Best Electric Fillet Knives for Cleaning Fish Fast

A good electric fillet knife turns a cooler full of fish into clean fillets in a fraction of the time, with less wrist strain and fewer ragged cuts. If you've ever stood at a cleaning table with a limit of crappie or a box of snapper and a manual blade, you know why searches for "electric fillet knife" jumped this month.

The hard part is choosing. Corded or cordless? How many blades do you actually need? How long will a battery last? We compared eight electric fillet knives that are selling right now, from a $37 corded classic to Bubba's brushless Pro Series, using maker specs, live store listings and thousands of owner ratings. This is research-based, not a hands-on test. Every price below was checked on October 29, 2026.

How we chose

This guide is built from research, not from our own time at the cleaning table. We started with what anglers are searching for: Google's related searches for "electric fillet knife" over the last 30 days are led by Bubba, Rapala and "best electric fillet knife," with "best electric fillet knife for fish" up 60% and Bubba Pro Series and American Angler showing as Breakout searches. Then we checked which knives were actually in stock on October 29, 2026.

Sportsman's Warehouse listed nine electric fillet knives that day, but only the Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless was in stock to ship home; the Bubba Pro Series, Rapala, Mister Twister, Old Timer, Berkley and Smith's listings were out of stock online. So we checked Amazon product pages for the rest and recorded each one's price, stock, rating count and Best Sellers Rank. We favored knives with a real sales record, then compared power type, blades included, runtime the maker publishes, warranty and price. Specs come from Bubba, Rapala, American Angler, WORKPRO and Mister Twister.

All eight at a glance

Prices and stock checked October 29, 2026 at the store linked (Sportsman's Warehouse for the Bubba Li-Ion, Amazon for the rest) and change often. Runtime is the maker's figure where one is published; Bubba publishes none. Corded knives run as long as they're plugged in.

How to read the chart: blue bars are cordless, orange are corded. The cordless premium is real. The three name-brand cordless knives cost $160 to $190, while the corded knives run $37 to $130. Price per blade tells you how much versatility you're buying: the American Angler PRO works out to about $19.60 per blade and the Bubba 110V to $32.50, while the single-blade Rapala and Mister Twister are cheaper up front but give you one blade size. The WORKPRO is the outlier, a cordless knife at a corded price.

The 8 best electric fillet knives, ranked

#1

Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

Best electric fillet knife overall

Sportsman's Warehouse: about $190, in stock with free ship-to-home · Power: cordless lithium-ion, 2 batteries · Blades: 4

This is the knife most people mean when they search "Bubba electric fillet knife," and the sales numbers back that up. On Amazon it had more than 6,300 ratings at 4.7 stars, an Amazon's Choice badge and a #6 spot in Fishing Filet & Bait Knives on October 29. Sportsman's Warehouse showed 490 reviews at 4.4 stars and had it in stock to ship home.

What you get in the box is the reason it's the default pick. Bubba includes four titanium-nitride-coated, high-carbon stainless blades that mirror its manual knives: a 7-inch and a 9-inch E-Flex for panfish, walleye and bass, plus a 9-inch and a 12-inch E-Stiff for bigger fish and saltwater species. There's a second battery in the kit, each battery has a charge indicator, and the trigger has both a safety lock and a guard. Everything packs into a molded EVA case that comes apart for cleaning.

Bubba doesn't publish a runtime in minutes. It says the lithium battery has "the longest run time of any electric fillet knife on the market," which is a maker claim we can't verify. What you can count on is two batteries, so you can swap one while the other charges. Bubba lists a 1-year limited warranty on Amazon.

Price check: Sportsman's had it for $189.95, Bubba's own site for $213.99, and Amazon for $169.98 the same day. Prices move often, so check both before you buy.

