Jackson big rig vs Jackson cuda 14 vs Old town predator 13

So I'm in the market for my 1st fishing kayak. I've been researching a lot of kayaks lately and I've narrowed my choices down to 3 (ranking from most preferred to least preferred):
 1. Jackson big rig. 2. jackson cuda 14. 3. Old town predator 13.

I will be spending 80-90% of my time fishing in lakes, but after watching some videos posted from this site, I'm convinced that I want to take my kayak out for some salt water fishing as well. 

Does anyone have any experience with these kayaks? I would love to hear your experiences and recommendations.

Thanks. 
 
 

The big rig looks moderately suitable for the ocean,  the other two will work you hard if you use them for a surf launch.   There are lots of lightly used Hobie's available right now around the same price.

Allen Bushnell paddles his Predator in the ocean on a regular basis.  He really likes it for the salt. 
One of these days I want to give mine a go in a surf launch/landing.  As well as the Predators handle moving water in rivers, I'm thinking it may actually surf.  Don't know 1st hand yet though.

-Mark-

Buy a Trident 13 or a used Revo 13

The big rig looks moderately suitable for the ocean,  the other two will work you hard if you use them for a surf launch.   There are lots of lightly used Hobie's available right now around the same price.

thanks for the input. I've been watching on craigslist (seattle-tacoma region) for that one elusive hobie kayak. I have yet to find one that's within my budget     

Buy a Trident 13 or a used Revo 13

Thanks.  I'll research the trident 13 and revo 13. 

I second that vote on the Revo13 and I raise you, buy a 2015 Revo13.

Hey man, I'm in Bonney Lake and I have a Revo 13 I can sell you, but I can't sell it til my new boat arrives (which should be any day now...)

You can ask anyone, my boats are really well cared for.

I'll update the add.

I have a few predator 13s with rudders. I love them in the ocean, rivers and lakes. I love that I can stand and fly fish while floating fast moving rivers. I live at snoqualmie pass and you can come up and give one a try to get a feel for the boat before you pull the trigger. Just let me know.

Other things to ponder as you look for the ideal fishing kayak

When I bought my first fishing kayak; OT Predator 13 I thought it important to get one that would make it easy to stand and the P13 fills that requirement just fine. I also thought due to my age (66) I should get a more stable kayak so as to not go swimming as often as I may in a narrow boat; the P13 filled that need also.
However when you get those traits it is inevitable that you sacrifice quite a lot of other features.

Stable, in most cases heavy, usually a very comfy seating arrangement, tons of storage and the underside is usually quite flat. This translates to having to move a great deal of water to get it going and keep it going. My P13 has very little glide, meaning if I quit paddling, the boat slows very quickly. The term fast-water is relative; to me that means white-water, not the Willamette River's fast water. The P-13 is a dog when it comes to maneuverability. I can turn it with effort, however my concerns came when it came to eddying in and out without capsizing. The P13 is difficult to control when opposing currents hit the flat underbelly.

I started with a Bending Branches 240CM Angler paddle which is also heavy and a drudge to use after a few hours. I opted to spend the extra and went with a Werner Camano; much lighter and stiffer and this helped quite a bit to make the P13 endurable.

A part of the reason for buying a barge was a problem with my lower back and the seat of the P13 is very nice. That said, now after surgery and my back is better I'm looking at other boats. I've found it is not all that necessary to stand to fish in fact I spend most of my time sitting, even though it is easy enough to stand. I've also found my balance is much better than I had considered, and intentionally falling out of a SOT, knowing they are easy to get back in/on has made the wide boat not so important as other features.

Narrower and lighter equals more speed and greater glide. Couple those traits with a nice paddle and you will find yourself getting to and from the fishing grounds with much less effort and save all that energy for fishing.

SOT's are not white-water boats. Well, there may be one or two which will work in anything above class II, however the barges are not designed for it. No rocker, no pronounced modified V hull and way to heavy to make them easy to control in technical waters. No one boat does it all which is something I learned very recently.

There are quite a few boats in the 28-30 inch wide by 13-15 foot long that will be a better fishing machine "for me". Whether a lighter narrower boat will work for you will be determined by a test paddle. Not a quick once around the pool paddle, but a paddle lasting at least 30 minutes so you can see the advantages vs the drawbacks of various widths, weights and lengths.

Part of what has convinced me a narrower boat is do-able is the recent purchase of an Axis 12.0 crossover white-water boat;12 long by 27.5 inches wide and just 55 pounds. Now that I'm comfortable in that narrow of a boat a whole lot of possibilities are open when it comes to looking at SOT's.

I had a minor problem with my new P13 that the Johnson Group went out of their way to correct. I've read horror stories of other manufacturer's so when I buy my next kayak it will very likely be of the Johnson Group and probably an Ocean Kayak.

You'll find a large following on this forum of the Ocean & Old Town kayaks produced by the Johnson Group. Many of these folks suggested an Ocean Kayak when I began looking for my first fishing kayak for the very reasons I mentioned earlier and I was reluctant because of the reasons mentioned. Now with a few miles under the keel I'll likely trade up to a much faster Ocean Kayak... I hate to be the last one to show up at the party.

Just my opinions and observations; next year I may have greater insight.
P.s. Have not paddled any of the Ocean Kayaks yet... specs are what I'm basing opinions upon.

That's really sound advice.

Hey 17?
What's your price point anyway? That could also help when it comes to advice.

You said your "first fishing kayak."  Does that mean you have some experience in kayaks and are looking for a fishing kayak?

It would also help to know your experience level.

RV... Thanks for sharing your experiences. It was helpful.

Hey 17?
What's your price point anyway? That could also help when it comes to advice.

I'm looking at $1500 for price point.

It would also help to know your experience level.

I've done a little kayak fishing with a buddy in FL and I did kayak rentals on the lake once or twice.  I consider myself a beginner as there are still lots of things to learn about kayaking.

I've done a little kayak fishing with a buddy in FL and I did kayak rentals on the lake once or twice.  I consider myself a beginner as there are still lots of things to learn about kayaking.

Your experience level is a lot like mine, minus the Florida part.  I might suggest that you practice in the bays and the larger rivers until you're comfortable - REALLY comfortable - fishing from a kayak because it's an altogether different kind of beast to tame.  Add in waves and swells, strong currents, passably strong winds, cold water... It gets complicated fast.

It might be a good idea to factor-in how much time it might take you to be fully prepared and ready to go to sea in an itty-bitty Tupperware boat when you're making a purchase decision.

RV... Thanks for sharing your experiences. It was helpful.

Hey 17?
What's your price point anyway? That could also help when it comes to advice.

I'm looking at $1500 for price point.

It would also help to know your experience level.

I've done a little kayak fishing with a buddy in FL and I did kayak rentals on the lake once or twice.  I consider myself a beginner as there are still lots of things to learn about kayaking.

Lots of good advice here. I'll keep it simple, buy Lee's revo you'll love that boat, it does every thing you're looking for really well and will be a lot easier to transport. He would probably even let you test drive it before you buy.