Best Fish Hook Removers Reviewed: Options for Every Angler

Sometimes removing a hook is simple and easy. The right tool is crucial when you have to remove a single hook or a treble.

It’s a bad idea to get your hands on sharp teeth when dealing with large, dangerous fish such as pike, blues, or sharks.

We have the perfect tool for you if you are looking to get rid of hooks.

Below is a detailed buying guide and reviews of some of our favorite products:

Best Fish Hook Removers

Booms Fishing R1– The Best Toothed Hook Remover
CrazyShark Hook Remover– The Best Hooked Hook Remover

Best Pliers

Rapala Salt Angler’s Plier– The Best Pliers to Remove Hooks
KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers

Best Hemostats/Forceps

Mabis Kelly ForcepsBest Hemostats/Forceps to Remove Hooks

Reviewed: Best Fish Hook Removers

Booms Fishing R1– The Best Toothed Hook Remover

Material: Stainless steel

Length: 11 1/2

Grip: pistol

Booms Fishing manufactures what anglers consider to be the best hook removers they can purchase. This is a big deal because these are very affordable.

The R1 measures 11 1/2 inches in length and is well protected from sharp teeth. It is spring-loaded and has a pistol grip made of all steel that you can use to help fish in distress.

The teeth are strong and hold well. The handle design makes it easy to apply considerable force.

Booms Fishing uses a highly corrosion-resistant stainless for the R1. I have found that a rinse with WD-40 and an occasional squirt of WD-40 keep everything running well.

This model isn’t recommended for those with small hands. However, the reach needed to activate the jaws is not very short.

It should be noted that the R1 stamp is not stamped and leaves some rough edges on its lower side. This is normal for the price. To round out these sometimes sharp edges, I recommend using a file or aggressive sandpaper.

Pros

It’s affordable!
Highly resistant to corrosion
It is easy to use one-handed
Amazing teeth
Long shank

Cons

Small hands might find grip too large
The bargain price is reflected in the fit and finish

CrazyShark Hook Remover– The Best Hooked Hook Remover

Material: Aluminum

Length: 13 3/4 ”

Grip: pistol

CrazyShark’s hook-remover is an older version that uses a hook instead of gripping teeth. You can simply slip the hook’s tip over the hook to be removed, then squeeze the grip for a firm hold with plenty of power.

The CrazyShark shaft is made from aluminum and comes in a variety of colors. This makes it easy to spot and easy to find. Aluminum is resistant to rust so rust is not an issue. However, I would still recommend giving this tool a few drops of WD-40 now and again to keep it in motion.

Although the CrazyShark is not as easy to operate with one hand as the Booms Fishing R1, it’s still very easy to use when dealing with a shark or barracuda.

It measures 13 3/5 inches in length overall. If you are shy about your teeth, this might be a better choice than the R1.

Pros

It’s affordable!
Highly resistant to corrosion
It is easy to use one-handed
Very long shank

Cons

It is not as simple to use single-handedly as the R1

Rapala Salt Angler’s Plier – Pliers to Remove Hooks

Material: Nickel-coated stainless steel

Length: 8.5

Yes, Spring!

Rapala is a well-known name in fishing and it’s not surprising that they make excellent fishing pliers.

Rapala makes this tool out of nickel-coated stainless. This provides very strong corrosion resistance. This is a great choice for heavy use. I would trust the pliers to withstand saltwater or freshwater.

This is a basic design, just a modified ordinary needle nose. The back of your mouth will have a solid cutter and a crimping instrument. These bad boys excel in cutting wire leader material and popping a hook in two. These are great options if you need either of these, as many anglers do.

These are the best pair for fishing with tileable wire or steel leaders.

The handle is great and provides a firm grip thanks to the plastic cover. There are two lanyard holes in the handle, but there is no lanyard. This is not a major deal but it’s something to remember.

These pliers have spring-loaded handles that make them easy to use one-handed.

Pros

A long, thin nose can reach deep
Great grips
Spring-loaded
Amazing cutter
Reasonably priced
Great lanyard holes
Amazing handle

Cons

It doesn’t provide fancier options.

KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers

Material: Teflon coated stainless steel/tungsten carbide

Length: 7″

Yes, Spring!

KastKing’s Cutthroat Fishing Plier is a great choice for serious anglers. They are made from durable, tough materials and offer great performance at a fair price.

KastKing chose to make the Cutthroat out of Teflon-coated stainless Steel. This makes them very durable and tough. This combination of Teflon and stainless steel works well to prevent saltwater corrosion. I also like the material choice, as steel is more durable than aluminum when you are really pressing to do hard work.

The Cutthroat has two tungsten carbide knives on the outside of its mouth. This allows you to easily cut thick braids. They are a rare find among the competitors and can do a decent job with wire. Although they wouldn’t be my first choice, I would trust them to do the job.

You’ll find crimping and split ring tips as well in the jaws.