Power	Cordless lithium-ion, 2 batteries with charge indicator
Blades	7 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Stiff, 12 in E-Stiff (TiN-coated high-carbon stainless)
Handle	8.5 in non-slip grip, trigger lock and guard
Overall length	Up to 20.5 in (Sportsman's)
Weight	1.11 lb (Amazon listing)
In the box	Knife, 4 blades, 2 batteries, charging cord, EVA case
Warranty	1-year limited

Pros

• + Four blade sizes cover panfish to big saltwater fish
• + Two batteries, so you can keep cutting
• + Huge owner base: 6,300+ Amazon ratings at 4.7 stars
• + In stock at Sportsman's with free ship-to-home on October 29

Cons

• − Bubba publishes no runtime figure, only a 'longest run time' claim
• − Not the cheapest place to buy it the day we checked (Amazon was lower)
• − Only a 1-year warranty

See it at Sportsman's Warehouse →

#2

Bubba Pro Series Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

Most powerful cordless pick

Amazon: about $185, in stock · Power: cordless lithium-ion, brushless motor · Blades: 4

"Bubba Pro Series" showed up as a Breakout search this month, and it's easy to see why: it's Bubba's top cordless knife, and it was priced close to the regular Li-Ion on October 29. The difference is the motor. Bubba says the Pro Series uses a brushless motor that delivers 21% more torque, 22% more motor efficiency and up to 100% more power than its standard design. Those are Bubba's numbers, not independent measurements, but brushless motors generally run cooler and waste less battery.

The rest of the kit matches the Li-Ion: the same four E-Flex and E-Stiff blades (7, 9, 9 and 12 inches), the non-slip grip with a trigger guard, an LED battery indicator and, per Bubba, two batteries. The housing is aluminum alloy. Bubba sells a bigger Magnum battery separately ($116.99 on its site) "for more power and runtime." As with the Li-Ion, Bubba publishes no runtime in minutes.

Availability is the catch. On October 29, Sportsman's Warehouse listed it at $189.97 but out of stock, and Bubba's own site showed it out of stock at $269.99 (Bubba also lists a newer Gen 2 at $269.99). Amazon had it in stock for $185.32 with 2,677 ratings at 4.7 stars. Owner reviews are mostly strong, but at least one saltwater angler on Bubba's site wrote that it struggled with amberjack, cobia and mahi, so read a few reviews if big offshore fish are your main use.

Power	Cordless lithium-ion, brushless motor
Blades	7 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Stiff, 12 in E-Stiff
Housing	Aluminum alloy, non-slip grip, trigger guard
Battery	2 included (Bubba); optional Magnum battery sold separately
Weight	1.11 lb (Amazon listing)
Model	1135880
Warranty	1-year manufacturer

Pros

• + Bubba's most powerful motor, by Bubba's own spec
• + Same four-blade kit as the Li-Ion
• + Priced within a few dollars of the regular Li-Ion on Amazon
• + 4.7 stars from 2,677 Amazon ratings

Cons

• − Out of stock at Sportsman's and Bubba.com on October 29
• − No published runtime
• − At least one owner review says it struggled on big offshore fish

Check price on Amazon →

#3

Rapala R12 Heavy-Duty Lithium Fillet Knife Combo

Best runtime spec (cordless)

Amazon: about $160 · Power: cordless lithium-ion, 2 batteries · Runtime: 80 minutes (Rapala)

Rapala is the second-most searched brand in this category, and the R12 is its cordless heavy-duty knife. It's the only knife here whose maker gives you a hard runtime number: Rapala says 80 minutes of continuous runtime, with lithium cells that hold a steady speed and torque until the battery is empty instead of slowing down as it drains.

The combo includes the knife, two batteries, a charging base, a 6-inch and a 7.5-inch blade and an EVA hard case. Rapala also claims twice the speed and three times the torque of "other electric fillet knives," which is marketing language you should read loosely. The handle uses a push-style "positive force" button that Rapala says follows your natural filleting motion.

The trade-off is blades. You get two, both on the shorter side, so it's built around walleye, crappie, bass and similar freshwater fish more than big saltwater species. Amazon showed $159.99 and only 10 left in stock on October 29, with 567 ratings at 4.2 stars (the lowest average among the cordless picks here).

