Choosing a Fishing KayakLast Updated April 2022 Choosing a fishing kayak can be a big decision. Often these water craft are costly to the buyer and knowing which one to invest in can take lots of thinking and research, particularly for those new tokamak fishing. Of course you can jump straight in and buy the first one you see but chances are you will find yourself wanting to upgrade when you see other models that are available that may have been more suitable for you. It is worth taking some time to think about what exactly your requirements are. Questions one should be asking should include:
There are many, many more considerations to think about when selecting a kayak, and one of the big ones is how much are you willing to spend! How Much to SpendOf course, for most, the price of a fishing kayak is the biggest dictator of what kayak one will eventually end up buying. This is a tricky point to discuss as everyone differs in what they are prepared to spend. I know for a fact that you can get a fishing kayak with a few basic essentials to get you on the water for less than £500, that is not to say that you should though. Some fishing kayaks cost in excess of £2500 and once kitted out with a fish finder, GPS, VHF radio, drysuit/paddle clothing, anchoring gear e.t.c. costs can runs into the £1000's. As a minimum i would recommend putting aside a budget of £1000-1500 if you are looking for your first fishing kayak set up. This sort of budget will allow you to purchase a kayak, paddle, seat, buoyancy aid, perhaps some paddle clothing and safety equipment along with a few more bits to get you on the water. Importantly, this should allow you to buy a kayak that will last you several seasons before you may wish to upgrade, thats if you want to at all. Taking the time to research the right kayak for you will save you needing to upgrade soon after purchasing the wrong kayak and losing money. Those who are upgrading kayaks are likely to be more flexible with their budget as they will know what sort of kayak they will be wanting to upgrade too and how much one is likely to cost before choosing to upgrade. What to AvoidAs i mentioned, the fishing kayak market is a minefield....there are things that you are going to want to avoid. Lets take a look at what not to buy.... Cheap / Low Quality Imported Kayaks A quick search on various online auction/selling sites will show a huge quantity of cheap kayaks that are imported from China and sold under little-known brand names that often hint at being associated with well-known brand names. hey are often direct rip-offs of well-known and respected fishing kayak hull designs. These are usually sold by 'pop-up' sellers who have brought one container of kayaks and are trying to make a quick buck, You may well come across issues with after-sales and warranty should you have a problem with your purchase. The problem itself is not that they are manufactured in China. The Chinese manufacturing industry can make some top quality products.... when instructed to do so within a viable budget. The trouble is that manufacturing a kayak and then shipping it across the world to be sold for a couple of hundred pounds means that compromises will be made to the quality and construction of that kayak. Their low price tag is often a magnet for those new to the sport but before committing to buy there new a number of things to be aware of.... These kayaks are typically made from LLDPE - Low Linear Density Polyethylene. This is a low grade of polyethylene that is not as durable as higher grades of polyethylene such as Medium Density (MDPE) and High Density (HDPE) polyethylene that are used by the major brands within the kayak manufacturing industry. It is cheaper to buy and also cheaper to mould as it melts at a lower temperature. What does this mean? Well LLDPE is certainly more prone to scratching and warping than MDPE and HDPE. You will still get on the water and have some fun, but don't expect the kayak to hold up for as long as those made form higher quality materials. The components and fixings used within the manufacture of 'cheap import' kayaks are usually lower quality too, and this may result in them failing sooner. It all comes down to the old cliche saying "you get what you pay for" and this couldn't be more true for kayaks! "Buy cheap, Buy twice" also comes to mind. Despite being of a lower quality, one of the biggest reasons to avoid the cheaper kayaks from little-known brands is resale value. When it comes to selling your kayak, a lower quality kayak just wont hold its value like a kayak from a well-known quality brand will. This is an important consideration because there will come a time when you will need to sell your kayak - either because you are giving up on kayaking, or because you want to upgrade to a better or newer craft. As mentioned though, far-east manufacturers can make quality products if the manufacturing budget allows. Some imported brands who manufacture in the far-east are of reasonable quality though so keep an eye out for established brands sold by reliable retailers, as often