Top Picks: The Best Fishing Knife (Fillet, Bait and Pocket Knives)

Fishing is a really popular pastime with over 50 million Americans enjoying some form of the sport. Yet it’s also an essential survival skill that could help you out of life threatening situations when food is scarce. 

For survivalists, preppers and anglers, having a good fishing knife is a key step in being well prepared for any scenario. A fishing knife can be a brilliant multi purpose tool in your overall survival kit. 

We understand that you want to know what makes a good fishing knife and how to find the best knife for you. We’ve done extensive research to find the best fishing knives available, and to help you avoid any pitfalls when it comes to getting the right fishing knife for you.

When it comes to buying a fishing knife, there are lots of options on the market. Just as many of them are aimed at specific types of fishing such as saltwater or freshwater fishing. Other fishing knives can be used as multipurpose tools. 

Learning a little about some of the things you’ll want to consider when buying your fishing knife will help you make a well informed decision and prevent you from wasting money on equipment that isn’t right for you.

Best Saltwater Knife

Made of high quality German steel, this blade is sharp and durable. It has a high resistance to corrosion which makes it ideal for saltwater fishing. It is versatile enough to be used on anything from scraping fish scales to cutting fishing line. 

Best Electric Filet Knife

This is a quick and efficient way to filet fish straight from a catch. The textured grip gives you excellent control of the knife and the blade’s release button is perfect for use in wet or messy conditions. There’s also a trigger lock for extra safety.

The stainless steel blade is replaceable which means that this is a knife you can have in your fishing kit for a long time. 

Best Folding Fishing Knife 

This knife can be used in fresh and saltwater fishing. It has excellent corrosion resistance and is titanium bonded with a non-stick finish. 

This is a lightweight knife that doesn’t compromise on any of the materials used – from high quality German stainless steel, to TPE rubber which makes the handle comfortable and slip resistant. The knife also comes with a storage sheath which has an effective velcro closure. 

Best Bait Fishing Knife

Reinforced with the trademark Ugly Tuff grip, this is a multi purpose knife that is built to last. It’s solid and robust with an excellent non-slip grip. 

The knife comes with a plastic sheet that is vented to allow easy drying and there are three different blades available with the knife. 

Best Flexible Blade Fishing Knife

With a flexible curved blade this knife is ideal for fileting fish. It even has a non-stick coating to help the fish meat slide off easily and allow you to handle it as efficiently as possible. 

The handle design means that this is a good option for both left and right handed fishermen and women. It is lightweight with a vented sheath to reduce weight and aid with drying.

In Depth Buyers Guide 

Handle Material 

Lots of people focus heavily on the blade when it comes to buying a fishing knife, but the handle is also really important. 

The handles of fishing knives, bait knives and pocket knives can be made out of a variety of materials including: 

• Rubber
• Nylon
• Treated wood 
• Metal
• Cork

One of the most important things to look for in a fishing knife handle is a non-slip material. This is why rubber has become a very popular choice in recent years as technology and materials have developed. 

Fishing trips are almost guaranteed to be wet and messy so having a handle that ensures your hand doesn’t slip and create a potentially dangerous accident is essential. Keeping hold of your knife in rough seas or on a fast moving boat is key so really make sure that you choose a non-slip handle offering excellent grip. 

Having grooves in the handle is also helpful as it increases the stability of your grip and stops your hand from slipping accidentally.

You’ll also want to choose a handle material that is durable and can withstand tough weather conditions and exposure to salt water. You don’t want a material that deteriorates quickly or cracks and detaches from the blade. 

If you are filleting fish with your knife it’s likely to get pretty messy so having a handle material that is easy to clean will help you maintain it as well as possible. 

Blade Material 

The blade of your fishing knife is going to be used for some extremely mucky tasks. It needs to be powerful (to cut through bone and skin) yet also easy to clean and store. 

There are a number of other features that a good fishing knife blade material should have. The key ones to look out for are: 

• Durability
• Resistant to rust 
• Resistant to salt water
• Easy to sharpen 
• Easy to maintain

Many people think that you need to buy the most expensive fishing knife on the market to get the best quality but this isn’t always the case. The blade material will generally be something relatively inexpensive such as stainless steel. 

