fishing kayak advice

Hi all,

I'm looking for some sea kayak fishing advice. I currently have a self bailing inflatable sea kayak but want to upgrade. I'm an intermediate paddler and now want more of a fishing kayak than my inflatable is up for. I'm in the market for a used fishing kayak with the following being my priorities.

Here's some of the planned uses.
1) Being able to kayak in both rivers, open ocean and the puget sound
2) Multi day trips
3) Have the ability to mount rod holders

What would people recommend sit on top? Sit in?
Brand?

Also, I work at a non-profit so my budget is in the low end ...

Thanks for the help!

Ben

What type of fishing are you planning?  Given your limited budget and potential need to haul more stuff (multiday) I'd say find an OK T15 or Hobie Adventure.  Nanook can probably fill you in on the viable SINK options.  I'm not personally fond of them [SINKs], but he and some others here have some valuable experience with them.  If you were'nt planning multi-day trips I stay away from them as dedicated fishing vessels.

I'd have to agree with Yarjammer, for sure.

The first suggestion I'd have is to take an honest assessment of how often you'll be making those multi-day trips as compared to how often you'll be fishing.  If you plan on serious distance or very rough conditions, then you will need a sit-inside for it's performance characteristics, though your fishing options will dwindle dramatically.  You'll also need classes and quite a bit of practice before that's a safe trip.  If you stay in relatively sheltered areas, most of the longer sit-on-tops can do the job.  It's all based on your needs, really.

When you plan your trips, just imagine you are spreading out the contents of a backpack through a kayak, with the addition of fishing gear and required kayak safety equipment.  There is a lot of room in a kayak if you have sized down your camping needs first.  You may need to haul extra water when on islands, but most boats that can handle the gear you'll need can also handle a decent sized dromedary.  Just weigh everything and stay within the recommended load capacity for your craft.

The hatches or access points become important when you plan these trips, and when you buy drybags.  Be sure your boat has enough space behind large enough hatches to fit the relatively bulky things that you'll be bringing (tent, cookpots, sleeping bag, beer supply  ).  Also plan on subdividing things into categories that fit within smaller drybags for maximizing use of smaller hatches and areas.  Most tankwells on SOT kayaks can handle quite a bit of gear (I like roll-top duffles for that zone) and are designed to balance well when the load is located in that area. Just dont' stack it too high.  You don't want to raise your center of gravity too much or make it hard to right the kayak should inclement conditions flip you.

I've had no trouble making outings from my Adventure Island and would have even more room if I didn't have the sailing support bracket system inside the boat.  Most of the time, however, I have it stripped down to just the Adventure for general fishing and camping trips.  I haven't found anyone in my area who has an Adventure Island, fishes, and is willing to sail off on a long trip.  Some day....

Thank you both for the comments!

Your points are well taken.

I'm definitely going to be using this more for fishing, but will also make a couple multi day trips a year.

How long of a boat do you recommend?

Thanks again!

ben

You also state that you want to be able to do rivers, so to me that would push you to something not as long as the T15 or AI.  Because you're asking so much of it, you'll have to compromise somewhere.  A 13 foot boat like the T13 may be a good compromise.  Try as many as you can and see what fits you first.  That should be near the top of your list in terms of importance.  After that you can make do with whatever you got.

-Allen

I have to ask, do you already do multi-day trips in something else?

If your answer to the first question is no and you're more of a car camper, I would buy something that will make you happy for what you plan on doing 75-90% of the time on the water.  Allen is right about finding a way to make do with what you've got; adapt and overcome.  I have an OK P13 and it works great for what I ask of it.

  Here's my opinionated look at the various kayak options:
 
9' SOT  = Open top jeep.  Good for tight spots and carrying a decent amount of gear, but you don't want to roadtrip in it.

13' SOT = Average fullsize Pickup w/ mud tires.  Capable of doing OK at pretty much whatever you ask of it.

13' SINK = Sporty hatchback. Quicker than than the SOTs and can carry a lot of stuff but not as sure footed

15'+ SOT = Semi w/ flatbed trailer.  Good for the long haul and can carry a ton of crap but not something you want to try and make many tight turns in.