these can represent value for money when buying a first fishing kayak. One such brand is Enigma Kayaks, sold by the Canoe Shops Group here in the UK. Short Kayaks The fishing kayak market is littered with kayaks that although advertised as 'suitable for fishing', they are in fact far from being suitable vessels for the vast majority of kayak anglers and the conditions they will most likely be paddling and fishing in. These short kayaks are often models from the cheap import brands. I would recommend avoiding kayaks less that 10ft in length. They are just too short to be efficiently paddled in all but the calmest of conditions and their size does not lend themselves to providing much storage space, nor capacity within the hull to carry a kayak angler and his gear safely. They have their place though - a 9ft kayak is ok for pottering around a lake or very calm estuary waters with one rod and a small amount of gear for a few hours. If you are looking at taking up kayak fishing as a regular pastime, it really is advisable to go beyond the 10 foot mark. Sit-In Kayaks A sit-in kayak with an enclosed cockpit does not lend itself towards being a comfortable craft for fishing from. It is not impossible, it's just not easy. There are a few examples where large open-cockpit sit-in kayaks can be suitable for fishing in calm inland waters but for the vast majority of anglers a sit-on-top fishing kayak is the way to go. Inflatable Kayaks Hooks.... Inflatables..... need i say anymore? They are also severely affected by the wind too so this limits them to use on the calmest of days. If you are particularly stuck for storage space or ways to transport a rigid kayak then an inflatable may be the only option. High quality inflatables are available from the likes of Hobie and Gumotex. Check these out if an inflatable is the only option. So lets take a look at what you should be investing in when buying a kayak..... Recommended Fishing KayaksThere is a huge range of kayak models available on the market with more models being introduce each year and current models continually having design updates to keep up with the latest developments within the kayak fishing world. Some models are great all-rounders, whilst others are designed for specific waters or styles of fishing, be it saltwater, inland waters, calm waters or rough conditions. Some models are stable platforms with shed loads of features and deck space for custom rigging. Other models are designed to be fast and perform well in rough conditions. You won't find a kayak that does everything really well but some of the top-end models certainly get close. One of the easiest ways to categorise the vast array of sit-on-top fishing kayaks on the market is to divide them up into size categories. This also lends itself to discussing them in terms of performance as in general the longer the hull, the more efficiently that hull can be paddled through the water thus making it a faster kayak to paddle. The 30+ kayaks listed below are based on what the majority of UK saltwater and freshwater paddlers are using to kayak fish from. I have paddled several of these kayaks myself, some more extensively than others, but have observed many on the water, spoken to owners of practically all of these kayaks and in most cases have looked over these kayaks in the flesh in great detail. They all have pro's and con's and they all have their place in the UK kayak fishing scene. There is a lot of choice but hopefully this article may help you narrow down your search for your first or next fishing kayak. Approximate prices are included (correct as of 2018) but they are only a rough guide as often retailers will have special offers or sales, particularly in the winter, where some great deals can be had. Specifications are also included as per manufacturers websites, for easy comparison between models. So lets start at the short end of the scale and work our way up..... 10-11 foot Fishing KayaksThese shorter kayaks are fine for those planning on fishing lakes, slow moving inland waters and calm sheltered coastal conditions close to shore. They are fine for pottering around over short distances but are hard work paddling over longer distances. Their shorter size means that they aren't going to be fast through the water so if you are planning on fishing exposed stretches of coastline where you may be at the mercy of the wind, swell and tide or large open inland waters, take a look at the longer fishing kayaks as these smaller kayaks will struggle. They may be the only option to those with limited storage space but be aware of their limitations. They are also great for those who are new to the sport and want to get a taste of kayak fishing in calm conditions before deciding on whether to pursue it further, perhaps with a longer fishing kayak that may be more suitable to the kayak fishing they intend to do. There are a few well known fishing kayak models at this size.... Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 E
Feelfree Moken 10 Lite
Feelfree Moken 10 Angler V2
Ocean Kayak Trident 11 - Now Discontinued!