The rubber grip on the handle is better than the bare metal. These pliers are more affordable than the competition. The spring-loaded hinge makes it easy to use one-handed.

There are two great positions for the included Lanyard.

Although the Rapala’s are slightly longer, they’re more effective at cutting wire and hooks.

Pros

A long, thin nose can reach deep
Great grips
Spring-loaded
Good cutter
Reasonably priced
Great lanyard
Amazing handle

Cons

The Rapala is not as agile or long-lasting as it was.

Mabis Kelly Forceps: The Best Forceps/Hemostats to Remove Hooks

Material: Stainless steel

Length: 5 1/2

Mabis’ kelly forceps make a great tool to use with anglers. They are made from tough surgical stainless steel and are lightweight, compact, and affordable.

These hemostats can withstand corrosion, regardless of their original application. These teeth are designed to grip and hold blood vessels and can grab any slimy, bloody hook easily.

For trout, I use almost identical pairs. They have never failed me.

Pros

Corrosion-resistant
A long, slender nose
Ratcheting grip
Strong, straight teeth give you a great grip

Cons

It’s not a good idea to cut wire or hooks.

The Buying Guide: What You Need to Consider When Choosing a Hook Removing Tools

Hook Movers

One-trick ponies are hook removing tools. They have a long shaft that allows you to reach the hooks of fish such as pike, shark, and gar.

They are powerful tools for the job. They’re best suited to saltwater where there are many species with sharp teeth. They’ve been used for pike, gar, and I wouldn’t mind removing a hook from a fish that is angry and good-natured.

When buying a new pair of hook removers, what do I look for?

Corrosion resistance

Saltwater, on the other hand, is much more dangerous than freshwater.

I love to see materials such as anodized aluminum or stainless steel. I recommend that you still soak in fresh water after you return home.

A very long shaft

The length of the shaft is dependent on your comfort level and personal preference. However, I find that longer is almost always more comfortable.

Good grip

There are two types of grips on the market: the T-grip (old-fashioned) and the pistol grip (newer).

Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

T-grips are small and can fit into most tackle boxes. However, they can be difficult to use properly.

Pistol grips are very easy to use with one hand but take up some space.

Overall, I prefer pistol grips and so do most anglers.

Strong, straight teeth or a hook design

Hook removers for larger hook sizes are usually reserved because they are too large and too strong to be used on the smaller hooks.

You need to have a lot of strength to remove a hook that has been buried in the jaw of a tuna or shark. A strong, sharp set of teeth allows you to hold the hook in your hands. Without them, a hook remover will not work.

You should either use a strong hook remover or one of the older hook-style methods. These systems allow you to slide the removal hook over the fishing line before clamping them down. This ensures a secure grip every time.

Pliers

A good pair of fishing scissors is the best option for most anglers.

You get many tools to help you crimp or smash split shot, and you often have a great cutter and hook remover in one.

Pliers make great multi-tools and I don’t know of any anglers that don’t have them.

Our buying guide covers fishing pliers, both for saltwater and freshwater fishing.

They do have two flaws as hook removers. They don’t have the same reach as hemostats for smaller fish, such as trout. They also put you at risk with predators such as gar and sharks.

I am looking for the following when I purchase a pair of fishing pliers:

Corrosion resistance

Rusted pliers can be so difficult to operate that they become useless. I wouldn’t be tempted to use the nice needle-nose pliers in my shop.

You should look for aluminum or stainless steel.

A nice long nose

A long nose is essential, especially if you have a hook that’s deeper than you intended.

Good grip

The grip is a major problem with fish slime, so make sure you have a pair that can grip your hands even when they are wet.

A tool that can be used to cut a wire leader or hook.

I prefer pliers with a cutting edge that is sharp and can actually work. Sometimes, it’s the only way to save the fish. If you are hunting for species that require a wire leader, you want pliers that can do the job.

Spring-loaded action

Although not necessary, spring-loaded pliers make it much more user-friendly.

Hemostats

I do not fish for smaller species, such as panfish, trout, and smallmouth bass, without a pair of stainless steel hemostats.

My extra-long, slim nose and locked jaws allow me to reach far below the surface to retrieve a spinner or fly that has been swallowed. They can also double-duty as a split shot/splitter.

Hemostats works best with fish without teeth. The handle and reach can still cause discomfort.

These are not multi-tool pliers that you take to the water. However, they work well as hook removers.

When I choose a pair of hemostats, what am I looking for?

Corrosion resistance

Hemostats will take a beating in the water. But the good news is that these repurposed surgical instruments are usually made from stainless steel.

Grippy teeth

You don’t want a slip when you push on a stubborn hook deep into a fish’s jaw.

I prefer hemostats that have sharp, tall teeth and really bite my hooks.

Locking grips

Hemostats with a ratcheting grip, which allows them to lock at different degrees of tightness, can be very helpful when hooks are well and truly stuck.