Fishing Knife Comparison Table

Why Every Angler Needs a Fishing Knife

Knives are useful for preparing fish and cuts of bait, but there are other times when something sharp to cut line or removing hooks is necessary. The best fishing knife can do all these things in a pinch, but there are some times when specialized blades are needed.

Filleting and gutting could possibly be done with the same knife, but finer work like boning requires a thinner, more dexterous touch with a thinner blade. Knowing how to use a knife and which knife to use will help anglers make the best choice.

Buying Guide: Choosing a High-Quality Fishing Knife

Blade Shape

The most common blades are straight with a smooth edge, but there are also serrated blades (think of a bread knife) and curved ones. Curved blades give greater access to the sharp point of the knife. Serrated edges are better for pulling and sawing than chopping. The best saltwater fishing knife will most likely have a smooth edge and a smaller serrated edge beneath it.

Blade Size vs. Use

Blade Edge Type

There are a huge variety of blade edge types, also referred to as knife grinds. This guide will go into more detail on these later, but suffice to say that the major types of grinds are hollow grinds, flat grinds, asymmetrical grinds, compound grinds, V grinds, convex grinds, and chisel grinds. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and some are much more common. There are also rarer cuts like hawkbill blades.

Flexibility & Durability

Sharpness & Cutting Ability

Optimal fishing knives should cut through heavy hard plastic baits, braided line, netting, and other cordage that can twist or get taken by a target that’s too big to beat. More expensive equipment like rods and reels can be saved if a high-quality knife is on hand.

Sharpness is one area where a knife can let the angler down after a long period of use. The ability to sharpen a knife will make an investment pay off for as long as possible. The knife shape is the biggest inhibitor to sharpening a knife, especially if it's a curved shape.

Grip Comfort

For longer applications like fish gutting and boning, the comfort of a blade is an important consideration. If you plan to be cutting into fish and preparing dinner-sized fillets, a handle that is both grippable and slip-resistant is key to making the right cuts and maintaining possession of the blade. The grip should be both lightweight and corrosion-resistant. Look out for gaps between the handle and the blade where salt can get in and cause long-term damage.

Portability

Fishing pocket knives are some of the handiest to have because they can be folded up and stowed on one's person or clipped to the outside of a pocket for quick access. Fishing vests have plenty of room for hanging or storing folding fishing knives or hooking knife sheaths. The most important thing for the angler is to make sure the blade locks into the folded position or locks into the sheath and has no sharp points protruding. Bungee cables can be used to keep knives from going overboard.

Price

Knives aren’t the most expensive fishing tool, generally speaking. Some are made of very sophisticated metal and can cost a good chunk of change, but these are typically meant to be all-purpose and sharpened and kept for decades. It's not the norm, but there are knife manufacturers that will go so far as to provide guarantees or warranties of their products' quality. It's not necessary to buy the most expensive knife, but the less expensive ones usually wear out sooner.

1. Spyderco Atlantic Salt

The Atlantia Salt is one of several models from Spyderco that is completely rust-proof thanks to the 1% nitrogen included in its blade blank. In the most extreme scenarios, like 24/7 exposure to saltwater, some gunk may form under the handle after two to three months, but even that wipes away in seconds and leaves no evidence of pitting behind on the actual steel.

The rounded tip of its full (or nearly so) hollow grind is perfect for slicing and with its serrated edge that slicing can be done in a fell swoop or with a sawing motion for cutting heavier test or even thick cordage if need be.

A round hole in the spine makes it easy to open this folding knife in wet conditions, even with gloves on. The fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle is lightweight and easy on the hands. A clip for storage and a lanyard hole allow anglers to keep this knife close at hand and secured against going overboard.

Even if it isn’t the best knife for straight chopping, this is one of the most versatile knives for anglers in freshwater or saltwater. The inability of its round point to stab makes it safer to use in rolling waves than most knives, and the ease of keeping it sharp and clean makes it one of the least labor-intensive knives to own.

2. Morakniv Companion

3. Victorinox Fibrox Pro

4. Rapala Cordless Fillet

5. Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-tool

This is the fishing pocket knife with the most performance options by far. As the best Swiss army knife for fishing, this model includes small and large blades, scissors, and a wood saw with a serrated edge. These knives aren’t going to beat dedicated fish cutting knives or fish cleaning knives, but they are ideal in a pinch and are strong enough to cut line as well as fish.