Feelfree Lure 10 V2
12-13ft Fishing KayaksThe kayaks in this size category are what many people choose for their first fishing kayak, particularly those who will be paddling and fishing on the sea. At this size they are suitable for moderate coastal conditions, as well as inland waters, and will paddle reasonably well through choppy conditions and against a bit of wind and tide. These larger kayaks will also take a larger paddler and more gear more comfortably than the shorter kayaks. There are a wide array of hull designs in this category - some designed to be lightweight and speedy, others designed to be more solid and stable fishing platforms loaded with all the latest features. There are a number of models that make excellent fishing kayaks for the first time buyer..... Wilderness Systems Tarpon E 120
Feelfree Moken 12 Angler
Enigma Kayaks Fishing Pro 12
Feelfree Moken 12.5 Angler V2Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game 2 - Now Discontinued
Perception Triumph 13
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 - Now Discontinued
Ocean Kayak Trident 13 - NOW DISCONTINUED
Viking Profish 400
14ft+ Fishing KayaksThese kayaks are often the models that anglers will upgrade to once they know exactly what they are looking for in a fishing kayak to suit their style of fishing. At 14ft+ you get the speed and performance that will take on open coastal conditions, offshore conditions and the rough stuff more comfortably than shorter hulls, particularly if you will be covering greater distances on the water. They still have their limits and some models are more performance orientated than others but they all make good saltwater and inland fishing kayaks. These kayaks also tend to be at the expensive end of the scale but in return they are usually well kitted out with the latest features. At this length they all track well (keep a straight course when paddled) and most come with the option of having a rudder, which can help with manoeuvrability and make handling easier in windy conditions for hulls of this length. If you go along to one of the big kayak fishing events you will see mainly kayaks from this category as these tend to be the kayaks used by those who are really into their kayak fishing. If your a first time buyer and are taking up kayak fishing with a view to be going regularly in a range of conditions then it may be worth biting the bullet and getting one of these kayaks that you may eventually upgrade to anyway in the near future! There are several excellent fishing kayaks in this size category..... RTM Tempo Angler
RTM Rytmo Angler
Wilderness Systems Thresher 140 & 155 - Now DISCONTINUED
Ocean Kayak Trident Ultra 4.3 & 4.7XT - Now Discontinued
Ocean Kayak Trident 15 - NOW DISCONTINUED
Viking Profish Reload
Composite KayaksComposite fishing kayaks are usually performance-orientated hulls constructed from fibreglass, and have narrower beams (width) than plastic kayaks of similar lengths. They are more aimed at experienced/confident paddlers over novices. A composite hull has a number of advantages over a plastic hull, primarily having a lack of any flex along the hull giving them great speed and performance when pushing through messy conditions. Their super smooth gelcoat hulls glide really well too. For paddlers looking at long distance trips at sea then glass kayaks are worth considering. Whilst having advantages they also have several disadvantages including higher price tags and a need for care when paddling around rocks and other solid objects to avoid damaging the hull. Many experienced saltwater kayakers have turned to composite hulls to allow them to paddle further more easily and through rough conditions more comfortably. There are a few models that have become popular in the UK, from Kaskazi kayaks and Stealth Kayaks, both manufactured in South Africa. These are usually custom made to order with the buyer getting to select the colour pattern used on the hull. Kazkazi Kayaks UK even offer on-water training as part of any new kayak purchase for both new and experienced paddlers. Now that is what i call great customer service! Kaskazi Dorado 2 - DISCONTINUED
Kaskazi Marlin - NOW DISCONTINUED
Stealth Pro Fisha Range
Pedal Driven KayaksThe new wave of fishing kayaks! With the hull being propelled through the water using some sort of drive system manually powered by your feet, your hands are left completely free to fish with! Wow... now that opens up a whole new world of possibilities such as trolling whilst holding the rod, holding position in a tidal run or in the wind whilst fishing, drifting a bottom bait when there is no tide, current or wind to assist you, moving the kayak whilst playing a fish.... and much more. These are huge advantages, particularly for lure anglers... advantages which are mostly unachievable with a paddled hull. These advantages are why many kayak fisherman, lure anglers in particular, have opted for pedal-driven hulls. Are they kayaks? Well in my opinion i would still class a fish caught from a pedal driven hull as a kayak caught fish. Yes they have a number of advantages but the kayak is still being powered manually, just via your legs as opposed to your arms. There is nothing to stop these hulls being paddled too. If you have a fuel/electric powered motor then thats a whole different argument altogether! There are a two major pedal drive systems: the Hobie Mirage Drive which operates using reciprocating pedals and fins based on the action of Penguin flippers, and several rotating drives based on revolving pedals and propellors such as the Old Town PDL drive, Jackson Flex Drive, Wilderness Systems Helix drive, Native Propel Drive, Feelfree OverDrive, Riot Impulse Drive and Perception Pilot Drive systems. Both the Hobie Mirage Drive 180 (below left) and the Old Town PDL drive (below right) have the ability to be pedalled forwards and in reverse! So lets take a look at the popular players in the UK pedal drive kayak market.... Hobie Outback
Hobie Revolution 13
Hobie Revolution 16 - NOW DISCONTINUED
Hobie Compass
Hobie Pro Angler 12 & 14
Riot Mako 12
Old Town Predator PDL
That is a lot of kayaks!The kayaks covered in this article are the models used by the vast majority of UK kayak fisherman. Each is different and each has its own place in the kayak fishing world. Some are great all-rounders, others are more specialist. Some are more suited to certain water conditions than others. Choosing the right kayak for your needs can be tough and take much research and thinking about but hopefully this article has helped to narrow down your your search for your first or next fishing kayak.
