fishing kayaks

mikeysm · February 28, 2021, 09:33:37 PM

Decided to buy a fishing kayak and wanted to know which brands to look at. Please don't tell me about cheap ones I'm looking for a top of the line type. I dont want to buy one and it won't hold up and end up junk in a year.

Mike

ReelFishingProblems · February 28, 2021, 11:49:10 PM

Friend had a Hobie Pro Angler 12. It was very nice. I fish an Ascend FS12T. There is a considerable difference in the two for obvious reasons. The ascend is an entry level kayak and the hobie is a serious watercraft. I want to get the Hobie Pro Angler myself.

MarkT · February 28, 2021, 11:57:10 PM

There are a bunch of good ones. Hobie if you want hands free. Their patent finally expired so there are now others using their original drive. Ocean Kayak, Jackson, Malibu, Wilderness all make great paddle fishing kayaks. The paddle ones have better in hull storage since there isn't a drive in the way. I don't know where you are but there are kayak shops around that carry the ones I mentioned.

https://www.hobie.com/kayaks/
https://malibukayaks.com/
https://www.oceankayak.com/
https://jacksonadventures.com/
https://www.wildernesssystems.com/us/

pjstevko · March 01, 2021, 01:54:55 AM

Mike the first thing you need to figure out is if you want to paddle or pedal.... That decision should help you determine which company you go with..... If you want pedal go with Hobie and if you want to paddle get a Jackson... Just make sure you get one that fits your size.... I loved my fishing kayak when I lived in Florida and was part of a kayak fishing group so let me know if you have any questions

Pj

mikeysm · March 01, 2021, 02:04:02 PM

The problem is there are allot of bad ones and just a few good ones. I cant seem to search for one without being sent to amazon. They are all junk being pushed by Amazon.

Mike

SteveL · March 01, 2021, 02:28:14 PM

These a are a little pricey, but they caught my eye a while back. I think they are rotomolded like kayaks now (early models were fiberglass).

https://www.soloskiff.com/

Swami805 · March 01, 2021, 03:27:51 PM

Wow! That looks like a fun little sled

If forget the name but there's a kayak place in San Diego that's on the water that lets you test drive different kayaks to get a feel for what you like. A long trek I know but might be worth it, those high end kayaks are pricey

MarkT · March 01, 2021, 03:59:00 PM

OEX used to be on Mission Bay, now they're in Kearny Mesa, they have a store in Sunset Beach on the water where you can demo 'yaks.

pjstevko · March 01, 2021, 04:02:17 PM

https://jacksonadventures.com/kayak-fishing/

oc1 · March 01, 2021, 08:03:42 PM

Most fishing guys say Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14. By the time you trick it out the price can be like six grand.

I want to paddle, not pedal. A one-man outrigger canoe works best for me because it is fast and stealth.

boon · March 01, 2021, 08:25:05 PM

For what it's worth... if you haven't already, I'd start off by borrowing one, then get in the water beside it, clothed as you would expect to be for a fishing trip, then see if you can get back in the yak. At some point you will end up in the water; every experienced Kayak fisherman I know has turtled at some point, and in deep water with a little bit of chop it can be incredibly hard to get back on board.

RowdyW · March 01, 2021, 08:33:53 PM

Curious, do they build kayaks with outriggers? Or is there aftermarket companies that make them for attachment to kayaks. Rudy

Ron Jones · March 02, 2021, 04:03:40 AM

Quote from: boon on March 01, 2021, 08:25:05 PM
For what it's worth... if you haven't already, I'd start off by borrowing one, then get in the water beside it, clothed as you would expect to be for a fishing trip, then see if you can get back in the yak. At some point you will end up in the water; every experienced Kayak fisherman I know has turtled at some point, and in deep water with a little bit of chop it can be incredibly hard to get back on board.

Truer words have rarely been said. First time I went over was off hickam beach. I was trolling and got hung up, that is an instant anchoring, and if you keep paddling, the boat spins 90 degrees faster than a mean mechanical bull operator... out you go. I lost the rod and reel, but kept the roy, a buddy of mine turned the skin into a jet head.

The Man

oc1 · March 02, 2021, 07:48:09 AM

Quote from: RowdyW on March 01, 2021, 08:33:53 PM
Curious, do they build kayaks with outriggers? Or is there aftermarket companies that make them for attachment to kayaks. Rudy

Yes, but with a wide-body fishing kayak the outriggers have to be placed way back near the stern so they not get in the way of the double-blade kayak paddle. An outrigger works better on a narrow canoe because the stroke with the shorter single-blade canoe paddle is more upright and there is room to paddle without banging the outrigger.

Those wide fishing kayaks are more stable than you might think. You will not capsize them any more often than you would a one-man outrigger canoe.

Glad to see you posting Rudy.

oc1 · March 02, 2021, 07:58:43 AM

Quote from: Ron Jones on March 02, 2021, 04:03:40 AM
Truer words have rarely been said. First time I went over was off hickam beach. I was trolling and got hung up, that is an instant anchoring, and if you keep paddling, the boat spins 90 degrees faster than a mean mechanical bull operator... out you go. I lost the rod and reel, but kept the roy, a buddy of mine turned the skin into a jet head.

I hate capsizing and mussing up my hair. I lost the most expensive baitcasting rod and reel I had ever owned in it's first two hours of use when the boat flipped.

What the heck is a jet head?