15'+ SINK = European sportwagon.  Quicker than anything else, gets you there in style, hauls a ton of gear, but seriously... stop having your guide do all your knot tying and fishhook removal for you.

Or buy used and upgrade in a year once you really figure out what you need.  Lot's of guys here have a quiver of kayaks to choose from depending on what they are doing.  Their older kayaks become either specialized for the situation, become loaners for friends, or get sold.

-Allen

15'+ SINK = European sportwagon.  Quicker than anything else, gets you there in style, hauls a ton of gear, but seriously... stop having your guide do all your knot tying and fishhook removal for you.

 

Thank you all for the help.

The majority of time will be fishing, but this does include overnight yak fishing trips here and there.

I decide to go with Jason's fishing SOT here:

http://kayakangler.blogspot.com/2009/07/kayak-fishing-tips-on-rigging-sit-on.html

Please let me know what you think.

Again, many thanks,
Ben

Thank you all for the help.

The majority of time will be fishing, but this does include overnight yak fishing trips here and there.

I decide to go with Jason's fishing SOT here:

http://kayakangler.blogspot.com/2009/07/kayak-fishing-tips-on-rigging-sit-on.html

Please let me know what you think.

Again, many thanks,
Ben

Jason Self is better known as Nanook here on NWKA.  Ocean Kayak no longer makes the Scupper Pro though, I believe the replacement is the Trident 15.  If you are just doing overnight trips, the 13ft models would fill the bill as well if you don't plan on bringing the kitchen sink along with you.  Stays greater than one night will put you into the larger yak sizes unless you pack like a runaway teen.

I don't view a Scupper Pro as very versatile,  and I have one.

-Allen

Allan,

Thanks for your comment, but i'm surprised to hear you don't like it.
Can you tell me what you didn't like?

I've found the following link which the vast majority of people enjoying the yak.
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=181

Thanks,
ben

I've found the following link which the vast majority of people enjoying the yak.
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=181

You'll notice that most of the positive reviews that mention fishing out of the scupper pro are all from the early 2000's which is well before dedicated fishing kayaks really came out.    At the time, it was one of the best options.  Today's fishing kayaks offer a lot more features with the angler specifically in mind which makes them much more versitile to us.

Brian
 

Allan,

Thanks for your comment, but i'm surprised to hear you don't like it.
Can you tell me what you didn't like?

I've found the following link which the vast majority of people enjoying the yak.
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=181

Thanks,
ben

I'm not saying I don't like it, just that it is not as versatile.  It's weight range is not as high.  It's not a good "big person" kayak.  It's tippier than most SOTs.  It's on the long side so not the best in the rivers.   And the bucket seat doesn't fit everyone.  But, it is also a faster SOT.

It is a classic SOT kayak that probably did the most to define kayak fishing.  And in many parts of the world it is still very popular.  But it wasn't designed FOR kayak fishing.

-Allen

I have to ask, do you already do multi-day trips in something else?

If your answer to the first question is no and you're more of a car camper, I would buy something that will make you happy for what you plan on doing 75-90% of the time on the water.  Allen is right about finding a way to make do with what you've got; adapt and overcome.  I have an OK P13 and it works great for what I ask of it.

  Here's my opinionated look at the various kayak options:
 
9' SOT  = Open top jeep.  Good for tight spots and carrying a decent amount of gear, but you don't want to roadtrip in it.

13' SOT = Average fullsize Pickup w/ mud tires.  Capable of doing OK at pretty much whatever you ask of it.

13' SINK = Sporty hatchback. Quicker than than the SOTs and can carry a lot of stuff but not as sure footed

15'+ SOT = Semi w/ flatbed trailer.  Good for the long haul and can carry a ton of crap but not something you want to try and make many tight turns in.

15'+ SINK = European sportwagon.  Quicker than anything else, gets you there in style, hauls a ton of gear, but seriously... stop having your guide do all your knot tying and fishhook removal for you.

 

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