Best Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish In 2023 [Fishing Knife]

Saltwater fish is an absolute delight to the taste buds. However, with that being said, you need to have some of the best knives that resist corrosion from salt and blood. But the market is almost flooded with tools and knives for saltwater fishes. So how do you ensure to get the best? Well, this write-up has got you covered! Get your hands on this perfect guide on how to select an ideal fillet knife and also discover the best fillet knife for saltwater fish.

Let’s dive straight in.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Perfect Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish

Before straightway jumping on to the best fillet knife for saltwater fish, let us first understand what makes a great fillet knife and what things you should consider to make the right fillet knife purchasing decision.

Fillet knife blade

What sets an exemplary saltwater fillet knife apart from an ordinary fillet knife is primarily its ‘blade.’ The knife blade makes all the difference! Before purchasing, ensure that the knife blade is flexible, lightweight, sharp, and made of perfectly coated, stainless steel, enabling you to clean, cut, and fillet fish without any hassles. When scrutinizing the blade, a few parameters to consider are

Blade length

The saltwater fillet knife blade is available in diverse sizes or lengths. Ranging from 5 inches to 9-10 inches, you can find a spectrum of knives to fulfill all your fillet needs.  The shorter blades work well for smaller species of fishes majorly, including yellow perch, crappies, and sunfish. Medium-sized blades ranging from 6-8 inches are ideal for eater-sized fishes like trout, while longer blades are most suited for bigger saltwater fishes.

Flex and thickness

You must be wondering, does the thickness and flex of the blade matter? Well, absolutely! The knife’s performance can largely depend on the thickness of the blade. A thin and flexible blade can smoothly glide all around the bones of the fish, while with a thick blade, it will be hard to get clean cuts, and you will have to put on greater pressure. Stiff & thick blades are most suited for deboning & cutting fillets to serving, while flexible & thin/medium blades are versatile & used for all purposes.

Durability

While buying a fillet knife, you would want a quality knife that will last you a long time, isn’t it? Well, this requires you to carefully select a knife that promises high durability and has a corrosion & rust prevention nature. As saltwater can easily corrode knives, make sure you don’t fail to notice this factor. Along with checking manufacturers’ warranty, choosing a knife with high-carbon German steel or titanium nitride coating is a wise decision as it ensures the long life of your knife.

Full Tang

A full tang knife’s blade has solid steel that runs throughout the knife’s handle. When looking for a perfect fillet knife, make sure to go with a full tang knife to save yourself from wrist fatigue. Knives with partial tangs may not last for long. Full tang construction may, however, increase the weight of your tool but can highly enhance its feel and balance. A full tang knife also ensures better strength, stability, and control.

Handle and Grip

Often overlooked, the knife handle must be carefully looked into. As you have some big fish to fillet, your knife must be able to provide you with a comfortable and smooth grip. Most importantly, it should be non-slippery to avoid any accidental cuts while you are working with it. Even while you are working in wet weather with blood and water all through your hands, your knife handle must provide you with a strong grip without failing. Fillet knife handles may come in a vast array of materials, like wood, rubber, and plastic, it is recommended that you go with a non-slip soft grip rubber.

Portability & sheath

If you are a beginner or an angular who travels a lot to gather fish, choosing a lightweight and portable knife is well suited to your needs. On the other hand, if you are looking for a knife for boat or home use, you can go with bigger knives or even electric knives. However, if you need to carry your knife all around, make sure that you choose a knife that comes with a sheath along with the belt. A sheath with open slots is perfect to keep your knife dry and functional for a long time.

Price

You won’t have you spend a fortune getting a saltwater fillet knife. There are many saltwater knives available online that are decently and fairly priced without compromising on the knife quality. All you need to do is research, compare features, compare different prices, and find your ideal piece of a knife. However, if you intend to go with an electric knife, it may cost a bit higher, but will offer great value for money.

