On the water knife - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

bracks · 08-25-2020, 09:31 PM

I am hearing it is best practice to gill and gut fish on the water. Sounds great since that removes a messy step before you get home. Any recommendations for an on-the-water knife? Safety is my top concern....and getting through the head.

SoCalEDC · 08-26-2020, 07:30 AM

I carry a spyderco pacific salt ( think thats what its called), it folds and fits in my life vest but still has a 4 1/16" blade nd is made from H1 steel (non corrosive), all the fasteners are titanium so that they wont rust either. Yellow scales so its easy to locate and a lanyard hole so you can tie it off.

jkim0130 · 08-26-2020, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalEDC

I carry a spyderco pacific salt ( think thats what its called), it folds and fits in my life vest but still has a 4 1/16" blade nd is made from H1 steel (non corrosive), all the fasteners are titanium so that they wont rust either. Yellow scales so its easy to locate and a lanyard hole so you can tie it off.

That's a cool knife but pricey. I'm just using a cheap kitchen knife with a plastic sleeve. I store the knife in my bait tank at launch and landing.

I agree with gutting the fish immediately. No mess at home and no fishy smell.

I caught 4 bonitos at the same location last weekend and it felt like I was chumming...

FullFlavorPike · 08-26-2020, 08:52 AM

An inexpensive dive knife is a great way to go.

https://www.makospearguns.com/Kona-Kill-Knife-p/mkk.htm

Zip tie the sheath wherever you want it.

socal.beach.bum · 08-26-2020, 09:20 AM

I use a blunt tip dive knife and a tuna spike to dispatch the fish quickly.
The dive knife has been great gutting and scaling my catch.

Harry Hill · 08-26-2020, 10:10 AM

Fixed blade all non corrosive materials and super sharp in case I have to cut myself free of anything. I keep it tied to the boat in it's sheath , if I ever go over board I don't want a sharp blade in the water with me.

soyaky · 08-27-2020, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bracks

I am hearing it is best practice to gill and gut fish on the water. Sounds great since that removes a messy step before you get home. Any recommendations for an on-the-water knife? Safety is my top concern....and getting through the head.

I use this

Camillus 8" Multi Function Game Shear with Sheath https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A26R0AK..._1adsFb5ZS8TS6

Has a sheath. Comes apart and can be used like a knife. Safe, cheap, and efficient.

bracks · 08-28-2020, 08:19 AM

Great advice, y'all. Thanks for sharing.

Those game shears look interesting for sure (and cheap!). I'm gonna try a fixed blade with a nice sheath and find a place to stash it safely in the yak. Once it falls overboard I can try something else

Harry Hill · 08-28-2020, 08:39 AM

I think the game shears are a great idea. I like my knife but I use shears for prepping birds all the time, they will work great on fish. A word of warning though, it's easy to cut your finger tip with shears and it hurts when you do.

FullFlavorPike · 08-28-2020, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

I use shears for prepping birds all the time,

when you're catching cormorants on sardines !!

Harry Hill · 08-28-2020, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullFlavorPike

when you're catching cormorants on sardines !!

Pelicans, more bang for the buck and I repurpose the pouch and sell them as designer hand bags

ProfessorLongArms · 08-28-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soyaky

I use this

Camillus 8" Multi Function Game Shear with Sheath https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A26R0AK..._1adsFb5ZS8TS6

Has a sheath. Comes apart and can be used like a knife. Safe, cheap, and efficient.

Although damnit those shears looks amazing.
They look really similar to the semi-expensive cutco shears I have in the kitchen. Totally buying a pair

soyaky · 08-29-2020, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorLongArms

Although damnit those shears looks amazing.
They look really similar to the semi-expensive cutco shears I have in the kitchen. Totally buying a pair

Totally worth it’s weight in gold. Great for bleeding out fish and cutting bait without having to have a cutting board. Fast and efficient!

