Equipping your arsenal with the best electric fish fillet knife is a big step to change the whole game. Not only does this tool help save you time and effort on cleaning a haul of fish but also allow you to make more precise cuts.
Here are the best electric fish fillet knife you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Bluegill (Corded Electric Knife): Mister Twister EFILM
- Best For Large Fish (Corded Electric Knife): Rapala HDEFAC
- Best For Small Hands (Corded Electric Knife): Smith's 51233
- Consistent Performance (Cordless Electric Knife): Rapala R12HDRF- R12
- Ultra-Lightweight (Cordless Electric Knife): BUBBA 1095705
- Budget Option (Cordless Electric Knife): Old Timer 1140756
| 6 Best Electric Fish Fillet Knife | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Bluegill | Mister Twister EFILM
| |
Best For Large Fish | Rapala HDEFAC
| |
Best For Small Hands | Smith's 51233
| |
Consistent Performance | Rapala R12HDRF- R12
| |
Ultra-Lightweight | BUBBA 1095705
| |
Budget Option | Old Timer 1140756
| |
Best For Bluegill: Mister Twister EFILM
- Ideal for bluegills - 7.5” blade & 9” long handle
- Powerful – offering 30%-50% more power output than other competitors
- Wish the power cord was a bit longer
If you’re cleaning a large haul of bluegill, the Mister Twister EFILM will save you time and energy.
The blade is just 7.5” and very sensitive while the handle is 9” long. In addition, this electric knife offers 30%-50% more power output. All of these features make it ideal for fileting 30+ big bluegills within 30-40 minutes.
Some also-great features of this knife are a safety lock and a handy blade release. The power cord is around 6’ long when fully stretched.
| Mister Twister EFILM Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Blade Material | 18/10 stainless steel |
Blade Length | 7.5 inches |
Power/Runtime | 110V |
Highlight Features | 7.5” blade & 9” long handle offering 30%-50% more power output than other competitors |
For those who are looking for the best corded electric fish fillet knife for bluegill, look no further than the Mister Twister EFILM
Best For Large Fish: Rapala HDEFAC
- Ideal for large fish - a versatile blade size & an extra-large ergonomic handle with great grip
- Able to make fast work – 2x blade speed
- Prevent overheating & enhance your hand’s comfort - custom advanced air flow body design
- The power cord is too stiff
- No carrying bags
The Rapala HDEFAC features a versatile blade size and an extra-large ergonomic handle with great grip, making it perfect for large fish.
Moreover, it is equipped with a powerful, long-lasting motor for 2x blade speeds so that you can effortlessly cut through rough items like bones as well as shorten the total working time.
We really appreciate its custom advanced air flow body design because more powerful electric fillet knives have a tendency to vibrate harder, which causes your hand to quickly feel fatigue. With this one, you don’t have that problem at all.
The airflow body design also keeps the motor from overheating effectively.
| Rapala HDEFAC Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Blade Material | Alloy Steel |
Blade Length | 7-1/2" |
Power/Runtime | 110V |
Highlight Features | a versatile blade size & an extra-large ergonomic handle with great grip 2x blade speed custom advanced air flow body design |
The Rapala HDEFAC comes at the right blade size plus it’s sharp and sturdy enough for you to clean dozens of big fish without feeling fatigue.
Best For Small Hands: Smith's 51233
- Comfortable for small hands - 2” diameter hand area, reasonable handle position, and good grip
- No hand sweating - cooling vents
- Great convenience – including Marine-grade mesh bag, fillet gloves, and blade shields
- Short power cord
While everyone can use the Smith's 51233, it’s more comfortable for small hands when slicing through big fish. That all thanks to its 2” diameter hand area, reasonable handle position, good grip, and cooling vents.
The electric knife, besides, features an 8” extra-long blade with a subtle curve shape toward the tip – which helps you better feel where the flesh meets bone and aids the process a lot.
We appreciate the included Marine-grade mesh bag, fillet gloves, and blade shields for extra safety.
| Smith's 51233 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
Blade Length | 8" |
Power/Runtime | 120 volt |
Highlight Features | 2” diameter hand area, reasonable handle position, and good grip cooling vents including Marine-grade mesh bag, fillet gloves, and blade shields |
The Smith's 51233 features an ergonomic, non-slip handle at a great size, which makes users with small hands feel the most comfortable.
Consistent Performance: Rapala R12HDRF- R12
- Consistent performance – 80-minute runtime & fast-charging
- Easy to clean fish at night - LED light
- Easy to check the battery status – an on-board low light power gauge
- No USB charging port
- The blades could be more flexible
Thanks to the heavy-duty lithium-ion batteries, the Rapala R12HDRF- R12 lasts up to 80 minutes per charge without any loss of power, making it a perfect choice for longer filleting sessions.
The cordless electric fish fillet knife furthermore charges very fast. So, you will not wait too long to keep on working, especially when you have to clean a big haul of fish.
The LED light ensures you’ll get the best vision at night and the battery life indicator shows you the remaining juice. Last but not least, it comes with a carrying bag.
| Rapala R12HDRF- R12 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Blade Material | PTFE coated |
Blade Length | 6" and 7-1/2" |
Power/Runtime | 80 minutes |
Highlight Features | 80-minute runtime & fast-charging LED light an on-board low light power gauge |
The Rapala R12HDRF- R12 offers 80 minutes of runtime, making it the most consistent performer in this field.
