Table of Contents
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Saltwater fishing is not only an exciting sport but also the source of fabulous bounty for the kitchen. The ability to fillet your ocean catch efficiently is an important skill to develop if you plan to fish regularly. Nothing is more essential for developing that skill than having the right tools at hand. You will need the best fillet knife for saltwater fish to handle the size and number of the fish you catch.
Product FAQ
1. What Makes a Knife the Best Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish?
A fish filleting knife should have a narrow, flexible blade because separating the fish flesh from its bony skeleton requires a tool that can get close to the bone. This is especially important for smaller fish where you want every ounce to be salvaged. The ravages of saltwater also mean the knife must be made of high-quality stainless steel and be as corrosion resistant as possible.
Fillet knives often are also used as boning knives. The narrow, tapered shape of these knives and their flexibility, in spite of the strength of the blade, make this style knife unique for working in curved spaces and separating flesh from bone and skin and membranes from the flesh. The distinctive shape of these knives sets them apart from other kitchen or sport knives. They have a specific function and are definitely not all-purpose knives.
2. What Kinds of Fillet Knives Are Available?
Fillet knives come in several sizes. The 7-inch blade length can be used for filleting both small and large fish. A knife with a 9-inch blade is better for larger fish but will not work well on smaller ones. Fillet knives can be either manually operated or electric models. Electric knives are heavier than hand-operated knives. They operate very rapidly and are excellent for handling large catches of fish. Their speed takes some practice to learn to control but is well worth it when there are many fish to fillet. An electric knife may be a good choice for people with arthritis or other hand issues. The electric knives come in both corded and cordless styles.
3. How Do You Know Which Fillet Knife to Choose?
Your fishing style will help direct your choice of a fillet knife. If you occasionally fish for relatively small fish, a six or seven-inch blade will be plenty big. If you fish for a variety of sizes, you will probably want to have a collection of knives to choose from to handle your catch of the day.
4. How Important Is Price?
The quality of the knives we are reviewing do not correspond to their prices. Excellent knives fall into the $ range. In general, this style of knife is a reasonably priced tool. Compared to the range of prices for chef knives and many sport knives, the price of the best fillet knife for saltwater fish will be a pleasant surprise.
How We Reviewed the Best Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish
The knives we reviewed have been highly rated by both hobby fishermen and commercial fisheries for being well-suited to the specialized tasks involved in cleaning, scaling, deboning and filleting large and small fish. We selected a variety of knives that includes both manual styles and electric knives.
Overall Price Range
The fillet knives we reviewed range in price from around $11 to around $75. In the world of knives, where many kitchen and sporting knives are priced considerably higher, adding one of these fillet knives to your tool kit is an affordable investment. We are rating the knives in their review by price as $ for knives in the range of $11 to $20, $$ for those priced between $20 and $48 and $$$ for those between $50 and $75. Only one of the manually operated knives falls into the $$$ category.
What We Reviewed
- Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet Knife
- American Angler Delta Series Saltwater Manual Fillet Knife
- Rapala4 Soft Grip Fillet
- Rapala Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife
- Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife
- Kershaw Clearwater 9-In Fillet Knife
- Dexter P94812 Fillet Knife
- Buck 0220BLS Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet Fishing Knife
- DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Filet & Boning Knife
- Rapala Fish n Fillet Superflex Knife
Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet Knife
Features
The Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet Knife is a top pick of professional saltwater fishermen around the world as the best fillet knife for saltwater fish. These high-quality knives have been made in Mora, Sweden, since 1891. This knife, available in 3.5-inch or 6.1-inch lengths, is made of Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, noted for its razor sharpness, high hardness, excellent corrosion resistance, and overall toughness. The patterned high-friction handle gives the user a firm grip, especially important when cleaning slippery fish. The 3.5-inch knife is especially good for small fish and difficult to reach areas on larger fish. Both sizes come in plastic sheaths and have belt clips. All the materials in a Morakniv knife will not absorb odors.