Mahigeer · 08-30-2020, 02:04 PM

I held myself from posting about chuming with fish guts, but decided against it.

However, this is something to think about.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/05/kay...Zi30_qdQnvGUY0

Perhaps you can wait to beach, before disposing the guts in the water.

Uncle_Tomas · 09-10-2020, 03:39 PM

Inexpensive, durable and sharp.

Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade, 4.1-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZAIXSC..._lOQwFbZVS20WQ

FullFlavorPike · 09-15-2020, 08:37 PM

there's really only 1 true solution, mate:

deptrai · 09-30-2020, 08:22 AM

I too am searching for a kayak fishing knife.

My must haves:
1. It must be designed to attach to my NRS Chinook PFD knife lash tab
2. H1 steel or something similar (not 420 HC) that is rust proof
3. Blunt tip
4. Fixed 2.25" - 4" blade

I've failed to find a knife made today that meets these criteria.

08-25-2020, 09:31 PM	#1
bracks Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: La Jolla Posts: 52	On the water knife I am hearing it is best practice to gill and gut fish on the water. Sounds great since that removes a messy step before you get home. Any recommendations for an on-the-water knife? Safety is my top concern....and getting through the head.

08-26-2020, 07:30 AM	#2
SoCalEDC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 609	I carry a spyderco pacific salt ( think thats what its called), it folds and fits in my life vest but still has a 4 1/16" blade nd is made from H1 steel (non corrosive), all the fasteners are titanium so that they wont rust either. Yellow scales so its easy to locate and a lanyard hole so you can tie it off. __________________ IG: @blackflag_fishing Youtube: Blackflag Fishing 2014 Ocean Kayak T13 SOLD 2020 Hobie Outback SOLD 2021 Stealth Fisha 500 #StealthTribe

08-26-2020, 10:10 AM	#6
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	Fixed blade all non corrosive materials and super sharp in case I have to cut myself free of anything. I keep it tied to the boat in it's sheath , if I ever go over board I don't want a sharp blade in the water with me. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

08-28-2020, 08:39 AM	#9
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	I think the game shears are a great idea. I like my knife but I use shears for prepping birds all the time, they will work great on fish. A word of warning though, it's easy to cut your finger tip with shears and it hurts when you do. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

08-26-2020, 08:52 AM	#4
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	An inexpensive dive knife is a great way to go. https://www.makospearguns.com/Kona-Kill-Knife-p/mkk.htm Zip tie the sheath wherever you want it.

08-26-2020, 09:20 AM	#5
socal.beach.bum Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Palos Verde, CA Posts: 636	I use a blunt tip dive knife and a tuna spike to dispatch the fish quickly. The dive knife has been great gutting and scaling my catch.

08-28-2020, 08:19 AM	#8
bracks Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: La Jolla Posts: 52	Great advice, y'all. Thanks for sharing. Those game shears look interesting for sure (and cheap!). I'm gonna try a fixed blade with a nice sheath and find a place to stash it safely in the yak. Once it falls overboard I can try something else

08-30-2020, 02:04 PM	#14
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	I held myself from posting about chuming with fish guts, but decided against it. However, this is something to think about. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/05/kay...Zi30_qdQnvGUY0 Perhaps you can wait to beach, before disposing the guts in the water.

09-10-2020, 03:39 PM	#15
Uncle_Tomas Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Laguna Niguel Posts: 49	Inexpensive, durable and sharp. Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade, 4.1-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZAIXSC..._lOQwFbZVS20WQ

09-15-2020, 08:37 PM	#16
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	there's really only 1 true solution, mate:

09-30-2020, 08:22 AM	#17
deptrai Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 54	I too am searching for a kayak fishing knife. My must haves: 1. It must be designed to attach to my NRS Chinook PFD knife lash tab 2. H1 steel or something similar (not 420 HC) that is rust proof 3. Blunt tip 4. Fixed 2.25" - 4" blade I've failed to find a knife made today that meets these criteria.