Pristis UTA II Fishing Pliers Review

Last Updated on August 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe

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Fishing pliers need to do more than remove a hook. You may also need to cut braid, open split rings, crimp tackle, and keep the tool close when your hands are busy. The Pristis UTA II Fishing Pliers combine those jobs in a lightweight 4.8-ounce design with a 2CR13 stainless-steel jaw, aluminum handle, and corrosion-resistant coating. This review explains where the UTA II is practical, what its multi-function jaws can do, and which limitations you should consider before buying.

What Is the Pristis UTA II Fishing Pliers?

The Pristis UTA II is a compact fishing tool built around a stainless-steel jaw and aluminum handle. Instead of serving only as hook-removal pliers, it combines a split-ring opener, crimping positions, a tungsten-carbide line cutter, serrated jaws, a spring-assisted opening mechanism, and a safety lock.

That combination makes the UTA II most useful when you want to carry fewer separate tools. The manufacturer positions it for both freshwater and saltwater use, with a Teflon coating on the 2CR13 stainless-steel jaw to improve corrosion resistance. Its aluminum handle keeps the listed weight at 4.8 ounces.

Who Should Buy It?

Material and Durability

The UTA II uses 2CR13 stainless steel at the jaw and an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy for the handle. This is a hybrid construction rather than an all-stainless or full forged-steel design. The benefit is lower weight, while the stainless jaw provides the working surface needed for gripping hooks, opening rings, crimping, and cutting line.

Pristis adds a Teflon coating to the jaw for corrosion resistance. The handle receives an oxidation coating, and the listing describes the tool as suitable for freshwater and saltwater fishing. That gives you a more practical option around wet environments than an untreated general-purpose pair of pliers.

The listing also states that the tool is produced with die-cast and CNC precision processes. Those details support a more purpose-built design, but corrosion resistance should not be confused with complete immunity to wear or salt exposure.

Design and Functionality

A return spring helps the jaws reopen after you squeeze the handles, while a safety lock keeps them closed when you are finished. This layout supports one-handed operation, which can be useful when your other hand is controlling a fish, leader, lure, or rod.

The ergonomic grip is paired with a serrated jaw. The listed jaw or cutting width is 1.3 inches. The serrations give you a gripping surface for hook removal, while the spring mechanism reduces the need to manually pull the handles apart after each squeeze.

The safety lock also matters during transport. Instead of dropping an open pair of pliers into a tackle bag, you can close the jaws before placing the tool back into its holster.

Versatile Tools

The most useful reason to choose the UTA II over ordinary pliers is its collection of fishing-specific functions. A small hook at the tip is designed to help open stubborn split rings, making it easier to replace hooks or other ring-mounted tackle without using your fingernails.

The jaw also provides split-lead and single-barrel crimping positions. That gives you dedicated areas for tackle adjustments instead of relying on an uncontrolled squeeze from the main gripping surface.

For line work, the UTA II uses a replaceable tungsten-carbide cutter. The manufacturer specifically lists braided line, fly line, and backing line as intended cutting applications. The replaceable design is useful because the entire plier does not need to be discarded simply because the cutter eventually needs attention.

Portability and Convenience

At 4.8 ounces, or 0.3 pound, the UTA II is designed to stay relatively light on a belt, tackle bag, or fishing pack. That matters if you already carry several boxes of lures, leaders, terminal tackle, and other tools.

The carry setup includes a PVC lanyard with steel wire, a metal hiking buckle, and a nylon holster. The lanyard gives you another layer of security around a boat, dock, bank, or shoreline, while the holster keeps the jaws covered and gives the tool a dedicated storage point.

How It Performs in Real Use

For Everyday Freshwater Fishing

The UTA II covers several routine jobs without making you reach for separate cutters and split-ring pliers. You can use the serrated jaw for hook work, the tungsten-carbide cutter for supported fishing lines, and the crimping positions for tackle adjustments.

For Saltwater Trips

The 2CR13 stainless-steel jaw and Teflon coating are specifically intended to improve corrosion resistance, while the aluminum handle keeps the tool light. This makes the design suitable for anglers who move between freshwater and saltwater environments and do not want a heavy full-steel tool on their belt.