Power	Cordless lithium-ion, 2 batteries + charging base
Runtime	80 min continuous (Rapala)
Blades	6 in and 7.5 in
Case	EVA hard case
Rating	4.2 stars, 567 Amazon ratings

Pros

• + Only knife here with a published runtime: 80 minutes
• + Two batteries and a charging base
• + Steady power until the battery is empty (Rapala)
• + Compact blades suit freshwater fish

Cons

• − Only two blades, 6 and 7.5 inches
• − Highest price per blade in this guide
• − Lower owner rating (4.2) than the Bubba cordless knives
• − Low stock on Amazon the day we checked

Check price on Amazon →

#4

WORKPRO 12V Cordless Electric Fillet Knife

Best budget cordless

Amazon: about $70 · Power: 12V lithium-ion, 2 x 2.0Ah batteries · Blades: 2 (8 and 10 in)

WORKPRO is a tool brand, not a fishing brand, but its 12V cordless fillet knife was the best seller of everything here on Amazon: #4 in Fishing Filet & Bait Knives, 941 ratings at 4.5 stars and "400+ bought in past month" on October 29. At $69.99, it costs a little over a third of the Bubba Li-Ion.

WORKPRO says each of the two 2.0Ah battery packs runs up to an hour and recharges in about an hour on the included fast charger. You get an 8-inch flex blade and a 10-inch stiff blade, a safety lock, a rubber-coated handle and a hard storage case. WORKPRO lists the handle at about 1 lb without blade and battery.

What you give up: there's no fishing-brand track record, only two blades, and nothing like Bubba's coated blade set. For a few weekend trips a year, though, it's the cheapest way to go cordless in this guide.

Power	12V lithium-ion, 2 x 2.0Ah packs
Runtime	Up to 1 hour per battery; about 1-hour charge (WORKPRO)
Blades	8 in flex, 10 in stiff
Weight	About 1 lb without blade and battery
In the box	Knife, 2 blades, 2 batteries, fast charger, case

Pros

• + Cordless for well under $100
• + Two batteries with a published runtime
• + Best Amazon sales rank in this guide
• + 8-inch flex and 10-inch stiff blades cover most fish

Cons

• − Tool brand without a fishing track record
• − Two blades only
• − Uncoated blades; less fish-specific design than Bubba or Rapala

Check price on Amazon →

#5

American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife Kit (32352DS)

Best corded knife for big fish

Amazon: about $98 · Power: corded 110V · Blades: 5

American Angler was the other Breakout brand in this month's searches, and its PRO kit gives you the most blades for the money of anything here: five, at about $19.60 per blade. That makes it a strong pick for anyone who cleans a mix of freshwater and saltwater fish at a dock, cleaning station or garage outlet.

The kit includes a 10-inch saltwater blade, 5.5-inch and 8-inch curved-tip blades and 8-inch and 10-inch heavy-duty "shark" blades, plus a storage pouch and a protective glove. American Angler claims the PRO motor has twice the torque and four times the lifespan of other "heavy-duty" electric fillet knives, and says its airflow design keeps the handset cool for hours. Those are maker claims, but they line up with what you'd want from a corded knife that runs as long as you're plugged in.

Amazon had it for $97.99 with an Amazon's Choice badge and 553 ratings at 4.5 stars on October 29. The listing describes a 2-year limited warranty, twice what Bubba lists.

Power	Corded 110V
Blades	10 in saltwater, 5.5 in curved tip, 8 in curved tip, 10 in heavy-duty shark, 8 in heavy-duty shark
In the box	Handset, 5 blades, storage pouch, protective glove
Warranty	2-year limited (listing)
Model	32352DS

Pros

• + Five blades, including heavy-duty shark blades
• + Lowest price per blade here
• + Corded: no batteries to charge or wear out
• + 2-year warranty per the listing

Cons

• − Needs a 110V outlet or inverter
• − Soft pouch, not a hard case
• − Fewer reviews than the Bubba or Mister Twister knives

Check price on Amazon →

#6

Bubba 110V Electric Fillet Knife

Best corded Bubba

Amazon: about $130 · Power: corded 110V, 8 ft cord · Blades: 4

If you like the Bubba grip and blade set but always clean fish near an outlet, the 110V version gives you the same four blades (7 and 9-inch E-Flex, 9 and 12-inch E-Stiff) without batteries to manage. Bubba adds an 8-foot cord, a safety lock, a trigger guard and the same EVA molded case.

On October 29 Amazon had it for $130.00 with 1,855 ratings at 4.6 stars, while Bubba's own site listed it at $168.99. That's about $40 to $60 less than the cordless Bubbas for the same blades, and a corded knife never runs out of charge halfway through a limit of crappie.

