Are you experienced at catching your own fish or are you looking to learn? Either way, it's not just catching the fish that is important as you have to know to correctly prepare your catch, too! The right fillet knife can ensure you navigate through scales and around bones to get all of the delicious meat from your catch.
Choosing the best fillet knife for fish can be confusing considering the variety available. Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and picked the Flexible Blade Fillet Knife by Dalstrong as our favorite fillet knife for fish. It's flexible, sharp, and is lightweight. We’ve also put together a top 10 list for you to consider and created a handy buying guide to help you make your choice!
Image | 1 ![]() Dalstrong | 2 ![]() Henckels | 3 ![]() Dalstrong | 4 ![]() Mercer Culinary | 5 ![]() Rapala | 6 ![]() Dexter-Russell | 7 ![]() Bubba | 8 ![]() Rhinoreto | 9 ![]() Bubba | 10 ![]() Kershaw |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Flexible Blade Fillet Knife | Flexible Boning Knife | Gladiator Series Fillet & Boning Knife | Millennia Narrow Fillet Knife | Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife | Sofgrip Tiger Edge Slicer | Tapered Flex Fillet Knife | Filet Knife With Sheath and Sharpener | Li-Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife | High-Performance Stainless Steel Blade with Satin Finish |
Features | Flexible Knife That Cuts Close to the Bone | Thin and Flexible Blade for Filleting and Deboning | Well-Balanced Knife With a Hard Blade | Ergonomic Handle and Flexible Blade | Strong Electric Motor and Sharp Blades | Sharp Knife Suitable for Many Purposes | Non-Slip Handle That's Suitable for Wet Conditions | Fillet Knife That Comes With a Safety Sheath and Sharpener | Electric Knife With Many Blades | Easy to Use and Becomes Sharp Easily |
Price | $69.97 | $109.95 | $59.99 | $19.01 | $59.00 | $22.31 | $50.95 | $19.99 | $120.45 | $15.24 |
Blade length | 7 in. | 5.5 in. | 6 in. | 8.5 in. | 7.5 in. | 8 in. | 9 in. | 5 in. | 7-12 in. | 9 in. |
Handle material | Pakkawood | Rubber | Pakkawood | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | 56 | 57 | 55 | Not provided | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
Blade edge | Straight | Straight | Straight | Straight | Serrated | Serrated | Straight | Straight | Serrated | Straight |
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We’ve searched the internet to find the best fillet knives for fish available. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.
$69.97
Blade length | 7 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Pakkawood |
Rockwell hardness | 56 |
Blade edge | Straight |
$109.95
Blade length | 5.5 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | 57 |
Blade edge | Straight |
$59.99
Blade length | 6 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Pakkawood |
Rockwell hardness | 55 |
Blade edge | Straight |
$19.01
Blade length | 8.5 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not provided |
Blade edge | Straight |
$59.00
Blade length | 7.5 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Serrated |
SG142-8TE
$22.31
Blade length | 8 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Serrated |
$50.95
Blade length | 9 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Straight |
$19.99
Blade length | 5 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Straight |
$120.45
Blade length | 7-12 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Serrated |
1259X
$15.24
Blade length | 9 in. |
---|---|
Handle material | Rubber |
Rockwell hardness | Not specified |
Blade edge | Straight |
Before buying a fillet knife for fish, there are a few points you should take into consideration, such as its size, flexibility, and handle. To help you with this, we’ve put together this handy buying guide!
The length of the blade depends on the length of the fish that you are going to fillet. The general rule is that the blade should be a little bit longer than the widest point of the fish you will prepare.
This means that for small-sized fish, such as perch and mackerel, you should look at blades that are four to six inches long. Medium-sized fish, like salmon, are best served by blades that are seven to eight inches. Large fish, like tuna and halibut, need a blade that is over eight inches.
If you’re looking to work with fish of several different sizes, then the best option is to get several knives with different blade lengths. However, if you don’t want to purchase several fillet knives, we suggest buying one with a medium-sized blade around seven to eight inches. These will be the easiest to use with a wide range of fish.
The higher the quality of the blade, the more flexible yet hard it will be. Fillet blades need to be flexible as this will help the knife maneuver along the fish as you work. This flexibility will give you more flesh and less waste.
How hard the blade is will tell you how well it will keep its sharpness. You can judge a blade's hardness by looking at its Rockwell scale value (if it has one). This scale tells you the hardness of a material, and it also correlates to how much stress the metal can take before it snaps. The higher the number, the harder and stronger it is.
High-end fillet knife blades are made from stainless steel and usually have a value of between 55 to 61. Lower-end blades are often made from carbon steel and offer flexibility without the lasting hardness and sharpness you would get from a stainless steel blade with a Rockwell scale value.
Fillet knives with straight-edged blades are best for clean slices and precise cuts. You should use this type of blade with fish that have thin and easy-to-cut skin. Serrated blades are the better choice for any fish with hard scales that you need to cut through.
However, if you’re going to be preparing large quantities of fish, you might want to consider an electric fillet knife. This is the quickest and lowest energy way to fillet fish and should be considered if you will be preparing fish commercially or frequently.
The handles of fillet knives come in three different materials: plastic, rubber, and wood. The best choice for you depends on how you will be using the knife.
Plastic handles are very durable and hard-wearing. They won’t rot no matter how bad the conditions they’re used in are, and they don’t absorb any odors. However, plastic handles might not be as comfortable as rubber or wooden ones, and they can get slippery in wet conditions unless they have anti-slip features.
If you need a good grip, look for a fillet knife with a rubber handle. This type of handle is especially effective if you’re working in slippery or wet conditions. Plus, it's the safest option.
Wooden handles are best for work indoors as they can become damaged or rot if exposed to wet and salty conditions for long periods of time. Wooden handles are comfortable to use and might be more familiar due to so many other types of knives having wooden handles.
You might also find a mix of materials, especially where wood is involved. Wood can be pinned and reinforced with bits of metal. Pakkawood is a common material for knife handles. Pakkawood is an engineered mix of wood and plastic often used for items that see heavy wear. It is usually made to look like natural wood.
Using knives always carries a degree of risk, but there are some features you can look for on your fillet knife to make it safer. Make sure that the handle, no matter what material it is made from, has finger grooves. These will improve your grip and lower the chance of the knife slipping as you use it.
Many knives will also have a raised portion at the end of the handle that acts as a barrier separating the handle from the blade. With this, even if your hand does slip, it’s unlikely to slip onto the blade.
Picking the right knife can help you fillet fish more quickly and effectively, but a few other products can help you with this, too. Thankfully, we have some more product recommendations for you!
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