Fishing is one of the most renowned outdoor activity. The splashing sound of water and the smell of salt works as a therapy for sea lovers. For many, fishing is just a recreational activity which they do once in a while, for fun or maybe as a pastime but for some, it is a sport who take it seriously. We all are familiar with the accessories required for fishing and among them, one of the most important ones is a fillet knife.
Being a very flexible fillet knife it provides good control over your fish and helps you to fillet it properly. After all, no one wants to waste their hard-earned catch. Right?
Why Can’t Any Other Knife Be Used for Filleting A Fish?
The origin of knives goes back to the Stone Age. Back then dagger shaped knives were made out of stone and the first single-edged knife came into being in the Bronze Age. Over the years, considerable changes have occurred in the design of knives resulting in countless varieties of knives.
Now we have a different kind of knife for a different purpose. On a basic level, all knives are tools used for cutting but when we look into the details, every knife has its own design and therefore a unique functionality according to its structure. Knives have unlimited uses especially when it comes to outdoor.
Whether you wanna cut ropes, fruits, weeds, woods or slice something, they will never disappoint you. That is why they are considered as the best companion of an outdoor enthusiast. Most commonly, we keep a survival knife with us or a folding pocket knife. Both are knives but the former helps you in a survival situation and the latter one is a perfect EDC tool.
Both are knives but their special characteristics make them entirely different. Similarly, no other knife can fillet a fish and prepare it better than a fillet knife. It’s design and flexibility cuts through the meat of fish and separates bones from the fish quite efficiently.
Distinguishing Features of a Fillet Knife
Let us have a look at the characteristics and structure of a fillet knife to understand why it is the best knife for filleting a fish.
1. Flexibility of Blade
The flexibility of the blade of a fillet knife differentiates it from other knives and makes it the best choice for filleting. Why? Because the work of bonding a fish and separating meat from bones become quite easy with this feature of the fillet knife. It also allows you to clean the fish more easily and efficiently and does not waste the meat at all.
After all, seafood is too expensive to waste. Isn’t it? To provide you more ease, two types of blades are available with a fillet knife – a longer blade and shorter blade. The thing to remember is that longer blade is more flexible than a shorter one so always remember this while buying one for yourself.
2. Blade Size
As we discussed above that fillet knives have two kinds of the blade when it comes to size. Now, you must be thinking that which one works best for which kind of fish? Don’t worry! I will give you the answer to this. The perfect way is to match the size of the blade of your fillet knife with that of your fish.
The rule is simple: use a short blade for a small fish and a long blade for a big fish. This is because a shorter blade will work best for separating meat from small bones and wouldn’t work well with larger bones.
3. Material of Blade
When it comes to knives, a high-quality blade is of utmost importance and cannot be compromised upon. The blades of fillet knives are made up of stainless steel or carbon steel. Sometimes the material of the blade has slight additions of aluminum or titanium.
Each kind has its different properties i.e. stainless steel blade does not rust easily however it loses its edge fastly whereas a carbon steel blade has a sharp edge but it rusts easily. Therefore, it’s totally up to you which one works the best for you.
4. Design of Blade
In a fillet knife, you should choose the one having a strong yet flexible blade. Their blades are usually slender and long which end on a pointed tip.
An Ergonomic Grip
The handle of the fillet knife is mostly made up of wood, rubber or stainless steel. Some handles of fillet knives now even come with finger grooves for a more secure and comfortable grip. Also, look for a handle which is not slippery as it will not be much easy to use when the handle gets wet and considering that you will be working with a fish, that’s more likely to happen.
Therefore, choose the knife with a handle that provides you a convenient grip and gives you the right feel.
The above-discussed characteristics make a fillet knife the best for filleting and preparing a fish. So, if you are an outdoor enthusiast, a fisherman or simply a cook, then it’s most crucial for you to have a good fillet knife in your accessories.
Also read: The Ultimate Guide on How To Choose A Good Knife Set