Saltwater Fillet Knife Comparison Table

Why Every Angler Needs a Quality Fillet Knife

Choosing a Quality Fillet Knife

Blade Material

Fish Type

Fillet Knife Type

There are two main types of fillet knives; manual and electric. Manual knives are normally smooth, slender blades. They are used for small fish. Electric blades can be immensely helpful when filleting a lot of fish since they reduce hand fatigue. They generally have stiffer edges that can slice up thick skin and bones.

Blade Edge

In this buyer’s guide, you will find both smooth and serrated edge blades. A smooth blade is often found on manual blades. They can be used to carve up soft, fatty fish so that you don’t waste any of the meat. A serrated edge blade is much harder on soft flesh, so it should be used for tough fish. 

Blade Size

Other Knife Features

As anglers, we know that comfort matters when you’re fishing all day. Keep in mind that the next saltwater fillet knife that you choose should be ergonomic and slip-resistant. It should be able to withstand the corrosive properties of saltwater as well. Some bonus accessories of the top products below include sheaths and extra blades. The knives I feature should stay sharp even while cleaning your biggest hauls.

Safety Features

The most important thing to remember when handling saltwater fillet knives is to be safe. Make sure that your hands are as dry as possible and that you're carving away from yourself. Many fillet knives on our list come with a sheath or safety cover to protect the blade and your fingers.

1. Morakniv Fishing Comfort

If you’re looking for the top-notch product in fishing blades, then this is the ideal knife for you. The Morakniv Fishing Comfort is our top pick in this roundup. It is the best saltwater fishing knife that I tested.

Morakniv did a great job of incorporating solid features in a simple design. This blade comes in a 3.5 and 6.1-inch model. The 3.5-inch works sufficiently for small fish, but it isn’t suitable for medium to large fish. I recommend going with the 6.1-inch model since it’s still on the small end, but more versatile. It comes with a Sandvik stainless steel smooth edge blade. The blade is known for its hardness and sharpness. It is corrosion-resistant, which makes it perfect for saltwater fishing.

I liked this manual saltwater fillet knife. I took it out with me when I was hunting small pompano, and it performed admirably. I liked that I was able to clip it onto my belt with the sheath. It kept me and the knife safe while casting. I thought the handle was comfortable and slip-resistant. It doesn't have as much flex as other models, so I wouldn't recommend it for soft, fatty fish.

2. Buck 0220BLS

3. Rapala Heavy Duty

Sometimes a manual fillet knife just won’t do the trick, especially when you’re having an exceptional day on the water. The quickest way to carve up your fish is to use the Rapala Heavy Duty. I named this model the best electric saltwater knife for fish.

Rapala has been making quality fishing knives for many years. Their corded electric model is an excellent addition to the family. It features two reciprocating stainless steel blades that let you slice up fillets in half the time.

The serrated edge blade is ideal for cleaning walleye, grouper, and other large fish. It comes with an 8-foot long power cord. The advanced motor housing is designed to bring airflow through the device so it won’t get overheated. The handle features rubber grips to keep your hands steady.

4. Dexter P94812

When you're shopping for new fishing gear, it's always reassuring to find a product that has fantastic ratings. Take this Dexter model; for example, I named it the top-rated saltwater fillet knife. Nearly every customer liked using this fillet knife.

This Dexter fillet knife is made of high carbon stainless steel. It is designed to be durable and sharp even in harsh saltwater conditions. The blade has a medium amount of flex, so it's suitable for filleting up many types of fish. This saltwater fillet knife was capable of getting between the thin skin and meat of walleye fish. The handle is made of polypropylene that will last for years to come. The handle also comes with a finger guard that will keep your hands safe while filleting.

5. Rapala 4 Soft Grip

Here we have another Rapala product, but this one comes in a manual version. I named this one the best Rapala fillet knife for fishermen. It is a fantastic saltwater fillet knife that comes in many different blade lengths.

This Rapala fillet knife comes in sizes ranging from 4 to 9 inches. It features a stainless steel blade that won’t rust after a day of fishing. It has a superbly comfortable rubberized handle that includes nonslip textures. The oversized stainless steel finger guard will keep your hands safe while filleting. It has a good amount of flex, more than the previous Dexter model, so if you need to carve up small, fatty fish, this knife will work. It comes with a sheath and small sharpening stone. 

6. American Angler Delta

Every angler loves a bargain, especially one that also happens to be a great product. I chose the American Angler Delta as the best cheap fish fillet knife available. It is inexpensive, but it's still able to keep up with avid anglers on the water.

American Angler brought us a great product at an even better price. It features a German stainless steel blade that's durable under harsh conditions. It comes in three different lengths. The shortest fillet knife is 4 inches, and it is suitable for small, fatty fish. It features a gutting hook that can be used as a line cutter also. The 6 and 8-inch models are longer fillet knives that are suitable for larger fish.

I tried both the 4 and 6-inch versions of this knife, and I was surprised by both of them since they’re so cheap. The smaller one was perfect for small fish. The gutting hook made it really easy to slice through fish. The 6-inch saltwater fillet knife was good for medium size fish. It remained sharp and had the right amount of flex. I thought the handles were comfortable, but they weren’t as nonslip as I would have liked.

7. Rapala Lithium-Ion

Here we have another great product from Rapala, but this one is unique. It is the only cordless electric model that we have included on our list. The Rapala Lithium-Ion is the best cordless fillet knife for fishers on the market.

This knife was made to carve up a lot of fish in a short amount of time. It comes with one rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It takes approximately two hours to charge completely, and it runs for about 80 minutes continuously. It doesn’t slow down once the battery starts draining. It has two reciprocating, 7-inch blades. The serrated edges are perfect for large, tough fish such as swordfish and tuna.

Comparing Knife Types

How to Safely Sharpen Fillet Knife Blades

Electric Sharpener

Whetstone, Sharpening Stone or Honing Rod

How to Fillet a Saltwater Fish

People also Ask (FAQs)

What steps should I take to extend the lifespan of my knife?

You should always clean your knife with fresh water after you’ve exposed it to a day of saltwater fishing. Remember to dry off your knife and store it in a cool, dry place. You should always keep your fillet knife sharp to extend its life.

What is the best size for a fillet knife?

This answer will depend on the type of fish that you need to fillet. For small fish, you can use a 4 to 6-inch fillet knife. If you are filleting medium-sized fish, then a 6 to 8-inch blade will be enough. For large saltwater fish, then a 9-inch or longer blade will cover the extra surface area.

How flexible should a fillet knife be?

There should always be some flexibility in your saltwater fillet knives. It allows you to cut more precisely and evenly. Short fillet knives will have less flex than longer ones. Electric fillet knives don’t have as much flexibility, which is why they are better for large, tough fish.

Is a knife for filleting saltwater fish the same thing as a fish cleaning knife?

Anglers use both of these types of knives. A fish cleaning knife is used to scale and gut fish. They often have a gut hook so that you can easily remove the insides. The backs of cleaning knives are often designed for scaling fish. A fillet knife is designed for slicing up the meat.

Can you sharpen electric fillet knife blades?

Yes. It is more difficult to sharpen a serrated blade, but it can be done with a small ceramic rod. You have to sharpen each tooth individually as you move down the blade. Some electric sharpeners are capable of handling serrated blades.

Where can I buy replacement blades for my electric fillet knife?

I recommend shopping on Amazon for all of your fillet knife accessories and replacement blades.

Conclusion