Fresh seafood is a delicacy. After a long day on the water and a full cooler, you can’t wait to cut up the fish and store them for future feasts. Filleting fish, however, is difficult to do with poor equipment.
When it comes to filleting fish, the goal should be to use as much of the fish as possible. If your fillet knife is low quality, you’ll lose out on meat that would otherwise be possible to salvage. There are a number of items that you need to consider when purchasing a quality fillet knife.
Checklist to determine the knife features for your next fillet knife…
● Blade Length
● Belt Clip
● Slip Grips
● Titanium Coated Blade
● Corrosion Resistant
● Flexible Blade
You want your fillet knife to be able to withstand corrosion and be flexible enough to maneuver your way around a fish.
Wondering what is the best fillet knife for your dinner? Well, whether you’re looking for a lifetime warranty or just a really flexible blade to cut through that fresh tuna, we’re working to help you determine the best knife for your arsenal.
Here is a list of the
Fillet Knives that will all last and perform up to your standards.
Bubba Tapered Flex Fillet Fishing Knife
Bubba knives were created on the coast of California with the intention of being a top quality saltwater fillet knife. With this knife, you have options of a 7 or 9-inch tapered flex blade. There are also options for folding knives with stiffer flexes depending the type of fish you are looking to fillet.
The Bubba knife also has a non-slip handle with safety guards. These guards will not only protect you from the blade, but they’ll also protect you from the sharper portions of the fish. A non-slip handle is necessary to stay safe while cleaning your catch.
The stainless steel leads to easy cleaning and care. They’re versatile so take them on your hunting trips as well! These Bubba knives will run you around $40 a piece.
KastKing Fillet Knife 9 Inch
KastKing makes both quality rods and reels as well as fillet knives. They’re knives are great to use in both salt and freshwater. KastKing knives are made with over 14 percent of Chromium.
Chromium helps keep the steel stainless and survive in salt water. Similar knives often retail over $100 so KastKing has found an affordable way to create this quality knife. The grip naturally forms to your hand and the tiny tip makes it easy to work in the smaller portions of the fish.
KastKing makes fillet knives in all different sizes and they all retail around $30. You’ll also receive a sheath with the knife to keep yourself safe. It’s difficult to find a knife that is as high quality and affordable as a KastKing.
Calamus Fishing fillet Knife
While this is the most affordable option so far on the list, it is not the lowest quality. The Calamus knives have phenomenal golf style grips that give you peace of mind when filleting the tougher saltwater fish like Redfish and Drum.
These knives are made with G4116 Stainless Steel blades and have a blue Teflon finish. This allows for simple cleaning and prevents corrosion. A rusty knife quickly weakens and leads to poor fish fillets.
You can find the Calamus in four different sizes including a 5-inch bait knife, 7 and 9-inch fillet knives and a 9-inch boning knife. All of these come with a portable knife sharpener and sheath. Most of your Calamus knives will run you less than $20. Don’t pass up this solid deal!
Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet Knife
The Morakniv knives are interesting. They come in two sizes: 3-inch and 6-inch. A 3-inch fillet knife is perfect for cutting bait.
When it comes to dicing up bait, you need to be accurate. You want a specific style of cut and the shorter blade allows for more control.
The knives are made with Sandvik stainless steel and a nice amount of Chromium to help prevent corrosion. It can be used in a variety of scenarios and doesn’t only have to have a home in your tackle box.
These knives will run you around $25 a piece. They come with a sheath that is able to attach to your belt loop or clip on to your pants. The 3-inch blade is street legal in many states so you’re able to carry it into stores if you’re needing bait or extra supplies.
Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo
Some traditional anglers might scoff at the idea of using an electric fillet knife, but the Rapala is the real deal. These fillet knives are extremely efficient and provide fabulous cuts. The package comes with 6 and 7.5-inch blades.
Plus, it includes two lithium ion batteries and a wall charger.
The electric fillet knives cut your fillet time almost in half. You don’t have to worry about penetrating the fish or keeping momentum. It will slide right through the tougher parts of the fish and keep you moving along.
If you’re keeping large amounts of fish every time you hit the water, the Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo is a great choice. You won’t tire from cleaning the fish and you can keep the meat more fresh due to the speed it allows you to fillet.
Be sure that you have the batteries fully charged before you hit the water. If not, it’s okay. The knife still works as a non-electric fillet.
The handle is a bit larger because it holds the battery and it’s a negative feature for many. Be sure that you know your preferences before you purchase this knife!
The most obvious negative is the price. This knife will cost you around $120. For many, it’s not worth the price for something you can do with a little extra time.
Buck Knives Silver Creek Folding Knife
The folding feature of the Silver Creek Fillet Knife is extremely handy. If you’re in the backcountry targeting fish, you don’t want to have to worry about the dangers of carrying a sharp, partially covered blade.
The folding knife is made with a 6.5-inch blade coated in titanium. This is great for both saltwater and freshwater use. Corrosion is limited due to the quality of the metal. Plus, it’s easy to resharpen and clean.
There is a finger grip on the handle that prevents you from slipping onto the blade. These knives are extremely portable, but still present the quality that many anglers desire with their fillet knife. These will cost you around $30 a piece.
Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Pro Curved Boning Knife
This may be the most versatile knife on the list. It is great to use during both your hunting and fishing seasons as well as in your kitchen. The stainless steel blade allows you to make a wide-variety of cuts.
There are several options of blades you can buy so be sure to understand your needs before you make your purchase. The most common choice is the semi-stiff. This is a great knife if you’re filleting large fish with tough exterior and bones.
There are also options for curved blades that are flexible, semi-flexible and stiff. Curved blades are great for tight angles and more precise cuts. The straight blades are useful for a wide-variety of cuts.
The large grip ensures you’ll be safe no matter how you’re filleting your fish. The Victorinox comes with a standard 6-inch blade so it’s not difficult to pack and will stay in quality shape for years.
The best feature of this knife is that it comes extremely sharp out of the box. Many fillet knives require a bit of sharpening before use, but it’s not the case with the Victorinox. The Victorinox will cost you around $30 a piece.