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Fillet Knife Finder: Match Your Catch to the Right Blade

Pick your species and get the blade length and flex that fits it, from panfish to bluefin. The finder below covers more than 40 freshwater, inshore and offshore fish, and every recommendation points to a Danco knife built for that job. Prefer to browse? Jump straight to a series, or read the species-by-species guide further down this page. Every Danco knife is backed by our Lifetime Warranty + 30 days no questions asked.

Fillet Knife Size Guide by Fish Species

Not sure which fillet knife fits your catch? Use the interactive finder above, or browse our species-by-species blade recommendations below. Each pick is matched by blade length and flex across the Danco Pro Series, Lunar-1 and ECO-1 knife lines.

Freshwater Species

Inshore & Nearshore Species

Offshore Species

Rep your fish. Our Fish Species fillet knives put redfish, mahi and tarpon artwork on the 7" Tournament Series blade. Want the full set? The Redfish, Mahi and Tarpon Fish Species Kits add a matching plier and bait knife.

How to Choose a Fillet Knife

Blade length. 5" to 6" blades handle panfish, trout and small inshore fish. 7" is the all-round size for walleye, redfish, snook and snapper. 9" and longer gives you full-length strokes on salmon, grouper, mahi and tuna.

Flex. A flexible blade rides the rib cage and skins thin fillets cleanly. A stiffer blade powers through dense flesh, thick skin and big fish.

Steel.Pro Series and ECO-1 knives use German 4116 stainless steel; Lunar-1 fillet knives use Swedish Sandvik 14C28N. ECO-1 grips are made with ocean-bound plastic.

Fillet Knife FAQ

What size fillet knife do I need?

A 5" to 6" fillet knife suits panfish, trout and small inshore fish. A 7" blade is the best all-round size. Choose 9" or longer for salmon, grouper, mahi, tuna and other big fish.

Should I get a flexible or stiff fillet knife?

Flexible blades follow the rib cage and skin thin fillets cleanly, so they suit most freshwater and inshore fish. Stiffer blades handle dense flesh, thick skin and big offshore fish.

What is the difference between Pro Series, Lunar-1 and ECO-1 knives?

Pro Series knives use German 4116 stainless steel in the widest range of sizes, including serrated, stout and boning blades. Lunar-1 fillet knives use Swedish Sandvik 14C28N in Micro, Macro and Stout Flex. ECO-1 knives use German 4116 stainless with grips made from ocean-bound plastic at the lowest price.

What size fillet knife is best for walleye?

For walleye, we recommend the Pro Series 5" Fillet Knife, the Lunar-1 6" Micro Flex Fillet Knife or the ECO-1 6" Fillet Knife. The classic walleye job: a shorter, flexible blade rides the ribs and zips out the cheeks. Trophy fish over 6 lbs reward a longer blade.

What size fillet knife is best for redfish?

For redfish, we recommend the Pro Series 7" Fillet Knife, the Lunar-1 7" Micro Flex Fillet Knife or the ECO-1 7" Fillet Knife. Reds have heavy scales and a stout rib cage — a 7" blade has the muscle to get through and the flex to follow the bones. Bull reds want more length.

What size fillet knife is best for yellowfin tuna?

For yellowfin tuna, we recommend the Pro Series 9" Stout Knife, the Lunar-1 9" Stout Flex Fillet Knife or the ECO-1 9" Boning Knife. Dense muscle needs a stiff blade to break down clean. Loining big fish? Extended reach takes full loins in one pass.

What warranty comes with Danco fillet knives?

Danco knives are backed by our Lifetime Warranty + 30 days no questions asked.