KastKing Cutthroat 7 Fishing Pliers Review 2026: Best Fishing Pliers for Kayak Anglers

2026-08-15

TL;DR: The KastKing Cutthroat 7 is the best fishing pliers for kayak anglers who want titanium-coated stainless steel durability, split ring tips, and a magnetic sheath that keeps them clipped to your PFD — all under $35. If your last pair rusted out in the rod holder or sank overboard, these are the ones you reach for next.

Why Every Kayak Angler Needs Dedicated Fishing Pliers

Kayak fishing is a hands-on sport. You're alone on the water, managing rods, lures, and live fish with no one to hand you tools. A good pair of fishing pliers is one of the three things that should always be within arm's reach — alongside your PFD and your paddle.

Here's what they do for you on the water:

• Hook removal — especially for deep-hooked fish or treble hooks you can't safely dig out barehanded
• Line cutting — monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braid all need a clean cut; regular scissors won't do it
• Split ring work — swapping out trebles, building custom rigs, replacing damaged hooks on lures
• Crimping — wire leaders, sleeves, and crimping beads for pike, musky, or offshore trips
• Jaw spreader — many pliers double as a fish mouth opener for safe, clean hook access

The challenge on a kayak: your pliers need to be rust-proof, float-or-clip-capable, and fast to access. Drop a $15 hardware-store pair in saltwater once and watch it turn orange by the next morning. The KastKing Cutthroat 7 was designed around exactly these demands.

Specs & Features

• Length: 7 inches (full-size grip, not a mini pair)
• Build: 420 stainless steel with titanium nitride coating
• Jaws: Spring-loaded, self-opening with serrated rear teeth and smooth front jaw section for fish gripping
• Split ring tip: Dedicated notched tip on the nose — works first try, every time
• Cutter: Replaceable carbide line cutters (mono, fluoro, and braid)
• Sheath: Magnetic closure EVA sheath with belt/PFD clip and lanyard hole
• Weight: 5.9 oz — heavy enough to feel solid, light enough to forget on your belt
• Colors available: Silver/black, gunmetal, and several others
• Lanyard: Included (coiled, with clip)

The titanium coating is worth calling out specifically. It's not just cosmetic — it creates a surface barrier that dramatically slows corrosion compared to bare stainless, which matters if you fish brackish or saltwater. KastKing also backs these with a lifetime warranty, which they actually honor.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

• Sub-$35 price makes this a no-brainer impulse add to any kayak kit
• Titanium nitride coating handles salt and freshwater without rusting out
• Split ring tip is one of the best in this price range — precise, no slipping
• Magnetic sheath is genuinely useful; snaps shut securely but opens with one hand
• Replaceable carbide cutters are a real differentiator — most budget pliers are throw-away when the cutter dulls
• 7" length gives real leverage for deep hook removal without feeling unwieldy
• Spring-loaded opening makes single-handed use practical (huge on a kayak)

❌ Cons

• The sheath clip is plastic — it'll outlast a season but isn't lifetime hardware
• Lanyard is functional but a bit cheap-feeling; worth swapping for a heavier coiled leash
• The smooth jaw section can slip on large fish; not designed for big-game gripping
• No built-in weight scale (not a dealbreaker at this price, but the Boga Grip handles that job anyway)

How to Set It Up on a Kayak

The magnetic sheath is your primary carry method on the water. Clip it to a PFD chest strap using a carabiner through the lanyard hole, or to a kayak bag D-ring. The coiled lanyard adds a backup in case it pops loose.

For saltwater or brackish fishing: rinse with fresh water after every session. The titanium coating handles salt exposure well, but the hinge area benefits from a spray of corrosion inhibitor (Boeshield T-9 or similar) every few outings.

If you're building a complete kayak angler kit, pair the Cutthroat 7 with a Boga Grip for fish handling — they solve different problems and together they cover every fish landing and release scenario you'll encounter.

Buy It

The KastKing Cutthroat 7 runs around $28–$35 depending on configuration.

➡️ Check the latest price on Amazon (affiliate link)

Also worth checking at Overton's fishing pliers and tools — they carry several comparable options and often bundle with tackle deals.

Bottom line: If you're rigging a kayak from scratch or replacing a pair that didn't survive salt season, the KastKing Cutthroat 7 is an easy call. It outperforms its price, holds up to real water use, and the magnetic sheath keeps it accessible without taking up a rod holder or getting buried in a hatch. One of those purchases you make once and stop thinking about.