Our top pick is the BUBBA 7-Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Knife. The best all-round fillet knife for most anglers: a thin, flexible 7-inch blade and a non-slip handle built for wet hands, at a mid-range price.
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Check price on Amazon for BUBBA 7-Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Knife (opens Amazon in a new tab)17 matching knives.
All-round filleting from the dock to the boat deck
Panfish, perch, walleye and trout, especially for beginners
Cleaning big catches fast, fresh or salt
Results follow our overall ranking. Out-of-stock knives are hidden. How to choose
Each award goes to our top-ranked, in-stock knife for that job. Follow a link to see every option in a category.
| # | Knife | Blade | Flex | Type | Saltwater | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bubba Tapered Flex 7" | 7" | Flexible | Manual | Yes | $45.00 |
| 2 | Rapala Fish 'n Fillet 6" | 6" | Flexible | Manual | No | $30.50 |
| 3 | Bubba Li-Ion Electric | 7" / 9" / 12"s | Medium flex | Electric | Yes | $169.00 |
| 4 | Kershaw Clearwater 9" | 9" | Medium flex | Manual | Yes | $16.61 |
| 5 | KastKing Speed Demon 9" | 9" | Flexible | Manual | Yes | $25.49 |
| 6 | Dexter Sani-Safe 9" | 9" | Flexible | Manual | Yes | $41.44 |
| 7 | Bubba Stiff 9" | 9" | Stiff | Manual | Yes | $59.95 |
| 8 | Morakniv Comfort 155 | 6.1" | Flexible | Manual | Yes | $31.99 |
| 9 | Victorinox Fibrox 8" | 8" | Flexible | Manual | No | $42.50 |
| 10 | KastKing Folding 6.5" | 6.5" | Flexible | Folding | Yes | $25.99 |
| 11 | Outdoor Edge Fish & Bone | 5" | Medium flex | Folding | Yes | $16.95 |
| 12 | Outdoor Edge Razor-Fin | 5" | Medium flex | Folding | Yes | $39.99 |
| 13 | WORKPRO 12V Cordless | 8" / 10"s | Medium flex | Electric | No | $69.99 |
| 14 | Rapala Heavy Duty Electric | 7.5" | Medium flex | Electric | No | $66.72 |
| 15 | KastKing Speed Demon Li-Ion | 7" / 9"s | Medium flex | Electric | No | $71.99 |
| 16 | American Angler PRO | 8" | Medium flex | Electric | No | $89.99 |
| 17 | KastKing Speed Demon 5" | 5" | Stiff | Manual | Yes | $18.69 |
Choose a fillet knife by matching blade length to your fish (6–7" for most freshwater, 8–9" for salmon and saltwater), pick a flexible blade for small fish and medium flex for big ones, and get a non-slip synthetic handle. In saltwater, add corrosion-resistant steel and a sheath that drains.
Our top pick is the BUBBA 7-Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Knife. The best all-round fillet knife for most anglers: a thin, flexible 7-inch blade and a non-slip handle built for wet hands, at a mid-range price. If you want to spend less, the Kershaw 9-Inch Clearwater Fillet Knife is our best value pick.
See the full rankingFor most freshwater fish, get a 6–7 inch blade. Use 4–6 inches for panfish, 7–9 inches for salmon and inshore saltwater fish, and 9 inches or more for tuna and halibut.
Blade length by fishYes, if you clean many fish at once: an electric knife is much faster and easier on your wrist. For a few fish at a time, a manual knife is cheaper and more precise. Our top electric pick is the BUBBA Li-Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife.
Best electric fillet knivesThe BUBBA 7-Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Knife is our top saltwater pick. For saltwater, choose corrosion-resistant steel or a coated blade, a synthetic non-slip handle and a sheath that drains, and rinse the knife in fresh water after every trip.
Best fillet knives for saltwater