Best Fishing Knives of 2023: Folding, Fixed Blade, and Fillet
What are the Best Fishing Knives?
There is certain equipment you simply can’t do without when it comes to fishing. Certainly, knives are one of those pieces of kit. Indeed, how much joy you gain from fishing partially depends on the quality of your gear. How that gear looks, functions, and feels in your hand can add to your overall experience.
A fisherman’s knife can be used for everything from filleting fish to cutting lines and bait. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the best fishing-quality knives on the market, including fixed-blade knives, folding knives, and an assortment of fillet knives.
Getting a good quality fishing knife is one of our recommended fishing tips for any angler. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, we’ve got the perfect fishing knife for you. So let’s get started!
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Salt
The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Salt is a small pocket knife commonly used as an everyday carry knife. The best EDC knives are compact, lightweight, and versatile. The Dragonfly is no exception. It features a 5.56” total length and 1.20 oz. weight making it incredibly easy to carry especially when you have other fishing gear to worry about. Additionally, it comes with the option of a plain edge or a serrated edge version which allows you to better cut through bone when preparing bait. It comes in bright colors making it easier to see and harder to lose. The “Salt” series knives from Spyderco are rust-proof, perfect for saltwater fishing. As usual, this fishing knife features Spyderco’s popular and satisfying thumb hole opening assist.
Highlights
- Rust-proof
- Lightweight perfect for EDC
- Plain or serrated edge
- Bright color for visibility
- 1.20 oz. weight
- Thumb hole opener
- Folding Knife
Bottom Line
Being so easy to carry it will be there when you need it most. Combined with its ergonomic handle, it ensures a comfortable grip regardless of weather conditions when fishing or performing daily tasks. Altogether the Dragonfly 2 Salt makes a great choice for those looking for one of the best fishing knives, or even just an all-around EDC knife.
Morakniv Floating Knife
The Morakniv Floating Knife is the perfect combination of features when it comes to fishing knives. The 3.75” blade and 8.875” total length give you enough cutting surface and handle for preparing bait without taking up valuable space. The cork handle allows the fishing knife to float at the surface of the water if dropped and features a bright-colored tip making it easy to see and recover. The stainless steel drop point blade is simple, versatile, and rust-resistant. This is a fixed blade fishing knife so you will have better strength and more confidence than with a folding knife. All of these features combined with a competitive price point make this knife our choice for the best fishing knife.
Highlights
- Cork handle floats in water
- Rust-resistant
- Fixed blade
- Bright color for visibility
- Affordable
- Comes with sheath
- 8.875″ total length
Bottom Line
This is a must-have for anyone serious about fishing. Whether you’re out on a canoe, or boat, or fishing from shore, this fishing knife is a necessity.
Your fishing knife will inevitably get dirty and beat up while filleting fish and possibly lost while fishing. For this reason, the price point for this fishing knife makes it high on our list. For fishing enthusiasts and adventurers alike, the Morakniv Floating Knife has become a staple tool for convenience and reliability. While the Morakniv may not be ideal as a fillet fishing knife, it can still do the job if necessary.
Whether fishing on the lake or camping near streams, the Morakniv Floating Knife is a great choice for outdoor activities.
Bubba Blade Knives
We’ve talked about a couple of knives that are great for use while fishing, but what about after you’ve made your catch? Inevitably, you will need a quality fillet knife to process your fish. Fortunately, Bubba makes an array of filleting knives with different blade shapes, sizes, and flexibility to meet your specific needs. These knives are full-tang making them incredibly strong and durable while filleting fish. They feature non-slip trigger grips with safety guards allowing you to work safely. To conclude, Bubba is a fishing-specific company so you can rest assured you are getting a product right for the task without breaking the bank.
Highlights
- Fillet knives with wide variety of length, shape, and flexibility
- Full-tang
- Non-slip trigger grip for safety
- Won’t break the bank
- Non-stick stainless steel blade
- Fishing specific brand
Bottom Line
The Bubba Fillet Knives start at $54.99 and go up to $74.99 depending on your choice from a variety of options. When it comes to fileting knives you want to get something safe, effective, and enjoyable. You want something that will allow you to get the most out of your catch and enjoy the process while you’re at it.
If you’re planning on eating the fish you catch, you’ll need a quality fileting knife with a sharp blade to get the most out of your experience. The Bubba fileting knives will allow you to enjoy the process and help you do it safely and effectively.
Best Fixed Blade Fishing Knives
Fallkniven F2
The Fallkniven F2 is a top-of-the-line fixed blade fishing knife that has been designed with precision and power in mind. Its stainless steel, full-tang blade makes it suitable for a variety of tasks. Whether you are filleting a fish, scaling, or preparing bait, the F2 is up to the challenge. Subsequently, the short blade allows this fishing knife to make quick work of your cutting needs in the kitchen. To be sure, the F2 will be of great value to you from catch to cook.