Ultra-Lightweight: BUBBA 1095705
- Easy to pack and travel – the 1.11-pound weight
- Meet different filleting needs – four blades at different sizes
- The lock on the trigger is easily bump
For those trips where you need an ultra-lightweight cordless electric fish fillet knife, the BUBBA 1095705 is the shiniest contender.
It features an 8.5” long handle and four removable blades at different sizes: one 7”, two 9”, and one 12” for versatility to meet different filleting needs. The whole design weighs only around one pound, which is incredibly lighter than other counterparts on the market.
But don’t let that fool you about its quality.
The knife is surprisingly sturdy. The handle is non-slip and wear-resistant while the blades are TiN stainless steel coated for rust resistance. There’s also a safety trigger guard.
| BUBBA 1095705 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Rubber |
Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
Blade Length | 7”, 9”, and 12” |
Power/Runtime | 110V |
Highlight Features | the 1.11-pound weight four blades at different sizes |
If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight cordless electric fish fillet knife, the BUBBA 1095705 is our favorite pick
Budget Option: Old Timer 1140756
- Ideal for big fish - the blade size of 8”
- Very affordable
- Pack with multiple features and accessories
- It doesn’t provide multiple blade size options
- Hard to turn on the power switch
While the two previous options are so good, they may be not so wallet-friendly for some shoppers. If you prefer a budget option with quality, then our recommendation is the Old Timer 1140756.
It’s around 30-40% more affordable than the standard.
However, it still has some features of some of the higher-end cordless electric fillet knives, such as safety lock, textured grip, battery life indicator, and a storage case.
Considering the blade size of 8”, we would recommend this model for big fish.
| Old Timer 1140756 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Handle Material | Plastic |
Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
Blade Length | 8 inches |
Power/Runtime | 110V |
Highlight Features | the blade size of 8” still feature safety lock, textured grip, and battery life indicator despite the low price |
The Old Timer 1140756 is worthy of your attention for the price-to-value ratio. Out of a bunch, it’s the best budget option that we found.
How To Choose The Best Electric Fish Fillet Knife?
Corded Or Cordless?
Your choice depends on 1) the fish size and 2) where the fish fillet knife will be used the most.
Is it used indoors or in the field?
Is it used for filleting big fish or small to medium fish?
The biggest advantage of corded electric fish fillet knives is consistent power output, which means it can help you clean a large haul of fish with no worries about power drop or battery life.
However, the disadvantage is you’ll have to depend on a 120-volt outlet and deal with hassles relating to the power cord, especially when you’re filleting big fish.
Using a corded electric fish fillet knife means you cannot clean fish outdoors, like from a dock or on a boat. A cordless model, on the contrary, can.
As there’s no power cord to deal with during cleaning fish, the knife is a lot easier to use. In turn, each brand and each product line comes with a limited battery life. You’ll have to wait for the knife to be fully charged before starting to use it again.
Most corded knives for fish-filleting last around 1-2 hours per full charge.
Controllability
The controllability of an electric fish fillet knife refers to the speed settings available so that you can speed up when slicing through tough parts or slower to cut around the bone.
Electric fillet knives’ speeds are adjusted through a pressure-sensitive trigger.
This part should be easy to reach and simple to use.
Blade Size And Shape
The blade size and shape depends on the fish type and size.
- For swordfish, shark, and tuna: Opt for a 10” blade knife
- For large fish like Mahi, bluefish, and cod: Opt for a 9” blade knife
- For tough-skinned fish: Opt for a 7” blade knife
- For saltwater fish: Opt for a 6” curved blade knife
- For panfish and trout: Opt for a 6” blade knife
Bonus: For ease of cleaning and extra versatility, you should choose a fillet knife with multiple removable blades at different sizes.
Which Brands Make The Best Electric Fish Fillet Knife?
Mister Twister
Mister Twister® started in 1972. During the past years, innovation has been the primary factor that helped the brand remain in their top position in the soft plastic fishing lure and fillet knife business.
Their electric fish fillet knives are known for steadiness, great controllability, and ease of cleaning.
Rapala
Rapala is loved by a lot of anglers at different skills since they provide a wide range of lures, tackle, accessories, and fillet knives with top-notch quality, functionality, and durability. They help anglers to be more effective.
Smith’s
This brand specializes in manufacturing and delivering a broad line of knives and scissors, along with dedicated sharpeners for worldwide customers.
FAQs
What is the difference between a fillet knife and a boning knife?
The difference between a fillet knife and a boning knife is the stiffness and thickness.
Fillet knives feature 5”-9” blades with a sharp curved tip and a prominent upward curve shape, which is more flexible than boning knives. Besides, fillet knives are thinner.
Which electric fillet knife is better: corded or cordless?
Each type of electric fillet knife has its pros and cons.
Cordless knives are more flexible and convenient to be used outdoors or where there’s no power outlet.
Corded knives, on the other hand, are more powerful and consistent, which is suitable for cleaning a big haul of fish.
What size fish fillet knife is best?
The best fillet knife size is 7.5” for medium fish (such as bass or trout), 9” for big fish (like pike and salmon), and 6” for small fish (such as perch).
Can you sharpen the blades of an electric fillet knife?
Yes, you can. This tutorial video will show you how to sharpen the blades of an electric fillet knife:
How to fillet a fish with an electric knife?
To help you get a better idea on how to fillet a fish with an electric knife, please watch this tutorial video:
Conclusion
Choosing the best electric fish fillet knife doesn’t have to be a challenge. First, decide whether you want a corded or cordless model. Secondly, check how controllable the knife is. And finally, choose the right blade size and shape.
Our reviews are broken down based on those criteria and comprise much info to help you find the right one based on our own hands-on testing.
