What kayak to buy???

Howdy all,
I am ready to take to the salt in a kayak! I have considered it for years, and am ready to take that first step.
I will preface this buy letting you all know I have 30 years experience offshore in powerboats, and have a masters near coastal license still.
I know the ocean as well as she can be known (which isn't as well as I'd like--she is a fickle gal)...I just want to be a little closer to her and my prey 
I am a big guy--6'2"+ and currently 280#'s (but losing . I have alot of experience paddling kayaks in whitewater settings. I am pretty fit (and getting more so each day). In short--I think I am mentally and physically prepared. Now I need a 'yak--and hopefully a buddy who wants to hit the water with a newbie.
What do you all think? Speed is a positive--but storage and enough space for my long legs and a decent seat for longer fishing days are important too.
I won't say money is no object--but I will pay what I have to pay to get what I need.
Any help you all could give me will be greatly appreciated!
Hard takes and tight lines,
Charlie

If you are a fisherman who wants to fish from a kayak (vs. a kayaker who wants to fish from a kayak) - its hard to beat a Hobie.

Welcome Charlie!

In my mind you have to ask yourself 2 main questions to get the best answer. The first one you already did...

1. What kind of fishing will I do with my kayak?
This one is tough, as you really have to be honest with yourself and what time and money you are willing to invest. You already said your primary purpose will be in the salt. That means a Sit-On-Top for sure. I would go with a minimum of a 12 footer. If you search these forums you will get an idea of what everybody is using.

2. Are you a Peddaler or a Paddler? If you don't know or are unsure- go demo, rent, borrow and see what you are comfortable in. It is a personal preference, however there is a lot to be said about the "hands free" of peddaling.

You can spend a small fortune in getting yourself outfitted. The good news is it is far less than what you have spent in power boats! The bad news is making poor choices (particulaly on immersion gear) can cost you your life. Set yourself up for comfort and safety! You don't have to have the newest F/F or the coolest flag or a fancy milk crate to catch fish.

My advise- Start with buying your own personal gear and then rent/borrow/try out different yaks before you buy.
Let me know when you want to get a paddle wet and you cantry out any of mine. You just have to take me with you!

Erik

If you want skinny little emaciated arms and a concave chest, Hobie.
If you want to sweat a lot but have ripped lats and deltoids, by all means, anything else.




Hobies are more convenient for trolling or looooooong trips to your fishing destination but they'll cost you 2x to 4x what you'd pay for a conventional SOT kayak.

-Spot-

Noooo...I don't vant a concave chest!!! My lat's and delt's are quite pumped up!!!
That said--I also ride a bike 5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes quite hard so pedaling to paddle sounds like a great option.
Can you do both when the wind/tide are working against you? That is my idea of "pumping me up!"
I probably won't fish much freshwater. Bays will be as close as I get.
I am looking forward to beach launching (maybe paddling to a Jetty  from a landing) and fishing for bottomfish primarily. I am sure salmon will enter the equsion occasionally. Mostly I want to explore in places it is difficult to get a power boat safely.
Getting geared up sounds like the best idea for now with personal equipment. If you all have some suggestions you might link to actual models of 'yaks you think might work for me that would be awesome!
Thank you all so much!
Charlie

Deepcolor hit the nail on the head.  If you want the tool best suited to fishing offshore than there can only be one choice, a Hobie.  I have four, I use for my guide business (and wouldn't if they weren't the best option for what I do) and I have never had anyone complain about missing having a paddle in their hands..  Yes, they are more expensive than traditional paddle kayaks but so is a nail gun compared to a hammer.. which would you pick to build a house?    Feel free to give me a shout,  love to fish the salt any chance I get!

6' 2" and 280# that's pushing into Cobra Fish and Dive payload range when you get it geared up and have a stringer of fish on board.

Welcome to the board!

6' 2" and 280# that's pushing into Cobra Fish and Dive payload range when you get it geared up and have a stringer of fish on board.

Welcome to the board!

Very true, you could be real close to bumping into the 400lb capacity of  even the Outback (Hobie's highest payload single) with a fully rigged boat and a good days worth of  rockfish/lings. 

Just remember that if you listen to RON ( pelagic) you will never be wRONg. As for Spot, well most of us Hobie
owners prefer to get our upper body workouts fighting huge fish rather than paddling, but to each his own

I've got rather a strict budget, so the $1200+ for a used Hobie was just too much for me as I am also in need of EVERYTHING else necessary for yak fishing.  Drysuit, PFD, handheld VHF, and PLB.  Not to mention plenty of fishing gear for when the bug wand isn't appropriate, and then nicities like a fish-finder, GPS, waterproof camera, etc.   Even being pretty conservative about what I buy, shopping Craigslist, etc I'll be into this new hobby for a minimum of $1500, and $2500 if I get all the nice to have stuff.

So I wound up buying an Ocean Kayak Prowler 13' from another member on here.  I figure in a couple years I can step up to a Hobie.

Hobie

I will second or third you looking into the Peddle option of Hobie Outback or the Paddle option of the Cobra Fish N Dive.   Both of these options are great stable platforms and are more likely to do you well with your size.   

I have the Hobie Revo and two of the Cobra Fish n Dives.  Love them both!

As they say.... try as many kayaks as you can before you buy.

14 to 16 foot kayaks tend to be faster
30 inch plus kayaks tend to feel more stable.

This is my list of kayaks that I like.

Tarpon 140. Nice boat but a little tippy if you have a lot of upper body weigh.
2012 Ride 135. I have not tried one but looks like a good choice.
Jackson Cuda. It looks a lot like the Ride 135. I have not tried one.
Hobie Outback. They are stable and faster with turbo fins than a Tarpon 140.

The Hobie cost is about $500 more than buying most other kayaks with a rudder. But they come with a paddle, seat and the drive.

willbd

I've got rather a strict budget, so the $1200+ for a used Hobie was just too much for me as I am also in need of EVERYTHING else necessary for yak fishing.  Drysuit, PFD, handheld VHF, and PLB.  Not to mention plenty of fishing gear for when the bug wand isn't appropriate, and then nicities like a fish-finder, GPS, waterproof camera, etc.   Even being pretty conservative about what I buy, shopping Craigslist, etc I'll be into this new hobby for a minimum of $1500, and $2500 if I get all the nice to have stuff.

So I wound up buying an Ocean Kayak Prowler 13' from another member on here.  I figure in a couple years I can step up to a Hobie.

That is a great choice!  Every kayak is a good kayak. The only bad choice is no kayak. I think you will be thrilled with your choice. Welcome to the insanity!

I can't resist mentioning that my Hobie Tandem Island has a 600 lb capacity, seats two and has two outriggers for unmatched stability and a sail to extend your range and fun options. If you'd like a demo let me know.

iHop


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk