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If you’re on the fence, and wondering if the fish grip is really that good, I can assure you that it is. I’m specifically referring to the original U.S.A. made fish grip, and not one of those knock off look-a-likes. I’ve had a glow-in-the-dark fish grip for years now, and I like it much better than the metal alternatives.
I plan to go over all the reasons why I think the fish grip is a better option than all the other lip gripper devices on the market.
The Original Fish Grip
It’s pretty clear to me that the basic design was taken from the tried and true vise grips, or locking pliers, that have been around forever. Either that, or it’s an interesting coincidence. It’s brilliant really. It seems like such an obvious application for the physics of these locking pliers. So, props to the person that came up with the genius idea of using this for fish. Well done!
The Fish Grip, the “real” one, not a knock-off, is manufactured in Jackson, MS by United Plastic Molders. It’s a pretty cool company that manufactures items for all sorts of companies. A few that caught my eye were Primos, Duck Commander and Hobie Cat.
The real one will have “The Fish Grip” imprinted right on the side of the handle (shown below).
Reasons To Use One
There are lots of reasons you might want to use a fish lip gripper. But, the most obvious ones are listed below. I’ll get into others as we move through the article.
- Keeps your hands away from the mouth of toothy fish
- Also keeps your hands away from treble hooks in a hooked fish’s mouth
- Grippers help control a large fish while you are attempting to get an accurate measurement, or a photo
- They help to minimize damage of the protective slime coat of a fish
- Generally speaking, they help both you and the fish from getting injured during handling
What Makes The Original Fish Grip, In Particular, So Good
- Very simple and durable design made of plastic and stainless steel
- The price is great
- It floats
- Made in the USA
- Available in a variety of different colors
- Available in different sizes
- Keeps your hands away from the mouth of toothy fish
- Provides an ideal amount of locking pressure to hold fish
- It doesn’t tear a fishes mouth as bad as the metal alternatives
- Very lightweight
- They have a slot for a weight scale
- Ideal for kayak fishermen
- Compact design
- Comes in 2 sizes
- The price makes it an affordable gift for fishermen
- Easy one handed operation
- Does not interfere with the slime coat of a fish
- Totally saltwater compatible
- Wrist lanyard to prevent loss
- Great way for kids and beginners to hold fish and be able to handle them
A Great Gift For Fishermen
Because they come in at an excellent price point, they make great gifts. At somewhere around $15-$20, it’s an ideal price for a gift. I don’t know how many times I’ve struggled to find a “nice” gift in this price range for someone. Because of price and the available assortment of colors, the fish grip is an ideal gift for fishermen in your life.
The Fish Grip Is Best For Kayak Fishermen
The fish grip is the best option for kayak fishing. It’s lightweight, immune to saltwater corrosion, and it’s multipurpose. Besides grabbing and controlling large or toothy fish, it can also be used to anchor your kayak to objects such as small diameter limbs.
I would provide a word of caution about clamping to objects. Don’t clamp onto the meaty part of a limb or rope. Instead, clamp around the object, so that you don’t strip out your fish grip.
They are so popular with kayak fishermen, that there are even special brackets you can attach to your kayak. This provides a sort of holster for your gripper so it’s handy at all times.
Because they are 100% saltwater resistant, they are ideal for kayak fishing in the salt. Because a kayak puts you so close to the water, it’s a guarantee that you will splash salt water on to pretty much everything in the boat.
You can even put fish grips on a tether so that you can drop a fish in the water for a moment, while you prepare for a photo. Nobody would ever want to do that with one of the metal gripper options
I think fish grippers are a much better option than a net, when fishing out of a kayak. Nets grab onto everything, including hooks, and just get in the way.
Why They Should Be Part Of Your Surf Fishing Gear
I not only use The Fish Grip for kayak fishing, I also carry it with me to the beach. It’s great for surf fishing. I find them particularly useful for controlling large fish for photo opportunities. I’ll also stick them in my pocket when I’m wading into the surf to cast to passing schools of fish. If I hook into a large Spanish mackerel, out comes the fish grip.
I like them at the beach, because they’re durable enough, and cheap enough, that they fare well in the salty and sandy environment. They also float, so I don’t worry about losing them in the water.
Freshwater Fishing
Fish grippers are also beneficial to freshwater fishermen. There are many species that you would benefit from having a pair. I listed just a few of them below.
- Catfish
- Bowfin
- Snakehead
Do’s And Don’ts
- Don’t clamp right onto thick objects or you will strip the mechanism out, and it will never be tight again
- Do clamp around objects like tree limbs about finger sized
- Don’t carelessly hold onto a fish. If you lose the fish with a fish grip in its mouth, that would be bad
- Do use a tether around your wrist in case you drop the fish
- Do support the weight of the fish with your off hand. Don’t put all the weight on the fishes mouth
- Don’t grab fish by the thicker upper lip. You might strip out your fish gripper. Instead, clamp onto the bottom thinner lip.
Conclusion
If you do a lot of kayak fishing, surf fishing, or catfishing, I think having a fish gripper is a no-brainer. That’s not to say, other styles of fishing can’t benefit as well. Heck, for the price, it’s not a bad idea to pick up multiple pair. Keep a pair in your kayak, your boat, and your surf cart, so that you aren’t ever hunting for your fish grip.
Here is a link to their website, where they have some videos you might be interested in. https://www.thefishgrip.net/
Have a good one,
Augustus Clay
The lethal alternative to fish grippers is, of course, a gaff. I have a couple gaff-related articles, especially for kayak fisherman, here: Best Gaff For Kayak Fishing and How To Make A Spear Gaff
