fishing kayaks

[baitfish13]

So im tired of seeing all you guys havin so much fun fishing from your kayak's,so im going to join in the fun.
I am a compleat newbie to the kayak thing and before i buy just a few questions.
1.How much does length matter? (what about girth? J/K)
2.rudder? is it needed/useful?
3.do you guys wear wadders?
4.peddle or paddle?
5.What would be the most beginer freindly size in your opinion?

[Ding A Ling]

I am an old canoe skipper lol and this is what i know about length it applies to a kayak as well. The longer the yak the faster it can go. A 16' kayak has a greater top speed than a 12' kayak. That's all I can help you with, I too am a wanna be yakker!!

[phishy]

i saw one at the boat show with a motor..thats the one i recommend..use the paddles to beat the sharks off with.

[Joey805]

Originally Posted by baitfish13

1.How much does length matter? (what about girth? J/K)

[ODH33]

best advice i can give you is borrow and demo as many as you can before buying. go to the shops and ask to DEMO the yak they will usually let you do it for free. sometimes they even have demo days where you can test a bunch out. find one that you are comfortable in. i would not sorry too much about speed at first. get used to being in a stable yak and fishing from it then look to upgrade. I am waiting for the new prowler to hit the market so i can upgrade from my drifter and turn it into a hooping machine!

[J Woodman]

Follow Dans advice above about test drives. Channel Islands Kayak Center next to Capt. Hooks in the harbor is pretty good about letting you try several models.
IMHO:
Rudders, only needed for long range paddling or for any peddle kayak. If the paddle kayak needs a rudder, it will not be very manueverable for fishing.

Waders, are useful to keep dry and warm such as when hooping, but can be bulky and cumbersome on a nice day when fishing. I don't own them. In the winter, I do use a shorty wet suit sometimes, but it has drawbacks, like when nature calls.

Peddle or paddle, a few of us have Hobie Mirage drive peddle kayaks. I have both kinds. I may never go back to my paddle kayak after buying the Hobie. When fishing, there is nothing like pulling a big fish out of the rocks on a peddle kayak. With a paddle, you have to put down the rod, or juggle it and the paddle, to get away from the rocks when the fish wants to pull you in. At that point, you may have broken off or the fish may have gotten into the hole he was swimming for. With a peddle, you just reach down with one hand briefly and turn the rudder, then just peddle away from the rocks all the while still fighting the fish. This also works when you get stuck on the bottom. On the down side, the peddles get stuck in the kelp, so you have to go around instead of through, or pull out the peddle assembly and paddle; and there is no reverse, only forward, so every once in a while, you have to pick up the paddle that you carry anyway and back up. The peddle kayaks are also somewhat more expensive, so it is probably better to try out a less expensive model first to see if this kind of fishing is for you.

[YakSailor]

Take a look at all the info in the kayak section. There's already a lot of threads there on this subject.

[Herbo]

Hi Dan, as everyone says,road test them all, go on the diffrent web sites[Hobie,Cobra,Malibu,Ocean] than look at
all kayak fishing .com,kayakfishingstuff.com,kayakfishing.net, plastic navy.com for reveiws and ideas and prices you can check the displays at the FHS....good luck H

[ODOGFISH]

Man lots of good advice ,, but heres my two cents .........

Wider = Stablity and you lose some speed

Longer = Speed and you lose some stablity

now wher on GODS Ocean do you plan on fishing ,, If you stay to the bays and near shore go with WIDER ,, If you plan on long off shore trips go with longer ,, now PEDAL or PADDLE the purist will tell you to go with a Paddle yak I have tried both and let me tell you I DONT CARE WAT THE PURIST SAY I AM GOING TO BUY THE "HOBIE OUT BACK" its 12'1" long and 33in Wide and it hauls ass ,, its got tons of storage 4 molded in rod holders a real nice seat and a paddle rest/holder built right in ............... go see it for your self youll be amazed

[Ding A Ling]

ODOGFISH before you spend the bucks have you test driven this one?

The Hobie Mirage Revolution Fish has the speed of the Adventure, utility of the Outback, and maneuverability of the Sport. It provides an easy to use, stable, and efficient alternative to traditional fishing boats. It will enhance your fishing experience with a deluxe cockpit and the speed to get you to the best spots quickly.

Supposedly Hobie created this model with lots of input from fishing yakers.