Who's fishing a Jackson Cuda 14? (a.k.a. Cuda 14 vs OK Trident 13)

If anyone out there is fishing from a Jackson Cuda 14, I'd like to hear about your experience with it.  I'm also trying to figure out how to arrange a demo in one - is Kayak Shed in HR the closest? 

The Cuda 14 is at the top of my list right now along with the OK Trident 13 (from my research, they both seem like awesome boats with features I'm looking for).  I haven't gotten my hands on either one just yet, but plan to soon.

Kayak Shed has the Cuda 12 $ 14 for demo. I have their Coosa demo here in Camas if you want to check it out.


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Not what you asked directly. But I fish a t13 if your looking for info.

I have fished both the cuda 14 and the OK prowler and trident 13. Both great boats that excel at different things. The cuda seat is the big difference. It is very comfortable but it puts your center of gravity much higher. In calm water it doesn't make much difference. In rough water the two boats are night and day. The trident is a lighter boat that accelerates faster and handles much better on the ocean.
After a trip on the coast in poor conditions I switched back to the OK and ditched the Cuda. Its new owner thinks it is the greatest boat ever. So it really depends on your style and fishing locations.
I still think the trident/prowler series is one of the best line of ocean paddle boats period!   

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Yes, I'd like to hear more about Trident 13 fishing experiences here as well.  And, good to here from someone who's fished both yaks. 

I was thinking that the differences with the Cuda might only be the better ability to stand up and cast from it and a couple hundred $ higher price.  It's sounding like that "stand-up" factor may be offset by the T13's ability to better handle rough water. 

I have only been kayaking on saltwater twice and it was relatively calm (and warm) seas both times.  I want to choose a kayak that will allow me to safely fish in the Pacific if I decide to get equipped for it, and have more experience.

I'm used to fishing big reservoirs that can turn from ripple to nearly 2' white caps inside of 15 minutes when the wind suddenly comes up.  I try to keep close tabs on the weather, but I've still been surprised by how fast approaching storm fronts can hit on a couple occasions.  I don't want to feel that I have to shy away from big water because of my kayak selection, while other kayak anglers are out there rippin lips.

On his cuda, I saw FG attack surf that even surfers wouldn't go near. Lauched, landed, and made it look easy. Not to fish...just to do it. I couldn't get past the first set on my outback.

With a prowler, he prolly coulda done it while doing a handstand.

I was really ogling the Cuda 12 and comparing it to the Coosa and Cuda14 at the PNW Sportsman's Show at the Kayak Shed booth. I will demo the Cuda 12 when I get a chance.

I'm getting an OK Trident 11 this week, hope to use it for lakes and floating the Sandy and Washougal. Not sure if an 11 is too small for surf launch and paddling out in swells, any thoughts?

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The T11 does great in the salt. Spot let me borrow his my first time out and it was a pleasure to paddle and fish out of.

It sounds like the Cuda may be very ocean/surf capable...at least in the hands of a skilled kayaker.

The cuda is a perfectly capable ocean boat it just puts your center of gravity much higher than the trident. As far as standing goes l have never tried it in the trident. In the cuda I was able to stand but it definitely wasn't a stable fishing platform while standing.... very shaky for me.

While out with Rory it took me three tries to punch through the surf where I'm pretty sure I would have made it on the first try in the trident.

The trident has a wet seat for me and the cuda is very dry. This also meant I caught a lot more wind drift in the cuda.

Both capable boats but I no longer have the cuda and have a trident 13 and a prowler 13.

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Alder Creek is the closest place to demo a Cuda. I just sold mine and awaiting a new one in Blaze Orange.

I'm still trying to figure out when the ability to stand up in a kayak became so important. It used to be a measure of a paddler's skill/balance, but now it's about the kayak which makes for a slower kayak in most cases.

That said, yeah, I like the Cuda, a lot. I paddled a T13 a couple times, but owned a T15, which isn't something you're going to stand in until you've got the skill/balance to do it. I had a T11 which was just as easy to stand in as any of the Jackson Kayaks, but I'd not consider taking a T11 out in the salt. It's just not good for distance paddling, though might be fine at fishing jetties and PC Haystack. 

The Cuda has been good to me in the surf. I find it easier to handle than my old T15, regardless of the slightly higher center of gravity. The only thing I don't recommend is using the rod stagers & tip protector in the surf. I have broken one of my rods because of that. In the salt, I have not found reason to stand to cast, but the capability is there. We're not sight casting to reds in 18" of water so I don't find the need to stand.

The T13 will fall right between the Cuda 12 and Cuda 14 in terms of specs. The Jackson's are heavier on paper because JK weights include full rigging including the seat and RAM mounts, which isn't usually the case with other manufacturers. That reminds me, the Cudas now have RAM rocket launchers behind the seats instead of flush mounts. This is going to keep your gear drier and give you a lot more rod possibilities.

I'm still trying to figure out when the ability to stand up in a kayak became so important. It used to be a measure of a paddler's skill/balance, but now it's about the kayak which makes for a slower kayak in most cases.

When the bass guys started getting serious in the kayaks!

The only thing I don't recommend is using the rod stagers & tip protector in the surf. I have broken one of my rods because of that.

How'd you do that?

-Allen

The only thing I don't recommend is using the rod stagers & tip protector in the surf. I have broken one of my rods because of that.

How'd you do that?

-Allen

Managed to snag handle the reel in the cuff of my dry suit in the surf zone. Some how in the less-than-a-second of fumbling that ensued with my left arm fighting a paddle, surf and my rod, something happened to break the tip. With the center hatch, there wasn't any need to have the rods on the deck of the kayak. Why I just had to do things differently, I dunno. But, again, I learned my lesson. Stow it right.

The T13 will fall right between the Cuda 12 and Cuda 14 in terms of specs. The Jackson's are heavier on paper because ....

The only spec that the Trident 13 falls between the two Cudas is length. Other than the fact that 13 is between 12 and 14 there are little else you can say that makes these boats similar. The Cuda is heavier on paper because it is actually heavier.

The Cuda 14 felt slow to accelerate which is huge in the surf. While it has decent primary stability the secondary stability of the Cuda leaves a lot to be desired. If you want a salt water boat designed by a fresh water bass guy get a Cuda. If you want a boat that will surf launch in anything other than ankle slappers at the north end of PC then get a Trident.

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Well dammit, here I go agreeing with Bill.  The Jackson boats are better suited for fresh water, or the calmer seas of the east coast.  They have bad secondary stability.

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