NGT
NGT Predator Unhooking Mat
Fish care · Predator unhooking mats · Our take
NGT Predator Unhooking Mat
Predator Unhooking Mat
A straightforward unhooking mat for predator anglers who want a bit of protection on the bank without dragging a massive carp cradle around.
- A dedicated cushioned surface for handling predator fish on the bank.
- Helps keep fish away from stones, gravel, mud and rough ground during unhooking.
- Useful for pike, perch and other predator fishing where fish care needs to be taken seriously.
- Best used alongside proper unhooking tools, a suitable landing net and a wet towel.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the NGT Predator Unhooking Mat, designed for handling pike and other predatory fish safely during unhooking and quick photographs.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A sensible, affordable fish-care mat that does the basics well, provided you use it with the right predator tools and handling technique.
- Product Quality8.3/10
- Performance8.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.8/10
- Ease of Use9/10
- Value for Money8.8/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Mobile lure anglers. It gives you a proper surface without adding the bulk of a large cradle to a roving setup.
- New predator anglers building their kit. It covers one of the basic fish-care jobs without costing daft money or adding much faff.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers targeting very large pike regularly. A deeper, more supportive cradle can offer better containment and control for bigger fish.
- Anyone who wants an all-in-one unhooking station. You’ll still need suitable tools, a net and sensible handling technique.
The lowdown
Introducing the NGT Predator Unhooking Mat
A straightforward unhooking mat for predator anglers who want a bit of protection on the bank without dragging a massive carp cradle around.
- A dedicated cushioned surface for handling predator fish on the bank.
- Helps keep fish away from stones, gravel, mud and rough ground during unhooking.
- Useful for pike, perch and other predator fishing where fish care needs to be taken seriously.
- Best used alongside proper unhooking tools, a suitable landing net and a wet towel.
Quick verdict
Verdict
The NGT Predator Unhooking Mat is a sensible bit of kit for predator anglers who want a dedicated cushioned surface without spending silly money. It keeps a fish off stones, mud and frozen ground, and gives you a much safer place to work when the rods are off.
It’s not a full predator cradle or a substitute for proper unhooking kit and know-how. But for mobile lure sessions, short static sessions and general coarse-fishing use, it’s a dead handy bit of insurance. Simple, useful and easy to chuck in the bag.
A sensible, affordable fish-care mat that does the basics well, provided you use it with the right predator tools and handling technique.
- Product Quality
- 8.3/10
- Performance
- 8.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.8/10
- Ease of Use
- 9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.8/10
A straightforward padded design should give useful protection without adding unnecessary complexity.
It provides a clean, cushioned work surface, though it doesn’t offer the containment of a full cradle.
It doesn’t catch more fish directly, but it supports safer, more responsible predator handling after the bite.
It’s simple to carry, quick to lay out and easy to build into a normal predator routine.
For anglers wanting basic predator fish care without spending big money on a bulky system, it looks like a cracking option.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
NGT
NGT Predator Unhooking Mat (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the NGT Predator Unhooking Mat
There’s no glamorous way to say it: predator fishing needs decent fish care kit. Pike might look like proper prehistoric beasts, but they’re still delicate fish once they’re out of the water. A mat gives you somewhere safer to put one while you sort the hooks, get the photo and send it back. The NGT Predator Unhooking Mat is built for exactly that job, without turning your rucksack into a full-on barrow load.
This is a fairly straightforward bit of tackle. No clever electronics, no moving parts and no daft faff. It’s a padded surface that creates a barrier between the fish and whatever you’re fishing over. That could be grass, gravel, frozen mud or a concrete towpath. None of those make brilliant landing spots for a thrashing pike.
For lure anglers, the compact approach is the big draw. You can carry the mat with a landing net and a small lure bag, then move swims when the water goes quiet. It’s a much more sensible setup than lugging a huge cradle around every corner of a canal. When a screaming take comes, you’ve got a proper place ready rather than relying on your jacket or a patch of wet grass.
It also suits short static sessions. Maybe you’re deadbaiting a gravel pit, fishing a reservoir bank or sitting behind a couple of rods on a winter canal. The mat can stay beside your unhooking area, ready for a quick and controlled job. Set it up before the rods go out. That tiny bit of preparation saves a load of faff when a lump finally picks up the bait.
The important bit is how you use it. Wet the mat before the fish comes in. Keep the landing net wet too. Once the pike is on the mat, leave it in the net while you get your tools sorted, then expose the fish only when you’re ready. Support its body properly, keep fingers well clear of the mouth and don’t pin it down like a carp. Predator mouths are not the place for heroics, mate.
This mat is best viewed as one part of a fish-care system. It doesn’t replace long forceps, side cutters or a proper predator net. It won’t magically make an awkward trace safe either. You still need to know how to deal with trebles, when to cut a hook and when a fish needs returning immediately. The mat simply gives you a cleaner, kinder work surface while you do the job properly.
There are a couple of situations where a larger cradle would make more sense. If you regularly fish for big pike, a deeper-sided design can help keep the fish contained while you work. It can also offer more support on steep banks or uneven ground. The NGT option is more about keeping things light and uncomplicated, so don’t expect it to behave like a full unhooking station.