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
Morakniv offers a Limited Manufacturer’s Lifetime Warranty.
American Angler Delta Series Saltwater Manual Fillet Knife
Features
The American Angler Delta Saltwater Manual Fillet Knife is made of high carbon German stainless steel to produce a razor-sharp fillet knife. The blade of this knife is about 9-inches long, longer than most of the other filleting knives. This makes it well-suited for filleting larger fish. The Santoprene handle has a side thumb grip that gives the user good control when filleting in a horizontal direction. This knife doesn’t come with a sheath. It is very reasonably priced for a highly regarded fishing tool. This knife has one of the longest blades in this review.
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
American Angler offers a limited one-year warranty.
Rapala4 Soft Grip Fillet Knife
Features
The Rapala4 Soft Grip Fillet Knife is a top-quality knife from Rapala, a manufacturer of both manual and electric fishing knives. It has a flexible stainless steel blade, an important quality for filleting fish. This knife has a soft grip, non-slip handle designed to be comfortable to hold while working with it. The handle is short, however, which can make it somewhat challenging, especially for people with big hands. Its short blade will accommodate any fish but is best-suited for smaller fish. This knife comes with a sharpener and a protective sheath that can be clipped to a belt.
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
Rapala offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife
Features
The Rapala Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife has a heavy duty motor that operates at twice the speed and with three times the power of many other electric knives. It operates on 110 volts power. Its 7.5-inch reciprocating blades can be used for any filleting work. The power cord is eight feet long. The knife has a comfortable handle. It does not produce as much vibration as other electric knives and doesn’t heat up quickly, making it comfortable to operate. It doesn’t come with a sheath or a case. The blade is rated as dishwasher safe, but care is always a good precaution to prevent corrosion.
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
Rapala offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife
Features
The Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife offers the convenience of cordless operation. Its lithium-ion battery takes less than two hours to charge, and the knife will operate for about 80 minutes maintaining consistent power throughout the operating time on a single charge. The 7-inch stainless steel blade is corrosion resistant and very sharp. A 100-volt charger comes with the knife. This knife is lightweight. It operates quietly with little vibration. It cannot be used as a manual knife.
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
Rapala offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Kershaw Clearwater 9-In Fillet Knife
Features
The Kershaw Clearwater 9-Inch Fillet Knife is a knife for salt-water and larger freshwater fish. The blade is 9 inches long, and the length of the knife is 14.25 inches. The blade is made of Japaneses420J2 stainless steel and is designed to be soft to bend without breaking, an excellent quality for filleting. This knife has one of the longest blades of those in this review, making it an excellent choice as the best fillet knife for saltwater fish for the person who catches those larger fish.
The knife’s handle is textured and made from co-polymer rubber for a good grip. It comes with a sheath and a belt holster for convenient and safe carrying or storage. The handle has neon highlights, which are not only decorative but also make it easy to spot in a marine environment. The Kershaw company was founded in 1974 and has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kai Corporation, Japan’s premier blade producer.
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
Kershaw offers a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.
Dexter P94812 Fillet Knife
Features
The Dexter P94812 Fillet Knife has a 7-inch blade and is good for both boning and fish filleting. This makes it a useful kitchen tool as well as for fishing. The 7-inch narrow blade is made from high carbon stainless steel. This blade is a size suitable for filleting most fish. It is easy to sharpen. The handle is made from slip-resistant polypropylene material gives the user a firm grip on the knife. The knife’s length is 12-inches long. This knife is very competitively priced but does not include a sheath or belt clip.
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
Dexter offers a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty to be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
Buck 0220BLS Knives Silver Creek Folding Fillet Fishing Knife
Features
This Buck Silver Creek Folding Fillet Fishing Knife folds into a convenient size for portability. When closed, it measures 7 5/8 inches with a 6 3/8 inch blade length. The thin blade is made of 420 J2 stainless steel coated with titanium to produce a very flexible blade. The blade is easily sharpened. The handle is made of rubberized blue glass-reinforced polypropylene, providing an anti-slip, secure, and comfortable grip. The knife comes with a lanyard which makes it convenient to pack the folded knife. It doesn’t have a sheath or case, but when folded, the blade is safe and protected.
