The 10 Best Fish Skinners

Made of high-grade steel with a nickel finish, the Maybrun Regular (about $11) is capable of being a faithful companion out on the water for years to come. It's not just for fish, either, as it can also help remove the membranes off the backs of beef and pork ribs.

It may not look like much, but Big Norm's Magic Fish Scaler (appx. $9) is aptly named. It uses plastic knobs, rather than metal edges, to remove scales and, despite not being the least bit sharp, these leave your fish — and your kitchen — remarkably clean.

At over eight inches long, the Yamasho Brass L (around $6) is a large, heavy-duty option that will come in handy whenever you need to prepare a substantial catch. It removes skin and scales easily without sending parts flying across the room.

You can strip your fish in a few short strokes with the Comfecto Remover (around $8). It has four blades, each of which is covered with serrated tips, ensuring you get even coverage with each pass. Not only will that save you time, but it also reduces the chance of missing any scales.

The Maybrun Original (around $11) is well-equipped to clean a large amount of fish quickly and efficiently, as it's designed for commercial use. The handle is ribbed to prevent slipping, even if your hands are somewhat slick with water and residue.

The Amison AM makes it difficult to cut yourself, as the edges are folded in and away from you. This allows you to work quickly and fearlessly, so you can spend more time eating what you caught and less toiling away in the kitchen preparing it.

These Eagle Claw Pliers (about $8) are a worthy addition to a kitchen drawer or tackle box, as they make short work of both skin and fins alike. They do struggle a bit with densely-scaled species, though, so you might want to opt for another model if that's primarily what you catch.

The Hestya Four Piece (about $8) has everything you need to prepare for your next big fish fry. In addition to two skinning tools, it also comes with two pairs of tweezers — one flat and one slanted — for removing bones and any stray scales that were left behind.

The MaQue Rechargeable (appx. $50) is waterproof, so you can leave it next to the sink without worrying that it will be ruined if it falls in. Its cordless operation lets you move around freely without getting tangled up in a cable along the way.

If you do a lot of fishing — or you just had a really good weekend out on the lake — the Skinzit Electric (around $144) can drastically reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning your catch. Simply shove the fish through the intake wheel and watch as the machine prepares it for you.