For Lure and Split-Ring Maintenance

The small split-ring hook at the jaw tip is the feature that separates this tool from many ordinary needle-nose pliers. If you frequently replace treble hooks or other ring-mounted components, this function can reduce the need to carry a second dedicated split-ring tool.

For Travel and Mobile Tackle Kits

A 4.8-ounce tool makes sense when space and carrying weight matter. The included holster and tether system also help keep the pliers organized rather than loose inside a backpack or tackle compartment.

How to Use It Correctly

• Use the safety lock for storage: Close and lock the pliers before putting them into the holster or tackle bag.
• Use the split-ring tip for split rings: The small tip is designed to separate the ring so you can change attached tackle more easily.
• Match the cutter to supported line: The listing specifically identifies braided line, fly line, and backing line for the tungsten-carbide cutter.
• Use the dedicated crimping positions: The jaw includes positions for split lead and single-barrel crimping instead of forcing every job through the main serrated gripping area.
• Secure the lanyard near water: The reinforced PVC tether is useful when an accidental drop could send the tool overboard.

Safe Handling and Care

The UTA II contains sharp cutting surfaces and is intended for working around hooks, so keep the jaws locked when the tool is stored and keep it away from children. Use the tool only for appropriate fishing tasks and follow any manufacturer instructions supplied with the product.

The listing describes the Teflon-coated jaw as corrosion resistant, not corrosion-proof. It does not provide a detailed cleaning routine on the current product page, so avoid assuming that the coating removes all maintenance requirements.

Brand Commitment and Warranty

The most concrete brand-backed coverage listed for the UTA II is a 6-month product-quality guarantee. That gives you a defined warranty period, but it is still worth comparing coverage if warranty length is a major part of your buying decision.

Amazon lists Pristis as both the brand and manufacturer, with UTA II as the model number and B0CKSXMYYV as the ASIN. That matches the product reviewed throughout this article.

Pros and Cons

Is It Worth the Price?

The value of the UTA II comes from combining several fishing tools into one compact unit. You get hook-removal jaws, a split-ring tip, two crimping functions, a replaceable carbide cutter, a return spring, safety lock, lanyard, and holster rather than paying only for a basic pair of pliers.

The current Amazon page does not provide a dependable featured price, so it would be misleading to label the UTA II strictly budget, mid-range, or premium based on today’s listing. It is worth considering when its selling price is competitive with other multi-function fishing pliers, especially if low weight and the split-ring/cutter combination matter to you.

It becomes less compelling if the price approaches heavier forged-steel alternatives and your priority is maximum steel construction rather than portability.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The KastKing Cutthroat 7-inch Stainless Steel Pliers are worth comparing if you prefer 420 stainless-steel construction with a Teflon coating, tungsten-carbide cutters, a spring-loaded design, sheath, and lanyard. KastKing also publishes the full 7-inch size clearly, which may help if total tool length is important to you.

The Piscifun III Aluminum Fishing Pliers take a similar lightweight approach, using aircraft-grade aluminum with titanium-coated stainless-steel jaws and tungsten-carbide cutters. Piscifun lists a one-year warranty, which is longer than the Pristis UTA II’s 6-month product-quality guarantee.

If you prefer a heavier-duty forged design, the BUBBA 7.5-inch Forged Fishing Pliers use forged steel with a corrosion-resistant coating, spring-assisted opening, crimping cutouts, forged cutters, a molded sheath, and a lanyard. The Pristis makes more sense when you put a higher priority on a 4.8-ounce multi-function setup and a replaceable carbide cutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Pristis UTA II Fishing Pliers are a strong fit if you want a lightweight fishing tool that can remove hooks, work with split rings, crimp tackle, and cut several types of fishing line. The 2CR13 stainless-steel jaw, corrosion-resistant coating, replaceable carbide cutter, 4.8-ounce weight, lanyard, and holster make the package practical, while the 6-month guarantee and lack of a clearly listed overall length are the main points to consider before buying.

If portability and multi-function use matter more to you than full forged-steel construction, the UTA II earns its recommended-with-caveats verdict.