The built-in screwdriver can also be handy for fixing small reel hiccups or opening up a reel to untangle some line. The wire stripper on the base of the bottle opener can also be useful when working with fishing line.

Keeping the blades on this Swiss army knife sharp is as easy as using a whetstone or a grinding wheel. Cleaning the various tools and opening them up under warm water will keep them opening smoothly, but adding a drop or two of oil in the locking mechanism will help too.

A high-quality Swiss army knife like this one is also a perfect first knife for kids. It's safe, thanks to its collapsible features and the included carry case. The locking mechanism may be at risk of jamming if not cared for properly, but the blades themselves are tempered and polished to prevent corrosion and maintain shine.

6. Spyderco Harpy

The unique shape of this knife is designed to showcase the sharp point of the knife and puts less importance on the blade itself. The double serrated edge is still great for cutting through just about any material from cardboard to fishing line, but it won't do as well cutting through soft fat and fish meat—the full-hollow grind curves over sharply into what's called a hawkbill knife.

The convenient thing about this shape is that the point will be really sharp and likely retain its point long after the blade has softened, so it will still be somewhat usable in that case. The bad news is that the curve can make it hard to sharpen and may call for a professional sharpening job.

The Harpy is designed for pulling cuts. For a knife that can be kept on hand and readily used to cut through netting, fishing line, and other cordage, this is a great option. It isn’t built for comfort, but then it’s really more for quick one-off jobs, not for longer projects like fish preparation.

It fits in the pocket and has an index finger hole for extra stability, plus it’s a great jumping off point for anyone who is interested in customizing a knife.

7. Frosts by Mora of Sweden 299P

8. Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S

The Extreme Ops is just the knife anglers want to have in their pocket to cut a quick line or put the finishing touches on a jumpy fish. It has both the smooth blade needed for swift cuts and a serrated edge for sawing and pull cuts.

It’s built for use in either hand and features additional design features for improved grip like jimping beyond the bolster and thumb knobs near the base of the handle. The high-carbon stainless steel used in the knife blank is a little softer than that used in competing blades, but not so much that anglers will notice the difference in routine usage.

For situations where it’s awkward to get this knife back into a pocket, the clip on the handle is really convenient. It would be wise to attach some kind of bungee or a float to this knife because if it goes into the water, it'll sink.

The grippy elements of this knife also allow the thumb or first finger to be used on the back of the blade for extra power or stability. It's a sturdy and dependable folding fishing pocket knife that won't wear down even after minimal maintenance and repeated exposure to harsh outdoor elements.

Different Fishing Knife Blade Edges

Tips for Sharpening a Fishing Knife

If you don’t have an electric knife sharpener handy, the best way to sharpen a knife is with a stone. Follow these tips to do so safely:

There are also rods for sharpening knives, but they take some getting used to and can be more dangerous because the knife will be in the air rather than on a solid surface.

Caring for Your Fishing Knife

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is the best length for a fishing knife?

Try to match the length of the knife with the size of the fish. If you’re using it for cutting lines and lures, a shorter knife of around 4 inches is best. Longer knives between 6 and 9 inches are for boning, filleting, and anything that requires precision. Boning on smaller fish can be done with a shorter blade, but it must be a thin one.

How much should I spend for a quality fishing knife?

Depending on what kind of knife you need and for what purpose, it could be easy to find what you need for under $50, or it could take a larger investment above $100. Generally, if it's a high-quality knife, the larger investment is for more longevity in the blade, so make sure you can learn how to maintain a knife if you pay more for it.

Can I use a saltwater fishing knife in freshwater?

Saltwater fishing knives are crafted to be corrosion-resistant, so they should work just fine in freshwater. That being the case, it’s still smart to give your knife a good wipedown if you use it in brackish water or use it to cut through and dispose of fish guts.

What’s the difference between a boning knife and a filleting knife?

Boning knives might be more accurately referred to as deboning knives; they’re usually thicker overall even if the blade is thinner, straighter, and more rigid. Fillet knives are thinner and more flexible to allow them to cut through the delicate meat of the fish and separate it from the skin.

What causes corrosion in fishing knives?

Where is the best place to buy these fishing knives?

All the major brands have their own websites, but they tend to try and push newer designs and might remove older ones entirely, even if they were better. For that reason, Amazon is a great place to shop online and find just about any knife still being manufactured. Cabelas also has regular sales if you prefer to go shopping in person.

Conclusion