Using these completely changes the orientation of your hand muscles and prevents the chaffing of wet thumb-skin from a pair of scissor's thumb hole. I don't know about you, but I go through every blackfish season with a scab on the top of my thumb, from cutting literally hundreds of crabs with my regular scissors.
These things go right thru a green crab, and shear off the legs effortlessly. While its true that a monster green crab or "soup-sized" white will require two cuts to completely separate the halves, its still a ton easier with these little beasties vs a regular pair of "normal" fish shears. That they are also spring-loaded is an unexpected plus, as well.
Mike didn't mention where to source these, but I will. John at Trophy Tackle has a big jar of them up on his front counter, and sells them for the mighty sum of $4 each. For that price its not a tragedy if they find their way overboard, or if they lose their edge during a long season - not for four bux a pair. Well worth your time going over to TT to grab up a couple.
I think I'll bring along a set on the coming season's fluke trips as well - the better to accurately cut the long, thin strips of cuttlefish or fish belly I prefer to fish along with my GULP! woims. (Did you catch that? I used the generic "fish belly" - nice touch, eh? 😎)
Anyway, here, take a look:
