Best Fishing Pliers and Multi-Tools: Buying Guide

CritPro on Jun 17, 2026

Fishing pliers and multi-tools handle more on-the-water tasks than almost any other piece of gear in your kit. This guide covers what to look for, the key features that matter, and how to choose the right tool for your fishing style.

If you had to pick one tool that gets used on every single trip, regardless of species, technique, or location, it would be a good pair of fishing pliers. Removing hooks, cutting braid, crimping leaders, bending hooks, and handling fish all run through the same tool. A poor pair of pliers turns simple tasks into frustrating ones. A good pair disappears into the background of a productive day on the water.

This guide breaks down what separates a quality fishing plier or fishing multi-tool from a cheap one, the features worth paying for, and how to match a tool to the kind of fishing you actually do.

What Fishing Pliers Are Actually Used For

Before getting into specs, it helps to understand the full range of jobs a good pair of fishing pliers handles over the course of a season.

Hook removal: The most frequent task. A good plier reaches deep into a fish's mouth without requiring you to handle the fish excessively.
Cutting line: Braided line in particular requires a sharp, hardened cutter. Standard scissors and dull cutters struggle with braid and create frayed, weak cuts.
Crimping: Many leader and rig setups use crimps rather than knots, particularly for wire leaders and heavier saltwater rigs. A built-in crimper saves carrying a separate tool.
Bending and adjusting hooks: Split rings, hook eyes, and wire components sometimes need small adjustments that pliers handle more precisely than fingers.
Fish handling: Longer-nosed pliers keep hands away from teeth, spines, and hooks when handling fish for hook removal or release.
General tackle maintenance: Tightening reel components, adjusting split rings, and minor repairs in the field.

Key Features That Separate Good Pliers From Bad Ones

Jaw material and design

Stainless steel and aluminum are the two dominant materials for fishing plier jaws. Stainless steel jaws are heavier but extremely durable and hold up well to repeated use on toothy fish. Aluminum-bodied pliers with stainless or tungsten carbide jaw inserts save weight, which matters if the pliers ride on your belt all day. Jaw length matters for reach: longer jaws reach deeper into a fish's mouth for safer hook removal on larger or toothier species.

Cutter quality

The line cutter is where cheap pliers fail first. A standard stainless cutter dulls quickly against braided line and eventually fails to cut cleanly, leaving frayed line ends that weaken knots. Tungsten carbide cutting inserts hold an edge dramatically longer than standard stainless cutters and are the single most important upgrade if you fish braid regularly. If your fishing is primarily monofilament, a quality stainless cutter is usually sufficient.

Spring-loaded jaws

Spring-loaded jaws stay open at rest and close only when squeezed, which is the opposite of standard pliers that stay closed at rest. This design lets you operate the pliers with one hand while the other hand controls the fish, which is a meaningful advantage when working quickly to release fish or manage a deck full of gear. Most quality fishing-specific pliers use this design; most general hardware pliers do not.

Corrosion resistance

Saltwater is brutal on metal tools. Pliers used in saltwater need genuine marine-grade stainless steel or a quality anodized aluminum body with stainless or coated components. Budget pliers marketed for fishing but built from lower-grade stainless will pit and corrode within a season or two of regular saltwater use. For freshwater-only use, corrosion resistance requirements are lower, though some rust resistance is still worth having for pliers that get wet regularly.

Grip and ergonomics

Wet hands need a secure grip. Textured rubber or composite handles perform better than smooth metal or hard plastic when hands are wet, cold, or covered in fish slime. A lanyard attachment point is a small feature that prevents an expensive pair of pliers from going over the side of a boat, which is one of the most common ways anglers lose this tool.

Sheath and carry options

A holster or sheath that attaches to a belt or boat rail keeps pliers accessible without digging through a tackle bag. Retractable lanyards are popular for boat use because they let the pliers hang at the ready and retract out of the way between uses.

Dedicated Fishing Pliers vs General-Purpose Multi-Tools

There are two practical approaches to covering the plier and cutting tool need on the water: a dedicated fishing plier built specifically for hook removal, crimping, and line cutting, or a general-purpose multi-tool that handles fishing tasks alongside broader utility functions.

When dedicated fishing pliers make sense

If fishing is the primary activity and the tool needs to perform its core jobs (hook removal, line cutting, crimping) as efficiently as possible, a dedicated fishing plier is the better choice. These tools are purpose-built around jaw length, cutter placement, and saltwater durability in ways that general multi-tools are not. Most serious anglers who fish often land here.

When a general multi-tool makes sense

A compact multi-tool with pliers, a knife blade, and basic screwdriver functions is a practical choice for anglers who also need general utility beyond fishing tasks: boat maintenance, tackle repairs, or general camp and outdoor use. The tradeoff is that the pliers on a general multi-tool are usually shorter and less specialized than dedicated fishing pliers, and the cutter is rarely optimized for braided line specifically. A multi-tool is a reasonable backup or secondary tool, but most anglers who fish heavily eventually add a dedicated fishing plier alongside it.

Multi-Tool Features Worth Having for Anglers

If you are choosing a general-purpose multi-tool that will also see fishing duty, prioritize these features:

Needlenose pliers: The most directly useful feature for hook removal and small adjustments.
A wire cutter: Useful for trimming wire leaders and general line cutting in a pinch.
A sharp, accessible blade: Useful for cutting bait, trimming line, and general utility tasks around the boat or bank.
Corrosion-resistant construction: Stainless steel or coated aluminum construction holds up far better than uncoated carbon steel components if the tool will be exposed to water regularly.
Compact size: A multi-tool that lives in a tackle bag or on a belt needs to be small enough to carry without becoming a burden.

Freshwater vs Saltwater: Does It Change What You Need?

Freshwater anglers can generally use a wider range of pliers and tools without worrying excessively about corrosion, though some rust resistance is still worth having for any tool exposed to water regularly. Standard stainless steel performs adequately in freshwater applications with reasonable care.

Saltwater anglers should prioritize genuine marine-grade stainless steel, anodized aluminum bodies, or coated components specifically rated for saltwater exposure. Salt accelerates corrosion dramatically compared to freshwater, and pliers that are not built for it will show pitting and stiff joints within a season of regular use. Rinsing tools with fresh water after every saltwater trip extends the life of any pliers significantly, but starting with the right material is the more important factor.

How to Care for Fishing Pliers

Rinse after every saltwater trip: Fresh water rinse removes salt before it has a chance to corrode joints, springs, and cutting surfaces.
Dry before storage: Avoid storing pliers wet in a sealed tackle bag, which traps moisture against the metal.
Lubricate moving joints periodically: A light coat of reel oil or a similar lubricant on the pivot point keeps spring-loaded jaws moving smoothly.
Replace worn cutter inserts when possible: Some higher-end pliers have replaceable carbide cutter inserts rather than requiring full replacement once the cutter dulls.
Attach a lanyard: The single most effective way to avoid losing pliers over the side of a boat or off a dock.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Fishing

Fish primarily braid? Prioritize a tungsten carbide cutter over a standard stainless cutter. This is the upgrade that matters most for braid anglers.
Fish inshore saltwater regularly? Prioritize marine-grade stainless or anodized aluminum construction with genuine corrosion resistance.
Fish primarily freshwater with light tackle? A quality stainless plier without carbide cutters is usually sufficient and more affordable.
Need one tool for fishing and general use? A compact multi-tool with pliers, a blade, and basic functions covers both, with the tradeoff of less specialized fishing performance.
Fish from a kayak or wade regularly? Prioritize a lanyard attachment and compact size since tools are more likely to end up in the water without a secure tether.

Related Fishing and Tool Guides at CritPro

Frequently Asked Questions About Fishing Pliers

What is the best material for fishing pliers?

For saltwater use, anodized aluminum bodies with stainless or tungsten carbide jaw inserts offer the best balance of light weight and corrosion resistance. For freshwater use, standard stainless steel construction is generally sufficient. Tungsten carbide cutting inserts are worth the upgrade for any angler who fishes braided line regularly, regardless of water type.

Do I need carbide cutters on fishing pliers?

If you fish braided line regularly, yes. Standard stainless cutters dull quickly against braid and eventually fail to make a clean cut, which weakens knots tied with frayed line. If you fish primarily monofilament or fluorocarbon, a quality stainless cutter without carbide inserts is usually sufficient and more affordable.

Can I use a regular multi-tool for fishing?

Yes, a general-purpose multi-tool with needlenose pliers and a wire cutter handles basic fishing tasks adequately. The tradeoff is that the pliers are typically shorter and less specialized than dedicated fishing pliers, and the cutter is rarely optimized specifically for braided line. A multi-tool works well as a secondary or backup tool, or as a primary tool for occasional anglers who also need general utility functions.

How long should fishing pliers last?

Quality fishing pliers with proper care, rinsing after saltwater use and periodic lubrication, can last many years of regular use. The most common failure points are the cutting edge dulling from braid use and joint stiffness or corrosion from inadequate rinsing after saltwater exposure. Pliers with replaceable cutter inserts can extend the useful life of the tool significantly beyond the cutting edge's original lifespan.

What size fishing pliers do I need?

A 6 to 7 inch plier is a versatile general-purpose size for most freshwater and light inshore saltwater applications. Longer 7.5 to 8.5 inch pliers provide more reach for larger fish with bigger mouths and longer teeth, which matters more for species like pike, larger catfish, or toothy inshore saltwater species. For compact carry on a kayak or in a small tackle bag, a 6-inch plier balances reach with portability.

Final Verdict: Choosing Fishing Pliers and Multi-Tools

The right tool depends on how often you fish, what line you use, and what water you fish in. Anglers who fish often and rely on braid should prioritize a dedicated fishing plier with a tungsten carbide cutter and corrosion-resistant construction matched to their water type. Occasional anglers or those who want one tool for fishing and general use are well served by a quality compact multi-tool with solid pliers and a usable blade. Whichever direction you choose, a lanyard and proper post-trip care will extend the life of the tool far beyond what the build quality alone provides.

Browse fishing knives and tools and multi-tools at CritPro, veteran-owned and ships fast from Jesup, Georgia.