Highlights
- Full-tang for strength
- Can be used as fillet knife
- Stainless steel blade for easy maintenance
- Variety of uses including filleting and hunting
- Short blade allows for productive use in the kitchen
Bottom Line
The Fallkniven F2 fishing knife is an excellent choice when it comes to good fishing knives. The incredibly sharp blade makes it a great fillet knife to use for cleaning freshly caught fish. It also has good balance, ensuring you won’t have any trouble handling the fishing knife. All in all, the Fallkniven F2 fishing knife is great for anglers who want a trusty good fishing knife that will last them through many trips on the lake.
Spyderco Fish Hunter Salt Knife
The Spyderco Fish Hunter Salt Knife is a fixed-blade serrated fishing knife. Similarly to our top pick, this knife is part of Spyderco’s “Salt” line meaning it is rust-proof. Furthermore, the Fish Hunter boasts an overall length of 9.24 inches and a blade length of 4.19 inches. Not only is this fishing knife great for both on-shore and off-shore fishing, but it is also a valuable cutting tool for spear fishermen and free-divers alike. Undoubtedly, the aggressive edge on this blade will make quick work of bone, rope, and fishing line.
Highlights
- Part of the “Salt” series making it rust-proof
- Fixed Blade for strength
- Serrated edge quickly cuts through rope and makes great bait knife
- Ideal for spear-fishermen, free-divers, and fishermen
- 9.24 inch overall length
- 4.19 inch blade length
- Boltaron sheath with G-clip
- H1 Steel
Bottom Line
Whether you’re cutting rope, fishing line, or tackling more demanding activities like free-diving, the Spyderco Fish Hunter Knife is up to the challenge. However, it may be one of your last options when it comes to finding a reliable fillet knife.
With its impressive design, strength, and durability it’s no wonder why this fixed blade has become so popular among outdoorsmen around the world.
If you need a reliable companion for your next adventure then look no further than the Spyderco Fish Hunter Knife!
Myerchin W100 Offshore System
The Myerchin W100 is a full-tang knife with ergonomic wood handles and thumb choil for extra grip. Included with this fishing knife is a leather sheath and marlin spike. Undoubtedly, making it a formidable companion out on the sea. The sheepsfoot blade shape gives it superior chopping ability to most fishing knives. Indeed, allowing this knife to make quick work while cutting bait. Myerchin’s pro-grade German Marine stainless steel means the razor sharp blade has greater edge retention and improved anti-oxidation properties.
Highlights
- Fixed blade
- Full-tang blade for strength
- Includes marlin spike and sheath
- Sheepsfoot blade shape for easy cutting and chopping
- Stainless steel for rust resistance
- 8.5 inch overall length
- 4 inch blade length
- Not ideal as fillet knife
Bottom Line
The Myerchin W100 fishing knife is the right knife for any angler looking to be self-sufficient out on the water. It’s ergonomic design and high-quality stainless steel blade make it a reliable tool that can handle whatever you throw at it. With its superior craftsmanship, this knife will last longer than most other fishing knives on the market and give you peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for anything. Investing in a quality tool like the Myerchin W100 is essential if want to reap the benefits that come along with being fully equipped while out on the water.
Conclusion
In this post, we have lain out our list of the best fishing knives on the market. Having a knife while fishing is an absolute necessity, whether it’s for cutting line, cutting bait, or cutting open a bag of snacks. With each fishing knife presented, a problem is also solved. For example, fishing knives can rust and be lost so it’s important to have an affordable knife with features that minimize these issues. Also, with all the equipment needed for fishing, having a lightweight knife can make things just a little easier. All in all, the goal is to have fun, catch fish, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Fillet Knife?
A fillet knife is a specialized tool designed primarily for filleting fish. Most fillet knives are long, thin, and have a flexible blade which allows precise and efficient cuts along the backbone and under the skin of fish, making it different from other types of knives.
Its flexibility enables it to adapt to the shape of the fish, letting it get closer to the bone and skin without wasting flesh. Additionally, many fillet knives have a pointed tip to help with detailed work, and some feature serrated blades for cutting through tougher scales or skin.
However, the fillet knife isn’t without drawbacks. Its specialized nature means it’s not as versatile as other knives. It’s not designed for chopping, slicing, or dicing, and its thin, flexible blade may not stand up well to tougher cutting tasks.
Why are filleting knives curved?
The curved blade of a fillet knife helps you make smooth, clean cuts and allows you to use an efficient rocking motion when cutting, which results in more uniform pieces. Additionally, the curvature allows for easier maneuvering around bones, cartilage, and other tough spots. Therefore, ensuring each fillet has as much meat as possible with minimal waste.
Should a Fish Fillet Knife Be Flexible?
Yes, a fish fillet knife should be flexible to easily navigate the delicate flesh of the fish. A flexible blade reduces resistance when slicing and prevents unintentional cuts or scrapes. It also makes it easier to maneuver around the bone and make precise cuts. Additionally, a thin, sharp blade ensures clean cuts with minimal damage to the meat.