Power	Corded 110V, 8 ft cord
Blades	7 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Flex, 9 in E-Stiff, 12 in E-Stiff
Handle	8.5 in non-slip grip, safety lock, trigger guard
Weight	1.11 lb
Warranty	1-year limited

Pros

• + Same four-blade Bubba set for less money
• + No battery to charge or replace
• + 4.6 stars from 1,855 Amazon ratings

Cons

• − Tethered to an outlet
• − Costs more than the American Angler PRO with one fewer blade
• − Bubba's own site rating is lower (3.8 from 84 reviews)

Check price on Amazon →

#7

Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife (110V)

Best corded value from a fishing brand

Amazon: about $67 · Power: corded 110V, 8 ft cord · Blade: 7.5 in

Rapala's Heavy-Duty corded knife (model HDEFAC) is a simple, proven tool: one 7.5-inch serrated reciprocating blade that's dishwasher safe, a Relaxed Grip body and an 8-foot cord. Rapala says its heavy-duty motor delivers twice the speed and three times the power of standard electric fillet knives.

It had 2,007 Amazon ratings at 4.5 stars and sold for $66.72 on October 29. With one blade in the box, it's best for anglers who mostly clean the same size of fish, like walleye, perch or crappie. Rapala sells replacement 7.5-inch blades separately.

Power	Corded 110V, 8 ft cord
Blade	7.5 in serrated, dishwasher-safe
Model	HDEFAC
Rating	4.5 stars, 2,007 Amazon ratings

Pros

• + Fishing-brand knife for under $70
• + Dishwasher-safe blade
• + Long track record with 2,000+ ratings

Cons

• − One blade only
• − No case listed in the box
• − Corded

Check price on Amazon →

#8

Mister Twister Electric Fisherman 120V Fillet Knife (MT-1201)

Best cheap electric fillet knife

Amazon: about $37 · Power: corded 120V · Blade: 1 serrated

The Mister Twister Electric Fisherman (MT-1201) has been around for decades and is still the cheapest name-brand electric fillet knife you can buy. Amazon had it for $36.83 with 3,182 ratings at 4.5 stars on October 29 (only 18 left in stock); Mister Twister's own site lists it at $44.99 but showed it out of stock.

Mister Twister describes a lightweight handle, a coiled cord, a quick blade release, a heavy-duty motor, a safety lock and a 2-year limited warranty. Replacement blades come in 7-inch and 9-inch sizes, and the maker warns that using another brand's blade voids the warranty. It's a basic knife with no case and one blade, but if you clean a few bags of panfish a season and want electric speed for the least money, this is it.

Power	Corded 120V, coiled cord
Blade	1 serrated stainless blade (replacement RB-1201 blades come in 7 and 9 in)
Model	MT-1201
Warranty	2-year limited (Mister Twister)

Pros

• + Lowest price in this guide
• + 3,182 ratings at 4.5 stars
• + 2-year warranty
• + Quick blade release

Cons

• − One blade, no case
• − Maker's own site was out of stock
• − Basic motor compared with the heavy-duty knives

Check price on Amazon →

Which should you buy?

• You want one knife that does it all, anywhere: Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless.
• You clean a lot of big fish and want the most cordless power: Bubba Pro Series.
• You want a hard runtime number: Rapala R12 Lithium (80 minutes, per Rapala).
• You want cordless on a budget: WORKPRO 12V Cordless.
• You clean at the dock, garage or a cleaning station with power: American Angler PRO or the Bubba 110V.
• You mostly clean walleye, perch and crappie: Rapala Heavy-Duty 110V.
• You just want the cheapest decent electric knife: Mister Twister Electric Fisherman.

What to look for in an electric fillet knife

Corded 110V vs. 12V vs. cordless lithium

Corded 110V/120V knives are the cheapest and never run out of charge, but you need a wall outlet (or a power station or inverter on the boat). Cordless lithium knives cost more and depend on battery life, but you can clean fish on a tailgate, a dock or a boat deck with no cord in the way. You'll also see 12V in two ways: some cordless knives, like the WORKPRO, run on 12V lithium battery packs, and older dual-power knives clipped to a boat or car battery. The one dual-power AC/DC model we found, Rapala's Deluxe AC/DC, had no price or stock on October 29, so we left it out.