For the money-conscious angler, that simplicity is pretty appealing. You get a dedicated predator mat without filling the car with bulky kit. It’s easy to understand, quick to put down and useful across a stack of venues. Keep it clean, keep it damp when in use and make it part of your normal routine. Used alongside the right tools, it’s a bob-on upgrade from unhooking fish on bare ground.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product type
- Predator fish-care and unhooking mat
- Main use
- Safe handling and unhooking of pike and other predatory fish
- Construction
- Padded protective mat design
- Best suited to
- Lure fishing, static predator fishing and mobile bank work
- Care
- Keep clean and damp during use; rinse after muddy or gritty sessions
- Use with
- Landing net, long forceps, cutters and a wet towel
Specs checked with NGT, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The key angle
Fish care is all about reducing avoidable damage. A mat won’t make a bad unhooking job good, but it gives the fish a cleaner, softer surface while you get the business done. That matters, especially with pike, which can thrash hard and carry some seriously sharp tackle.
The NGT mat makes most sense for anglers building a sensible predator setup on a budget. Pair it with long forceps or proper unhooking tools, cutters, a landing net with a fish-friendly mesh and a wet towel. Keep the mat damp, keep the fish’s body supported and don’t faff about taking endless snaps. Get the fish back as quickly as you can.
A simple bit of fish-care kit
What you’re buying
The NGT Predator Unhooking Mat is a padded protective surface for handling predator fish. Its job is simple: keep the fish away from rough, dirty or hard ground while you remove hooks and prepare for a quick photo. That makes it useful on natural banks, canal paths, gravel pits and anywhere the ground is less than fish-friendly.
It’s a lightweight alternative to a full predator cradle. That makes more sense for anglers who move between swims or carry a fairly lean lure-fishing setup. Lay it beside the landing net before fishing, and you won’t be scrambling around when the rods are off.
Worth knowing. A mat protects the fish, but it doesn’t contain it like a cradle. Keep the fish low, support its body and never leave it unattended. Wet the mat and your hands before handling.
Good kit for sensible predator anglers
Who it suits
This is a strong fit for lure anglers, beginners and anyone putting together a budget-conscious predator setup. It’s also handy for short deadbait sessions where you want a dedicated unhooking area without carrying loads of bulky tackle.
Experienced anglers will know that the mat is only part of the picture. Match it with a big fish-friendly net, long forceps, cutters and a wet towel. Practise your unhooking routine so there’s no panic when a proper pike is flapping about.
If you mainly target very large pike or fish awkward, steep banks, a deeper cradle may be the better shout. It gives you more containment and support. For general predator fishing, though, this mat keeps the setup compact and the fish-care basics covered.
The stuff you’ll want to know
FAQs in full
Can I use it on a muddy bank? Yes, but clear away sharp stones and sticks first. A mat isn’t magic armour, and grit can still cause problems if it gets underneath the fish. Give it a rinse after the session so muck doesn’t dry into the padding.
Is it suitable for night fishing? It can be, but prepare everything before dark. Keep the mat, net, tools and headtorch in one place. A calm, organised unhooking routine is far safer than hunting for forceps by phone light.
Should the fish stay in the net? Keeping a pike in a wet net while you prepare your tools is sensible. Once it’s on the mat, work quickly and support it properly. If the hooks are awkward or deep, cut them rather than forcing the issue.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Provides a softer, cleaner surface than bare ground.
- Light and straightforward for roving predator anglers.
- Useful for both lure fishing and short static sessions.
- Usually a more wallet-friendly option than a bulky predator cradle.
Worth knowing
- A basic mat offers less containment than a proper cradle or deep-sided unhooking system.
- It still needs careful positioning on uneven or dirty ground.
- The angler remains responsible for supporting and handling the fish correctly.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Is the NGT Predator Unhooking Mat suitable for pike?
Is the NGT Predator Unhooking Mat suitable for pike?
Yes, that’s the main job it’s intended for. Use it with a large fish-friendly landing net and proper long-handled unhooking tools. Wet the mat first, keep the fish supported and work quickly.
02Can it be used for carp or other coarse fish?
Can it be used for carp or other coarse fish?
It can provide a protective surface for other fish, but it’s aimed at predator fishing. For regular carp work, a dedicated carp unhooking mat or cradle may give better support and containment.
03What else should I carry with this mat?
What else should I carry with this mat?
Take long forceps or pliers, side cutters, a suitable landing net, a wet towel and a pair of gloves if you use them. A headtorch is also a cracking idea for evening or night sessions.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are provides a softer, cleaner surface than bare ground. and light and straightforward for roving predator anglers.; the main trade-off is a basic mat offers less containment than a proper cradle or deep-sided unhooking system..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Provides a softer, cleaner surface than bare ground.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Mobile lure anglers: It gives you a proper surface without adding the bulk of a large cradle to a roving setup.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “A basic mat offers less containment than a proper cradle or deep-sided unhooking system.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate NGT Predator Unhooking Mat
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Owner reports
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