In this guide we’ll look at the best fishing pliers.
We’ve compared strength, comfort, materials and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Are The Best Fishing Pliers?
| IMAGE | RECOMMENDED PRODUCTSPRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
  |
| ||
  |
| ||
  |
| ||
  |
| ||
  |
|
More Detailed Fishing Plier Reviews
KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers
| FEATURES | RATING | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURES |
| OUR RATING | PRICE | |
KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers Review
The KastKing Cutthroat pliers are made of stainless steel, which is a very hard, strong material. Since stainless steel tends to rust, these pliers are also coated with Teflon to provide rust- and corrosion-resistance. They work well in both freshwater and in saltwater.
The tungsten carbide cutters are sharp and slice easily through fishing line, whether monofilament, braid, or fluorocarbon.
These pliers provide multiple functions. In addition to the serrated jaws, which efficiently remove fish hooks, there are also crimping slots and holes that let you cinch knots tightly. The textured rubber handle is easy to grip. A sheath and lanyard are included for convenience.
These pliers are available as either split ring nose pliers or straight-nosed pliers. Some anglers find the small split ring tooth annoying, while others use it all the time to split rings—choose your version according to your own preferences.
Overall, these pliers are versatile, easy to use, and durable. They are my pick for the best saltwater fishing pliers, and, in my experience, they’re some of the best stainless steel fishing pliers available too.
KastKing Intimidator Fishing Pliers
| FEATURES | RATING | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURES |
| OUR RATING | PRICE | |
KastKing Intimidator Fishing Pliers Review
Another option from KastKing, these pliers are made from S45 steel. They’re strong and hold up well, unlikely to bend or break on you. The KastKing Intimidator Fishing Pliers also come with Teflon coating for impressive corrosion-resistance. These pliers are best-suited for freshwater performance.
Tungsten carbide cutters slice your line easily and efficiently. Crimping slots let you build a leader or secure a split shot weight easily. The split ring nose gives you added functionality—these are some of the best split ring pliers for fishing on the market.
Finally, it’s worth noting that this spring-loaded handle has a soft, comfortable grip and is easy to use. KastKing is a solid brand, and these are an excellent pair of pliers that get the job done at a competitive price.
Piscifun Aluminum Fishing Pliers
| FEATURES | RATING | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURES |
| OUR RATING | PRICE | |
Piscifun Aluminum Fishing Pliers Review
Made from corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum, these Piscifun pliers can be used for a long time without worrying about rust.
The spring-loaded jaws are made of strong titanium-coated stainless steel and have a split ring tip. The spring-loaded handle is awesome since it’s easy to operate with only one hand.
The tungsten carbide cutters are extremely sharp and are even replaceable when necessary! This is a neat feature since you can simply swap out cutters when needed without replacing the whole tool. Plus, the cutters slice quickly through thicker lines.
A nylon sheath, lanyard, and belt loop clasp are included. These Piscifun pliers are convenient, functional, and user-friendly.
Booms Fishing X1 Aluminum Fishing Pliers
| FEATURES | RATING | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURES |
| OUR RATING | PRICE | |
Booms Fishing X1 Aluminum Fishing Pliers Review
The Booms Fishing Pliers are made from anodized aluminum. Suitable for freshwater or saltwater, they are resistant to rust and corrosion. Like other options on this list, they feature tungsten carbide cutters that slice efficiently through even thick braided lines.
The stainless steel jaws provide a strong, tight grip, while the spring-loaded handle allows for easier one-handed use. These pliers also come with a nylon holster and lanyard.
In sum, the Boom pliers are versatile, lightweight, and relatively affordable.
RUNCL Fishing Pliers and Floating Fish Griper
| FEATURES | RATING | PRICE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURES |
| OUR RATING | PRICE | |
RUNCL Fishing Pliers and Floating Fish Griper Review
This RUNCL option comes with two items: a pair of multi-functional long-nose pliers and a floating fish gripper. You’ll also receive a nylon case, lanyard, and belt loop clip.
The versatile pliers can be used to remove hooks, crimp weights, and cut fishing line (mono and fluorocarbon only; not braid). They’re made of tough carbon steel and are resistant to corrosion.
The long needle-nose design makes them easy to use, even for tricky hook removals. If you’re looking for the best needle-nose pliers for fishing, then the RUNCL model deserves consideration.
The fish gripper is a great little device that helps you hold fish firmly. You can use it to land, hold, and release fish, all with one hand. It comes with a wrist lanyard so you won’t lose it.
The RUNCL pliers and fish gripper combine versatility, function, and value. They’re very comfortable to hold and come at a reasonable price.
Fishing Pliers Buying Guide
What are fishing pliers used for?
Fishing pliers often combine multiple functions in one handy compact tool. For example, you can use fishing pliers to:
- Remove a hook from fishes’ mouths
- Crimp weights
- Open up split rings
- Cut fishing line
I personally enjoy being able to perform all these actions with just one tool—it cuts down on the amount of gear I have to carry with me.
Pliers are indispensable for activities like fly fishing, so it’s important to find the best fly fishing pliers for you and learn how to handle them.
How to Use Fishing Pliers
I recommend checking out a few video tutorials or asking a more experienced friend to demonstrate how to use fishing pliers. With a little practice, you’ll get the hang of it. The pliers featured here are all pretty intuitive and user-friendly, featuring spring-loaded handles for easy one-handed operation.
Features to Consider
Jaw Strength
Jaw strength is of course a major consideration in any pair of pliers! I’ve selected pliers with strong, firm grips. In my experience, the KastKing Cutthroat pliers are impressively strong and sturdy, so they’re my top pick in this category.
Multi-Functional Jaw
As you’ll notice, the models I’ve featured above all have multi-functional jaws. If you want to streamline your gear, or if you’re hoping to stretch your budget, then this versatility is an important quality. I definitely prefer the convenience of multi-functionality and get a lot of use out of my KastKing Cutthroat pliers.
Often, the worry with multi-functional tools is that they won’t perform as well in each individual task. In a few cases, you may need to pick up an additional item or two; for example, if you have the RUNCL pliers, you’ll need a separate tool to cut braided lines.
Overall though, I’ve found that high-quality multi-functional pliers execute each individual function just fine and make life easier.
Handle Comfort
A comfortable grip can be a matter of personal preference, so I always recommend visiting an outdoors store or a friend’s house to test out some different pliers for yourself.
Of course, that’s not always possible. I’ve chosen five options that I think are comfortable to hold and easy to use—even when your hands get wet or slippery. A “grippy” textured handle—such as the one on the Booms fishing pliers—is a useful feature!
Materials
Pliers are typically made of either stainless steel or aluminum, as is the case for the pliers on this list. Aluminum in general tends to be more resistant to rust and corrosion, which is important for saltwater use. Additionally, anodized aluminum pliers (such as the Piscifun pliers) are very strong and won’t bend or break.
That said, stainless steel is simply a stronger material than aluminum. Stainless steel pliers offer more power and less risk of damage. Some models have special coatings to reduce the occurrence of rust—both the KastKing Cutthroat and KastKing Intimidator pliers are Teflon-coated.
Personally, I have a slight preference for stainless steel as the stronger material, especially when it’s treated for corrosion-resistance.
Conclusion
Pliers are such a simple yet indispensable tool. I’m confident that any of these five models will serve you well and hold up to regular use.
After trying out a few different pliers, I’ve settled on the KastKing Cutthroat pliers as my favorite—though it’s hard to choose. Do you have a personal preference? Have you tried any of the pliers on this list?