I don't own one, but I've seen the Cutco adjustable blade fillet knife in use by a good friend that can REALLY fillet, and trust me on this, while very, VERY over-priced, its a real honey.
I own all the Dexters, wooden handles, Sani-Safes and the newest two-tone rubber-handled models, and what I've gone to this past season is a "Cutco-like" Kershaw adjustable blade filleter, as nice as it comes in the "popular" price arena. What a sweet knife, that holds its edge like nobody's bidness.
I know it won't be the popular choice on this site, but it is a super knife . . . I highly recommend it!
I also like the cheap as dirt Profishco filleter in the 6" blade - also a very nice alternative to the ubiquitous Dexters. Around the same money too. . .
This post edited by Leprechaun 11:11 AM 03/16/2011
I respectfully disagree. Sort of. The Cutco is a BMW, the Kershaw is a nicely-optioned Maxima and yes, the Dexters are Accords.
I didn't say there was anything wrong with the Dexters, just that after nearly 40 seasons of using Dexter products (I STILL have my 8 and 9" wooden-handled filleters that I used as a part-time mate while I was in college), I find the two knives that I mentioned above to not only do a fine job of cutting fish, but the handles are MUCH more comfortable than ANY Dexter, Sani-Safes included.
Of course, that last point about handle comfort is becoming increasing moot as we transition from being "graciously" allowed to take home a fish or two, to pure catch and release, ala FW bass fishing.
I also need a good fillet knife, but I really don't know the first thing about them. I checked out some of the suggestions above and I see there quite a few different sizes and I'm not sure what to get. Most of the fish I fillet are sea bass, "NJ keeper" sized fluke and occasionally a striper. Can anyone recommend what sizes are best. I don't mind paying for a good quality knife this year and adding others later.
for seabass and fluke the dexter 2333-8 is your best bet. and for bass either the dexter 1376 or 1378 depending on if you prefer or short or longer blade.
Dexter 1378 is all you need. Keeps a keen edge or a few swipes on a stone, and you are good to go, he high carbon blades need to be oiled though after you use them.
pretty much what everyone else is saying, but I'll add what I like in the Dexter. Wood handle carbon steels.
1377 - 7 inch bass knife. Use it for flounder, cod, blackfish, weakfish and ling as well.
1376N - Narrow 6 inch knife I like to use for Porgy and Seabass. Narrow, shorter blade makes cutting scup quicker, in my opinion.
2333-9 - 9 inch version of the 8 inch fluke knife Tommy mentioned. With fluke over 21 inches, the 9 inch makes it a little easier to do a fluke in 3 cuts. Used to use my 7 inch for this, but the bigger fish require more cuts with it, not as pretty a fillet.
The white handle (stainless) dexters are fine, esp. if you want a knife to keep on the boat with you and not rust too much. They don't get as sharp as quickly as a carbon steel wood handle though, and not what I like using if you gotta cut lots-o-fish. Good for skinning though.
Best knife I ever used was from a Korean friend of mine in Rhode Island. It's a Japanese made fillet knife you can buy at good kitchen stores like Williams and Sonoma. But, it was like 80 bucks. A bit denser and stiffer then we tend to use here, but dang, it was sharp and easy to sharpen to a razor edge. Forgot the name, but too rich for my blood. Japanese do know a thing or two about filleting fish though!
i own a cutco, fisherman with extendable blade a bit pricy but worth it weight in gold IMO. Keeps great edge makes filleting fast and easy, i havent met an inshore fish it couldnt cut yet. And it s warrantied for life I broke a blade once messing around seeing how flexible it actually was. Blade snapped came back an stuck me in the joint of my pointer finger8 one of the stupider things i've done) knife was so sharpI dint feel a thing at first wouldn't even have known it was hanging out of my finger had I not seen it. Any way I sent the broken blade back to cutco and they sent me a brand new knife within two weeks no questions asked.
floatstone wrote:
Thanks for the continuing great info
I agree with Capt Neil. It was amazing to see the mate on the CQ fillet the cod on the charter. Its a skill that I am working on
Was that me on your trip? I use a 1377 for cutting cod, 1378 for skinning. If I had to work a year with only one knife, it would be the 1378.
Thanks for all the great info! I'm going to check out all the Dexter knives mentioned and choose one to start. If I like it, I'll pick up another size later in the summer. Looks like 3 knives could have me covered at reasonable prices.
CaptPaul wrote:
floatstone wrote:
Thanks for the continuing great info
I agree with Capt Neil. It was amazing to see the mate on the CQ fillet the cod on the charter. Its a skill that I am working on
Was that me on your trip? I use a 1377 for cutting cod, 1378 for skinning. If I had to work a year with only one knife, it would be the 1378.
Paul
Thanks for the info
I was on Cany's cod trip. I can't recall who did the filleting. If I recall Capt. You were in the wheel house. Either way it was interesting seeing a pro filleting fish
Just like many said carbon holds a much better edge than stainless, just needs a little TLC (don't we all?). Look up A.G. Russell, they have a huge selection of every kind of knife. Ragweed Forge has knives like Helle from Norway, Finland and other scandinavic countries. Many are somewhat inexpensive and quite cool looking to boot.
fishstank wrote:
i own a cutco, fisherman with extendable blade a bit pricy but worth it weight in gold IMO. Keeps great edge makes filleting fast and easy, i havent met an inshore fish it couldnt cut yet. And it s warrantied for life I broke a blade once messing around seeing how flexible it actually was. Blade snapped came back an stuck me in the joint of my pointer finger8 one of the stupider things i've done) knife was so sharpI dint feel a thing at first wouldn't even have known it was hanging out of my finger had I not seen it. Any way I sent the broken blade back to cutco and they sent me a brand new knife within two weeks no questions asked.
I saw the same thing happen to a friend once.
Don't remember what kind of knife it was,but
when that thing snapped and stuck into his thumb
i almost past out......crazy s**t.
Best Grip: Bubba 9 Inch Flex is best one in my recommendation.
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