Besides the points mentioned above, don’t overlook other essential parameters like

• Durability
• Warranty
• Edge retention
• Easy maintenance & cleaning
• Overall packaging
• Other accessories

To help you make the right choice,  here are also some detailed reviews for the top five fillet knives you must consider buying. The selected knives are some of the finest quality fillet knives that are sure to stand true to your expectations.

Our Top 5 Picks:

Best for flexibility: Dalstrong Fillet Knife – Gladiator Series

Best for Money: KastKing Fillet Knife

Best for Rust Resistant: Bubba Tampered Flex Fillet Knife

Best to Handle: BUBBA Li-ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

Best Budget:  Gerber Controller Fillet Knife

Top Six Fillet Knifes For Saltwater Fish You Must Consider Buying

1. Dalstrong Fillet Knife – Gladiator Series

Dalstrong Fillet Knife – Gladiator Series

Size Variations Available

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Product Specifications

• Blade length: 7 inches
• Blade width: 1.5 mm
• Handle length: 5.6 inches
• Storage case: two
• Warranty: lifelong warranty by the manufacturer

Review:

This is a high-end, premium stainless steel knife that is known for its durability and lifelong warranty and is one of the best fillet knife for saltwater fish. The spectacular knife demonstrates impeccable craftsmanship and presents a sturdy and amazing design made with high-quality carbon German steel. Dalstrong knife holds great strength, and its blade can withstand a sharp edge for a considerably long time, making it well-suited for saltwater use. 

One can clean and cut fillets as much as 50+ salmons, even so, you can expect the blade sharpness to remain the same, thereby ensuring that you need not spend on sharpening the blade in quick intervals. Moreover, using the knife is easy, without causing any trouble to your hands. This is because the knife has a full tang blade and triple-riveted handle, making it handy while filleting. 

Even if you have some big catches (fish), you can expect this knife to perform exceptionally well without disappointing you. This knife is offered with two-blade sheaths. For storing at home, comes a BPA-free polymer sheath, while for travel comes an ideal leather case. Furthermore, the fillet knife showcases great packaging. Overall, the knife exhibits amazing features and is a perfect gift for a fisherman or chef. Though it may seem overpriced to some of you; however, it is true value for money. Highly recommended! 

2. KastKing Fillet Knife

KastKing Fillet Knife

Size Variations Available

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Product Specifications

• Blade length: 9 inches
• Sheath: Available
• Handle length: 6 inches
• Blade type: German stainless steel blades
• Item model number: G4116

Review

The KastKing Fillet Knife is a wonderful deal for those looking for sharp blades and a high-quality knife. The product comes with razor-sharp German stainless steel and is slightly thicker and stiffer than most knives. The tough nine inches blade makes it ideal for large saltwater fishes, even with tough bones. The best part- the knife is affordable and comes in different lengths and shapes, depending upon the requirements.

A feature that particularly sets this fillet knife apart is its non-slip super polymer grip that makes sure that the handle doesn’t slip when the hands are wet, which works great for your safety and comfort.  Moreover, the handles are easy to clean & maintain, making it look clean-cut for a long time. The razor-sharp edges of the knife make it easy and quick to cut and chop big baits, such as salmon, tuna, etc., without any trouble. This fillet knife has great flexibility, enabling the knife to give curves and outlines for perfect fillets. 

This fillet knife includes a protective sheath that is lightweight and long-lasting. The sheath keeps the blade of the knife protected while also keeping you safe from getting in contact with the sharp blade accidentally. Moreover, the sheath comes with open slots that allow water to drain, keeping your knife sharp and dry at all times.

3. Bubba Tampered Flex Fillet Knife

Bubba Tampered Flex Fillet Knife

Size Variations Available

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Product Specifications

• Blade Material: Stainless steel with titanium nitride coating
• Blade Length: 9 inches
• Safety hump: Yes
• Handle length: 6 inches
• Sheath: Available
• Construction: Full tang

Review

This knife is ideal for filleting, cleaning, and cutting medium and large saltwater fishes. The wonderful non-stick-coated blade and excellent trigger grip make it extremely easy and quick to cut meat as desired. Moreover, you can be assured that the blade will remain sharp for a long time. You might need to put on your safety gloves while working with this knife owing to its super-pointed blade.  But the good part is- your hands will not slip from the handle even while handling big fish. 

