Last updated on September 30th, 2026.
A fish gripper can be a handy tool when fishing for predators like pike. In this guide we tell you what to look for and show you our favorites.
Our Picks for the Best Fish Gripper
Quick advice: If you fish the salt or for big pike and want to weigh your catch, the Boga Grip is the gold standard and will last you for years. For a scale that is easy to read, get the Piscifun, and if you want pliers in the same kit, the ZACX set.
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Best Overall: Boga Grip ($285.00)
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Best Readability: Piscifun Lip Gripper with Digital Scale ($39.99)
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Best Versatility: ZACX Fishing Pliers and Lip Gripper ($18.99)
If you`ve ever caught a big pike or musky for example, you know that these predators have razor sharp teeth. Landing one of these fighters can be a challenge if you don’t want to get hurt. There are several options to handle fish with sharp teeth: you can use a glove, a big landing net or a fish gripper, often also called fish lip gripper or fish grabber.
A fish gripper is a tool that grabs the jaws of the fish. This allows you to safely handle the fish, remove the hook and release it. Some grabbers have integrated scales so you can weigh your catch. The best grippers are made for saltwater fishing and hence very tough and durable. The gold standard in lip grippers is the Boga Grip ®. But there are many more grippers out there. In this guide we want to give you an overview of the best fish grabbers out there. We tell you the advantages and disadvantages of each product so you can make a solid purchase decision. Let’s go.
Best Fish Grippers: Market Overview
In this buyer’s guide we’ll take a look at different kinds of fish grabbers. Not all lip grippers are created equal. To make sure there is a good choice for everyone we included grippers from all price ranges.
Best Overall: The Boga Grip ®
As mentioned before, the Boga Grip ® made by Eastaboga is the gold standard when it comes to fishing grippers. The Boga Grip ® is made from premium materials ensuring that you can use it in saltwater as well. Stainless steel prevents corrosion and ball detent pins instead of screws allow for an easy assembly.
The BogaGrip® has an integrated scale that allows you to easily weigh your catch. Can be operated using only one hand. Since the BogaGrip® is quite heavy, you should secure it with a leash or a floating device if you use it on a boat to prevent it from sinking if dropped.
The BogaGrip®`s reputation is so high that the IFGA accepts record fish if they have been weighed using a BogaGrip®. Comes in capacities of 30lbs and 60 lbs.
Verdict: Not cheap but worth it on the long run. Impeccable quality.
Best Readability: Piscifun Lip Gripper with Digital Scale
The Piscifun Lip Gripper with Digital Scale is another great fish gripper with a similar mechanism of action as the BogaGrip®. The main difference is the scale which is a digital one compared the BogaGrip®‘s analog one. The digital scale has the advantage that is highly readable and hence makes the Piscifun Lip Gripper with Digital Scale easy and quick to operate also in low light conditions.
The Piscifun Lip Gripper with Digital Scale is also made from stainless steel and hence ready to use in saltwater. Just like the BogaGrip®, the Piscifun’s handle rotates 360 degrees. The digital scale can even stores up to 10 weight readings so you can compare your catches of the day.
Verdict: Sturdy gripper with highly readable display.
Best Versatility: ZACX Fishing Pliers, Fish Lip Gripper
The ZACX Fishing Pliers, Fish Lip Gripper is our favorite when it comes to versatility. That is because you not only get a fish lip gripper with this set but a neat pair of fishing pliers as well. With this combo you have everything at hand to safely grab the fish, unhook and release it.
The ZACX Lip Gripper is ready to be used in saltwater as well since it’s corrosion resistant. The pliers come with a lanyard and sheath. While this lip gripper does not feel as sturdy as the BogaGrip®, it can get the job done. The only downside is the fact that the ZACX comes without an integrated scale.
Verdict: Great price-performance ratio
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a wide range of fish grabbers out there. There are a number of questions you have to answer before making a purchase. If you want the utmost in durability and longevity there is no way around the The Boga Grip ®. In case you want the utmost in versatility, you should consider the ZACX Fishing Pliers, Lip Gripper which comes with a great pair of pliers.
If all you want is the weight of your catch, a dedicated fish scale does that job on its own.
Frequently asked questions
In general fish grippers help a fisherman to handle his catch safely by gripping the fish by its jaws. Some fish grippers have integrated scales that allow you to weigh your fish. If you do that make sure to do it quickly since it’s not ideal for fish to hang in the air for too long.
A fish lip gripper is a great landing tool. This is particularly true when you are fishing for big predatory species like pike or muskey that have razor sharp teeth. A lip grabber helps the fisherman to hold the fish, remove the hook and release the fish.
A fish lip gripper allows to get a hold of the fish you caught by grabbing the fish by its jaw. The fish is not hurt by this tool since it doesn’t have any sharp edges.
Notice: We take part in affiliate programs. If you click on one of the links in the text and end up purchasing a product we earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. We only recommend products we are convinced of. All photos courtesy of amazon.
Leonard Schoenberger is a fly fishing professional and gear specialist with over 20 years of experience on the water. As the manager of Heidarvatn, a world-class sea trout lodge in Iceland, his product recommendations and tactical advice are tested in some of the most demanding conditions on earth. His expertise has been mentioned in The New York Times, the Financial Times, and at the Outdoor Media Summit.