Blades included

Flexible blades (7 to 9 inches) bend along the backbone of panfish, walleye and trout. Stiff and longer blades (9 to 12 inches) push through rib bones and thick skin on bigger fish like redfish, snapper, salmon and catfish. If you fish both fresh and salt water, a kit with both kinds, like the Bubba (four blades) or American Angler (five), saves you buying extras later.

Runtime and batteries

Only some makers publish runtime. Rapala lists 80 minutes for the R12 and WORKPRO lists up to an hour per battery; Bubba publishes no minutes. A second battery matters more than a headline number, because you can swap and keep cutting. Every cordless knife here includes two.

Grip, trigger lock and case

Your hands will be wet and slimy. Look for a non-slip handle, a trigger lock so the knife can't start in the case, and a trigger guard. A hard or molded case (Bubba, Rapala R12, WORKPRO) keeps blades from rattling around and protects the battery.

Saltwater vs. panfish

For saltwater, look for corrosion-resistant blades (Bubba's are titanium-nitride coated) and rinse the knife with fresh water after every use. For panfish, a shorter flex blade and a light handle matter more than raw power. And keep a sharp manual fillet knife in the boat too: it's the backup when a battery dies, and it's still the better tool for delicate cuts like removing pin bones.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best electric fillet knife for fish?

For most anglers, the Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless: four blades for everything from panfish to saltwater fish, two batteries, and more than 6,300 Amazon ratings at 4.7 stars. It was about $190 at Sportsman's Warehouse and about $170 on Amazon on October 29, 2026. If you want a corded knife, the American Angler PRO gives you five blades for about $98.

Is the Bubba Pro Series worth it over the regular Bubba Li-Ion?

Bubba says the Pro Series' brushless motor delivers 21% more torque, 22% more efficiency and up to 100% more power, with the same four blades. On October 29 it cost about the same as the regular Li-Ion on Amazon, so if you clean a lot of bigger fish, it's worth a look. The catch was availability: it was out of stock at Sportsman's and on Bubba's own site.

Are cordless electric fillet knives as powerful as corded ones?

Good lithium knives come close, and makers like Rapala say their lithium cells hold steady speed until the battery is empty. Corded knives have one clear advantage: they never run out of charge. If you clean big hauls at a station with power, corded is the cheaper and simpler choice.

How long does an electric fillet knife battery last?

It depends on the knife and the fish. Rapala lists 80 minutes of continuous runtime for the R12, and WORKPRO lists up to an hour per battery for its 12V knife. Bubba doesn't publish a runtime in minutes. All the cordless knives in this guide include two batteries, so you can swap one while the other charges.

Can you use an electric fillet knife on saltwater fish?

Yes. Choose a knife with stiff, longer blades (Bubba's 12-inch E-Stiff or American Angler's heavy-duty shark blades) and corrosion-resistant steel, and rinse it with fresh water after each use. At least one owner review on Bubba's site says even its Pro Series struggled with amberjack and cobia, so a corded heavy-duty knife is worth considering for big offshore hauls.

Are electric fillet knife blades dishwasher safe?

Some are. Rapala lists its Heavy-Duty 7.5-inch blade as dishwasher safe. Check your knife's manual for the others, and never put the motor handle or batteries in water.

Electric or manual fillet knife: which is better?

Electric knives are faster and easier on your wrist when you clean a lot of fish, especially panfish and walleye. A sharp manual knife is still better for delicate trimming, needs no power, and is the backup you want on the boat. Most serious anglers own both.

Where can I buy an electric fillet knife?

Sportsman's Warehouse had the Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless in stock with ship-to-home on October 29, 2026, but most other electric fillet knives were out of stock there online. Amazon had all the other knives in this guide in stock that day. Stock changes quickly in fall, so check before you head out.

The bottom line

Buy the Bubba Lithium Ion Cordless if you want one electric fillet knife that handles anything from crappie to snapper, anywhere you clean fish. Step up to the Bubba Pro Series for more motor, or save with the WORKPRO 12V if you only clean fish a few times a year. If you always have an outlet nearby, the American Angler PRO gives you the most blades for the money. Whatever you buy, keep the blades clean, rinse after saltwater, and keep a sharp manual knife in the boat as a backup.

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