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Every angler needs a quality knife, whether fishing in freshwater or saltwater. The right blade is invaluable for trimming fishing lines, cutting bait, and fileting fish for the dinner table. Almost every knife company now offers case-use-specific knives built with angling in mind.
The only tricky part is picking the right knife for each angler’s style. Fortunately, I’ve had the chance to fish in many locations and test many top options. With that in mind, let’s look at the best fishing knives manufactured today.
Key Considerations
I tested every single fishing knife on this list in real-world fishing scenarios. Some of the knives I have owned for years; others are recent additions. In either case, I put them all through the wringer this summer to find the best. That meant cutting tests on different types of lines like monofilament and braid. It also meant catching and cleaning plenty of fish. The knives that made the messy job most manageable became my favorites. Through it all, I was looking for some specific key features on each knife:
- Ergonomics: An angler’s hands are rarely dry. Each knife needed a quality handle that didn’t slip in my hands. This is as much a safety feature as a performance one. Additional features like extra jimping improve the ergonomics of a fishing knife even more.
- Corrosion Resistance: Saltwater is harsh on knife metals, especially stainless steel. I looked for knives with steel types purposely meant for use in water. Knives with coatings to resist further rusting were given even more preference.
- Edge Retention: Fishing knives must have good edge retention, primarily when used to filet fish. However, I didn’t want to pick only super-steel knives. Thus, I also looked for affordable steel quality options that were easy to re-sharpen.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Montana Knife Company Flathead Fillet
- Best Budget: Morakniv Floating Fishing Knife
- Most Versatile Line: ToadFish Fixed Filet
- Best Ergonomics: Ugly Stik 7-Inch Tapered Knife
- Best for Saltwater: Benchmade Intersect
- Best for Casual Anglers: Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet
- Best Folder: Case Yellow Fishing Pocket Knife
Best Overall: Montana Knife Company Flathead Fillet
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Montana Knife Company has a winner with the Flathead Filet. I tested a collaboration knife made with Huk. Thanks to the MagnaCut stainless steel, it slices filets like butter. I love the handle on this knife. It’s a simple G-10, but it has enough texture to prevent slipping, even when my hands were covered with fish slime. MKC gave this knife a black Cerakote coating, which greatly helps with corrosion resistance. This is an excellent option for saltwater anglers who like to clean their fish while still on the boat. I found that the sheath has excellent retention. The blade does need to be “walked” into it slightly, or it will stick momentarily.
This knife is expensive because of the materials and because it is manufactured in the States. Availability has also been an issue at times. However, it’s worth the price of admission. This is an excellent knife for anyone wanting American-made quality built to last through years of abuse.
Best Budget: Morakniv Floating Fishing Knife
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Considering the bargain bin price tag, the Swedish-made Morakniv Floating Knife is surprisingly well-made. I’ve owned this knife for four years, and it still looks as good as it did the day I got it. This simple fixed blade is a nifty little filet knife. I most recently used it to prep some bluegill and yellow perch for the dinner table. The 3.75-inch blade is the perfect length for panfish. I found the factory edge makes clean snips of braided fishing line, too. My favorite feature of this knife is the cork handle. It looks cheap, but it’s surprisingly ergonomic. This handle is also what allows the knife to float. It’s a good option for anyone who has a crowded boat and is worried about losing things overboard.
The main downside of this knife is that it is not a full tang. I also own the Morakniv Kansbol survival knife, and the blade of the fishing knife is considerably thinner. It needed to be thin to float. However, I don’t think it’s a deal-breaker. After all, most anglers don’t need something ridiculously rugged anyway. For only $30, this is a fine knife worthy of any angler’s tackle bag.
Most Versatile Line: ToadFish Fixed Fillet
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Although ToadFish has mostly flown under the radar in the fishing industry, the company seems to be finally picking up steam. Their fixed-blade filet knife lineup is incredibly versatile, with five to eight-inch size options. I tested the five and seven-inch blades for this article. What I love about these knives is that the sizes don’t feel dramatically different in the hand. Credit the excellent rubberized handles here. During my testing, I felt like the finger grooves were all perfect. The handle gave me superb tip control for delicate work cutting around bones. The 8CR14 high-carbon steel isn’t anything special. However, the factory edge on both knives was extraordinarily sharp and didn’t wear down, even after over a dozen bluegills.
My only real complaint is that the sheath has no retention. While features like the bottle opener and suction cup for attaching to the deck are nice, I just don’t like the Velcro retention straps. However, I’m willing to give it a pass because I like the knives so much. Considering these knives only cost $30, they are an excellent option for anglers who target multiple species. It’s a very affordable and versatile lineup for both fresh and saltwater.
Best Ergonomics: Ugly Stik 7-Inch Tapered Knife
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Although Ugly Stik might be best known for its fishing rods, it also makes a solid filet knife. The standout feature of this knife is its ergonomics. I love the finger groove and rubberized portions. I never had this knife slip while using it, and it was easy to cut thin filets using this knife. The 8CR14 stainless steel isn’t anything special, but I’m pleased with the edge retention during my testing. The knife is highly rugged and durable, considering the low price point.
The thin blade doesn’t have as much flex as I expected. Additionally, the sheath of this knife is a bit hit-or-miss for me. I found the retention very tight and hasn’t loosened up yet. I also don’t need features like a pull-through sharpener on my sheath. However, I do like the slatted design that makes it easy to dry the inside. For $22, this is a solid knife with a good seven-year warranty. It’s an excellent budget filet knife option.