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
Buck offers a lifetime warranty to be free of defects in material and workmanship.
DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Filet & Boning Knife
Features
The Gladiator Series 6” Fillet and Boning Knife has a narrow curved blade that provides a moderate flex and gives good maneuverability around bones, joints, and skin. This knife is designed to help you de-bone, de-scale, fillet, skin, trim and butterfly efficiently and easily. This knife has a full tang and is made of high-carbon German steel engineered to 55 Rockwell hardness with hand-polished edges of 14-16 degrees per side. The blade tips upward for work around bones and joints and for removing skin with minimum drag.
This knife has an award-winning design and is well-suited for use in both a kitchen setting or at a fishing or hunting site. It is made with premium materials including the imported black pakkawood handle. The handle is triple-riveted with a grip designed for both comfort and efficiency. Dalstrong kitchen knives are well-known and highly rated by professional chefs. This knife has the appearance and quality to fit in with an assortment of expensive kitchen tools and is priced accordingly.
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
Dalstrong offers a 100% Satisfaction or Your Money Back Guarantee and Lifetime Limited Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Rapala Fish n Fillet Superflex Knife
Features
The Rapala FIsh n Fillet Superflex Knife has a very thin blade to provide flexibility and control. This blade earns the superflex designation, a quality that makes this knife a good choice for the best fillet knife for saltwater fish. The PTFE non-stick coating permits the fillets to fall away from the knife easily. The razor-sharp stainless steel blade is hand-ground. This knife features full tang construction. The blade is securely anchored into the reinforced handle. The handle is made of hand-rubbed and baked birch and has polished brass ferrules. The knife comes with a tooled leather sheath with belt loop.
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
Rapala offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
The Verdict
Saltwater fishing is a delightful pastime and an exciting sport. Many saltwater fishermen are trophy fishermen and take their catch to the taxidermist. Others are catch-and-release fishermen who are satisfied with the experience and a photo to prove the size of their catch. For those who want the complete experience of catching the fish, bringing it home and serving it to family and friends, a fillet knife and the skill to use it become an important element in the process.
The Right Size Blade for the Fish You Catch
The best fillet knife for saltwater fish needs to be the appropriate size for the fish being filleted. The blade should be corrosion resistant as saltwater is very hard on tools. A rusty knife won’t do the job. It needs to be comfortable to hold, safe, and easy to use. The selection of fillet knives in this review meet all the criteria to be identified as the best fillet knife for saltwater fish. They vary slightly in their blade lengths, an important factor in choosing the right knife for the fish at hand.
Prices Are a Happy Surprise
Saltwater fishing is an expensive hobby. The good news about the best fillet knife for saltwater fish is the reasonable price range for this excellent selection of knives. The fillet knife is no place to skimp because it will determine the quality of your end product. You won’t be skimping when you purchase any of the knives in this review, but you will be getting good value for your money.
Personal Choice Determines the Best Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish for You
Blade length will be a starting point. Choosing between a manual or an electric knife is another decision. If you opt for an electric model, you then need to decide whether you want a cordless style or one with a cord. This decision may hinge on the availability of electricity where you will be working, and the volume of fish you will be handling. Running out of battery power will be a day spoiler when you’re filleting a big catch.
Some knives include a case or a sheath. This can be an important safety feature both for protecting the knife from the elements and for protecting you from the blade. These are very sharp tools. You may have a tool kit or tackle box that can accommodate your fillet knives, making this feature less important.
The Important End Result
When you have selected your fillet knife and learned to use it skillfully, you will complete the fishing process by producing beautiful fish fillets ready for your table. Happy fishing! Happy filleting! Happy eating!