The knife handle is slip resistant and has a trigger-style grip that ensures great convenience.

Though this knife has a casual appearance, however, with a 9-inch long blade, it is perfect for cleaning out very large fish and filleting more than 20 pounds of fish without affecting the blades and edge sharpness. The blade is flexible enough to clean cut to the fillets, just as you desire. Furthermore, the blade of your knife will stay rust-free, making it perfect for saltwater fishes. 

The knife may seem a bit expensive. Another good part- the knife is a thin and flexible blade that saves a greater amount of meat during skinning and cleaning. This model comes with a synthetic sheath that doesn’t seem to fit perfectly with the blade but enables you to dangle the knife in your belt hook during fishing.

4. BUBBA Li-ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

BUBBA Li-ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

Size Variations Available

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Product Specifications

• Blade material: Stainless Steel with Titanium Nitride coating
• Blade length: Comes in four different types of blades ranging from 7 to 12 inches
• Handle length: 8.5 inches
• Safety hump: Present
• Weight: 1.1 lbs

Review

This electric knife is best for anglers who want to fillet dozens of fish quickly, without hassles involving a regular knife. This cordless knife is ideal for carrying on boats or while fishing without having to worry about power. The product comes with two lithium-ion chargeable batteries that can be charged overnight to never run out of power. The knife also has a LED battery life indicator on the handle. Moreover, it has an AC outlet to keep the batteries topped up. The knife has an excellent battery life, so you can be sure of cleaning and chopping as many fishes as you want. 

The product comes with a large grip that is non-slippery and comfortable to handle. This electric knife is provided with four blades. 7 and 9 inches blades are slender and flexible, while 9 and 12 inches blades are stiff and strong. For smaller saltwater fishes, the small blades are well, while for bigger fish species, the larger blades perform exceptionally well can are even capable of cutting bone without hassles. 

The titanium nitride coating on the blades ensures ensuring a longer life span without having to worry about blade rusting. This cordless electric fillet knife also features a trigger safety button. Though this knife may sound like an expensive deal, however, keep in mind that it offers true value for money as you receive a complete set of fillet knife blades.

5. Gerber Controller Fillet Knife

Gerber Controller Fillet Knife

Size Variations Available

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Product Specifications

• Blade Material: Alloy steel
• Blade Type: Mirror polish + corrosion resistant blade
• Blade Length: 10 inches
• Safety hump: Present
• Sheath/storage case: Present

Review:

This knife is also one of the best saltwater fishing knife option to go with. The Controller 10 inches Knife is wonderfully designed to give you clean, even cuts as it comes with a flexible blade. This knife works amazingly well even in wet or slippery conditions as it boasts an easy grip and ultimate knife control.  This knife is designed perfectly to meet the needs of the saltwater fisherman. Gerber Controller offers superior protection against rust and can easily withstand tough environments.

With its well-sharpened full tang blade, you can be sure to effortlessly debone fish  with countless scales without trouble. Another good part is you need not worry about its pointed edge, as this fillet knife comes with a finger choil that guards your finger against hitting the blade. The knife’s amazing balance and control make the entire filleting process smooth.

Additionally, the knife comes with a ventilated plastic sheath which enables air to dry the blade and keeps it running for an incredibly long time. The sheath comes along with a sharpening tool, pocket clip, and a belt, making it an ideal sheath for a saltwater fillet knife.

Conclusion on the Best Fillet Knife for Saltwater Fish!

When it comes to cooking delectable fish for your loved ones, you certainly don’t want to miss out on selecting the best tool for it. With the market almost flooding with different choices, hope this write-up can narrow your search for the best fillet knife for saltwater fish. The above-mentioned knives fall best in the criteria for an ideal fillet knife in terms of durability, rust prevention, performance, and quality. So grab your perfect saltwater knife, and complete your home kitchen and tackle box.

Frequently Asked Questions