle is reinforced with a metallic bolster for comfortable use.
Pros
*Ice-hardened blade for long-lasting sharpness
*Stain-free
*Well distributed flexibility
*Comfortable handle
*1-piece solid forged construction
Cons
*Maybe too long for some people
10. Knives of Alaska Steelheader SureGrip Knife
This knife can make an excellent addition to your fishing or kitchen compilation as it features a durable 440C steel blade.
The knife’s black rubberized well-contoured handle ensures comfortable use and comes reinforced with metal rivets for increased durability. Though you need to exercise utmost attention to the rivets when cleaning the knife to prevent the accumulation of dirt or and debris over time.
Moving on swiftly, this knife has a 5.75 inches blade which is a great length for filleting work on small or medium-sized fish.
Even though a little stiffer, the blade’s flexibility can be equated to that of the Rhinoreto fillet knife thanks to the patented pointed tip design.
Pros
*Well-made handle
*Beginner-friendly medium-sized blade
*Good flexibility
*Versatile
Cons
*Not ideal for saltwater use
*Loses its cutting edge quickly
Related
Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish [Honest Reviews]
Best Fillet Knife Sharpener Reviews [with Buyer’s Guide]
Top 8 Electric Fillet Knives in Review [Buyer’s Guide]
Boning Knife vs Fillet Knife: Insightful Head to Head Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
And now, to some of the questions you might be having about the top-rated fillet fish knife models.
What is the perfect length for a fillet knife?
The blade length is the most essential element of a fillet knife. Small fish require shorter blades since they cut at
a more delicate angle while larger fish will need a knife with a longer blade.
Can I put my fillet knife in the dishwasher?
Handwashing is recommended for most fillet knives since dishwashing tends to make them blunt and also destroys the handle’s structural construction.
Which One’s The Best?
Having discussed all the above 10 knives, we can easily conclude that #1 product which is KastKing 7-inch Professional Fillet Knife stands out. This is because the knife is available in a range of sizes, features a durable German-made stainless steel blade, and a super polymer molded-in comfortable handle.
Bottom Line
Knowing beforehand the place you intend to fish, type of water (whether salty or fresh), or the type of fish is important. This helps you to narrow down your knife selection process.
With all that said, we hope that you’ll find our guidelines useful in your quest to make an informed decision.
