Floating Fish Lip Gripper

Description

A fish lip gripper is the tool that turns an awkward, risky moment into a controlled one. It holds the fish securely by the lower jaw so you can unhook it, weigh it, take a photo and send it back — without your fingers anywhere near hooks or teeth.

Why every angler ends up carrying a fish lip gripper

Landing a fish by hand sounds simple until you are doing it. The fish thrashes, the lure has a second treble hanging loose, and you are trying to hold a wet, muscular animal with one hand while working a hook free with the other. That is how anglers get hooked, and how fish get dropped on rocks or boat decks.

A gripper solves both problems at once. Clamp the lower jaw and the fish stops thrashing. Your hands stay clear of the hooks. And because the fish is held rather than squeezed, it goes back into the water in better condition than it would after a two-handed wrestle.

Features

• Secure jaw grip — controls the fish so your hands stay away from hooks and teeth
• It floats — drop it over the side and it stays on the surface
• Lightweight ABS body — no weight penalty in a tackle bag or vest
• Seven colours — orange, red, yellow, white, blue, green and grey
• Works across species — bass, trout and many freshwater and inshore fish
• Rust-free plastic — no seized hinge after a season of saltwater

Specifications

The floating part matters more than it sounds

Tools go overboard. It happens to everyone, usually at the worst possible moment, and a metal gripper is gone the instant it leaves your hand. This one floats, so you have time to reach for it before it is lost.

The bright colour options exist for the same reason. Orange or yellow on dark water is far easier to spot than grey, and easier to find again in the bottom of a cluttered boat at the end of a long day.

Handling fish you plan to release

Hold the fish horizontally where you can, especially anything with real weight. Hanging a heavy fish vertically by the jaw puts strain on its body that a quick photo is not worth.

Keep handling time short and the fish wet. The gripper helps here too — because you are not wrestling with it, everything happens faster and the fish goes back sooner.

See our other Fishing gear, or browse the full MAXELTI Active catalog.

Care and maintenance

Rinse it in fresh water after saltwater trips and let the hinge dry open. Salt crystals in a pivot are what make a tool stiff, and a thirty-second rinse prevents it entirely.

Check the jaw action before each trip. If it has picked up grit, a rinse and a flush usually clears it — ABS does not corrode, so there is nothing else on the tool that can fail.

Frequently asked questions

Does this fish lip gripper really float?
Yes. That is the point of the design — if it goes into the water it stays on the surface instead of sinking.

Will it damage the fish?
Used properly it is gentler than hand-landing, because the fish stops struggling and spends less time out of the water. Support the body of larger fish rather than hanging them by the jaw.

How do I give a released fish the best chance?
Keep it in the water as much as you can and unhook it fast. NOAA Fisheries publishes a short guide to catch and release best practices that is worth five minutes.

What size is it?
Six inches, available in your choice of seven colours.

Can I use it in saltwater?
Yes. The ABS body will not rust. Rinse it with fresh water afterwards and it will last.

Which colour should I choose?
All seven work identically. Bright orange or yellow is the practical pick, because it is far easier to spot floating on dark water or lying among other gear.