Some fishing knife blades will have carbon alongside the steel which gives a sharper edge. These can be good on a multipurpose fishing knife where you may be using them to cut things like rope or cord. Powdered steel gives a very sharp knife blade and is also resistant to corrosion. 

Durability 

You’ll want your fishing knife to be durable and able to withstand the tough conditions and extreme weather that you can encounter when outdoors. It also shouldn’t be an issue if you drop your knife by accident in fresh or saltwater if you have a good quality, durable model. 

Blade Size 

The size of the blade you’ll need for your knife will depend mainly on what you’ll be using it for. Jobs such as cutting lines or cords will often require a larger blade. 

For fillet knives, you’ll want to find a blade size between 7.5-9 inches long. If you want your knife to be more versatile (such as a pocket knife) you might want to go for a blade size of between 5.5-7 inches long. 

If you’re looking for a compact fishing knife that will fold up into your emergency kit, you can get a shorter blade that will still function as a good multi purpose tool. 

Blade Shape 

Just like with the size of the blade, the shape that you need for your fishing knife blade will depend on how you want to primarily use the knife. 

For filleting, a long, thin blade will be useful. Filet fish knives often have a blade that is slightly curved to make it easier for you to separate the side filets from the other bone structures of the fish. 

Generally, longer fixed knives are more versatile and can be used for a multitude of jobs thanks to the shape of their blade.

When you’re considering the shape of your fishing knife blade, you’ll also want to think about the edge type. This relates to the way that the edges of the blades are ground and shaped to help make them more or less flexible. 

If you’re looking for a multipurpose fishing knife, you might want to look at knives with an asymmetrical grind. These knife blades have a different shape on each side to allow one knife to be used for different jobs. 

Understanding Fishing Knife Terms 

There are a few key terms that are useful for you to understand when you’re researching the best fishing knife to buy. 

If you’re an experienced angler you’ll probably have a clear idea of the different types of fishing knives. For survivalists and preppers, you might find the following definitions helpful when learning all there is to know about fishing knives. 

What is a Saltwater Knife?

This is a knife that can be used for fishing in saltwater. A salt water knife is used in seas or oceans to gut or prepare fish that have been caught. 

Due to the chemical properties of salt and its ability to corrode and rust materials, most saltwater knives will be made from materials that are durable and long lasting. 

What is a Bait Knife?

Bait knives are generally small fishing knives with extremely sharp blades. As the name suggests, bait knives are used to prepare baits which are put on the end of a fishing line to tempt or ‘bait’ fish. 

The size of the bait knife that you’ll need will depend on the size of the bait you’re cutting and preparing. For most survivalists and preppers a small 4 inch bait knife (around the size of a standard kitchen paring knife) will be sufficient. 

What is a Fillet Knife?

Fillet knives are used to fillet fish once you have caught them. They generally have a flexible blade that bends upon slicing. 

The flexibility of the fillet knife blade helps you get close to the skin of the fish and fillet it effectively. A good fillet knife can help to prevent wastage and make filleting a fish much easier. 

What is a Pocket Knife?

Pocket knives for fishing are popular especially amongst amateurs or survivalists and preppers who are simply looking for a multi purpose tool. 

Pocket knives have the added benefit that they are easy to store and can fold away easily, taking up minimal amounts of space. 

Pocket knives generally have a hinge which allows you to manually collapse the blade into a space within the handle. If you do use this type of knife for fishing, always make sure that the blade is clean and dry before collapsing it. 

Conclusion

It’s clear that a good fishing knife is a brilliant addition to any set of tools or fishing kit. Understanding the different types of fishing knives available will help you to make the right decision for making this exciting investment. 

Whether you’re a saltwater or fresh water fisherman, or you’re simply looking for a fishing knife that you can use as part of your survival equipment, we understand you want to make the right choice. 

We’ve done the hard work for you with extensive research, so you can simply go ahead and jump in to choose the right knife for you. 

Here’s a list of all the products we’ve included in our round up: 

• Saltwater Knife
• Electric Filet Knife
• Folding Fishing Knife
• Bait Fishing Knife
• Flexible blade Fishing Knife