Best for Saltwater: Benchmade Intersect
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The Intersect is part of Benchmade’s new Water line. I’ve had this knife for a while and love almost everything about it. It’s as close to ergonomic perfection as any knife I’ve ever used. I love the rubberized feel of the handle. It’s easy for someone like me, who has perpetual butterfingers, to hold. Benchmade went crazy with the jimping on this one. It extends onto the handle and more than halfway down the drop-point blade. I loved putting extra leverage on the tip of the blade using it. Their use of MagnaCut steel also means that edge retention and corrosion resistance are top-notch.
This knife is expensive, but most of that is in the cost of materials. I also found the drop-point blade undersized for fileting unless cleaning small fish. However, I like it for cleanup work. I cut filets with one knife and then used the Intersect to remove the rib cage. The edge also makes short work of fishing line. It produced some of the cleanest cuts I’ve ever seen on braid. This knife is a winner deserving of the Best of Category accolades it earned at ICAST 2024.
Best for Casual Anglers: Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet
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Rapala is another storied fishing brand better known for lures. They make four variants of this filet knife. I tested the smallest, the 4-inch version. It was ideal for the small yellow perch and bluegills I was cleaning. The Birch handle was surprisingly ergonomic and helped make the knife extremely lightweight. This is a good backup or tackle box knife. Considering the bargain price point, it held an edge better than I expected. It’s not the most flexible knife I tested, but it flexed more than expected.
It's not often that I trash an aspect of a product, but I'm not too fond of this one's sheath. It has zero retention, and the knife rattles around too much. Rapala also includes a cheap pull-through sharpener. I think ditching the sharpener and offering a better sheath would serve them better. Still, the knife is solid and has a great price point. This knife is best for casual anglers who may filet only a handful of fish each year.
Best Folder: Case Yellow Fishing Pocket Knife
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This nifty little folder has an incredibly pleasing old-school aesthetic. It felt like something I’d find at the bottom of my grandfather’s tackle box. I found that the size of this knife was perfect for cleaning panfish during testing. The blade was the ideal length for some smaller perch I caught. It has a thin profile that works great for creating skinless filets. I love the small scaler that comes as a bonus tool. It helped get into tight areas along the back of the tail. This knife’s compact profile easily slips into a pocket or fishing vest.
My only real complaint is that the factory edge needed touching up. It was a little dull. This knife is going to be slightly undersized for cleaning some species. However, this is an excellent panfish knife. It’s also a solid gift idea for any old-school angler.
How To Choose The Best Fishing Knife
Almost any knife can be a fishing knife. However, the type of angling often directly impacts the knife's usefulness. This is most true of filet knives. Some fish species are incredibly bony, requiring extraordinarily sharp and durable blades. Some other important factors to consider include the following:
Ergonomics
Wet and cold conditions can make gripping a knife difficult. Handles that have a texture or are rubberized are easier to hold. Having the proper handle is critical for safety while cutting. Cleaning a fish can be a delicate process, and it’s easy to have an accident if not careful. A sharp blade and a good handle make the job much easier.
Blade Length
This is a critical factor for any fishing filet knife. Longer blades work best on larger fish. Conversely, shorter blades work better for small fish. Some bony fish might require a shorter blade for fine cuts around rib cages and sharp spines. I usually don’t carry my filet knives while on the water. Small folding knives and fixed blades are best for the on-the-water stuff.
Steel Type
High-end steel isn’t always needed in fishing knives. Many affordable fishing knives are made of high-carbon steels, like 8Cr13MoV. However, these blades will require sharpening more often. They also must be appropriately rinsed of salt water and dried to avoid rusting. Anglers wanting edge retention should look to steels such as S30V or MagnaCut. Both have excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. However, the catch is that these steels usually come with a $100+ price tag.
Steel Coatings
Knives used for saltwater angling scenarios are more prone to rusting than those used in freshwater. Salt is highly corrosive unless rinsed and dried after each use. Anglers can give themselves a little extra peace of mind with a coated blade. Cerakote is one of the most popular options. It’s a ceramic coating that makes the knife highly resistant to rust. However, it comes with a high price tag. Other options include titanium or PVD (physical vapor deposition.) These coatings are effective but may not last as long as Cerakote.
Why Trust Us
I have been fishing my whole life and have been covering knives professionally for the last decade. Over the years, I have extensively fished freshwater and saltwater, using many brands and styles of knives. Through trial and error, I’ve figured out what knives work and what do not. Additionally, I did hands-on testing of every knife recommended in this article. Every knife here was tested, cutting various types of fishing lines and cleaning fish. There were a few knives I tested in the past that I did not feel were up to snuff. Consequently, they did not make the cut here.
Final Thoughts
Fishing knives run a large gamut of sizes and styles. However, Montana Knife Company’s Flathead Filet is the cream of the crop. The combination of an incredible knife steel, a great sheath, and ergonomic handle is hard to beat. It’s an awesome knife that seamlessly transitions between freshwater and saltwater. My runner-up is the nifty Benchmade Intersect. It’s a great little knife for the dozens of small tasks that every angler does on the water. And although it’s a little undersized for fileting, it does an excellent job of finishing clean-up work.
FAQs
Q: What type of knife is best for fishing?
A: It depends on the user’s need. A filet knife is most helpful in cleaning fish for the dinner table. Pocket knives or small fixed blades are suitable for snipping fishing lines and cutting small bait chunks. Think critically about how the knife is needed before making a decision.
Q: What is the best knife for cleaning fish?
A: Any knife can be used to clean fish, but a filet knife works the best. These knives have a long-tapered blade built for cutting thin filets from the fish’s body. Longer knives work better for larger fish like walleye, tuna, and snapper. Shorter knives are best for panfish like bluegills and perch.
Q: Is it legal to have a fishing knife?
A: In most cases, yes. Fishing knives, especially filet knives, don’t usually fall under the same scrutiny as other blade types. It’s typically obvious that these knives are tools and not weapons. Most game wardens won’t have a problem with one being concealed in a tackle box or bag.