It can be difficult to decide exactly which model would be the best for you especially if you haven't seen many in the flesh. If possible, get down to your local kayak retailer and take a closer look at what is available. Often a kayak shop will only have a selection of kayaks looked at here but this will still give you a chance to look at some of them in close detail and begin to work out exactly what kayak is best for you. In the UK, Cornwall Canoes is the one-stop shop for all things kayak fishing, and they stock the majority of models mentioned in this guide. Another great way to see a variety of fishing kayaks is to go along to one of the big kayak fishing events, such as the Swanage Classic held in Dorset, the Ocean Kayak Classic held in Plymouth, or the Oxwich Kayak Fishing Championships held in South Wales. There are many more events held all over the UK and are often well attended by kayak anglers of all abilities. These events are great as often there are many different kayaks used by the competitors and this gives you a great chance to have a chat with the owners and take a closer look at how they are set up for fishing. There are often many reviews of these kayaks online so it is worth reading through them to see what users opinions are. Often there are also videos of the kayaks in use too, so these are worth checking out to get a better idea about how they paddle and what they are like to fish from. There is plenty of info out there, it is just a case of trawling through it to get the info you need to make an informed purchase. Once you have decided on the right kayak for you then bite the bullet and go and buy it! You'll soon be on the water and catching fish! Any questions, just comment below....
Kernow
27/9/2016 20:50:37
Very helpful post for a growing activity,especially for new buyers,fresh to the scene.
Chris Hayes
28/9/2016 15:49:46
Excellent blog Liam, all very enjoyable and interesting to read.
Andy
4/10/2016 14:15:31
What a write up that is!! I wish this kind of thing was around when I started a couple of years ago, must of took some time to cobble that together........a great read, many thanks!!
Cornish Kayak Angler
10/10/2016 11:13:29
Cheers Andy. Yep this one took quite a few of evenings to put together, hopefully it will help a few people out :) 6/10/2016 00:57:11
Excellent write up mate, must of taken you a fair bit of time write it all. I think might of reviewed pretty much every single angler kayak on the market :)
Cornish Kayak Angler
10/10/2016 11:14:46
Thanks Brendon. It took a fair few evenings to put together! It's not every fishing kayak on the market in the UK but must be a good 80% of the fishing kayaks people use here 12/10/2016 16:24:46
None the less, It's still an impressive list. I'll be staying tuned for your other posts.
Graham
24/10/2016 21:26:54
Thanks for your reviews on the kayaks most helpful, as i'm about to buy a kayak for the first time and not sure what model to buy?
Cornish Kayak Angler
24/10/2016 22:03:39
Hi Graham,
Cornish Kayak Angler
28/1/2017 23:09:33
Hi Mal,
Cornish Kayak Angler
30/3/2017 19:49:16
Hi Donald,
Warren Sheridan
19/5/2017 21:18:32
I'm seriously considering a 2017 model Viking Profish GT.. it will be used on inland waterways and lakes..
Chetty
28/7/2017 15:56:46
Firstly let me say "Thanks" been looking for this sort of advice for an age!
Cornish Kayak Angler
28/7/2017 16:11:03
Hi Chetty, thanks for the comments. The Moken 12.5 is the more stable craft of the two, and the tarpon 120 the slightly faster. Both will comfortably take your body weight and both come supplied with comfortable seats. The Moken 12.5 is certainly rigged up more for fishing and the centre console is very handy for storage. Both are capable coastal paddling and fishing kayaks up to moderate sea conditions. 4/3/2018 07:08:54
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. 19/3/2018 09:21:34
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. 23/9/2018 19:18:37
Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here.
Jan Viljoen
23/10/2018 15:44:20
I'm the owner of a Wilderness Thresher 155 and was wondering if the kayak will still float when filled with water -(like when it flips and the hatch leaks or is open) - Buoyancy Compliant ? I've heard about buoyancy foam in side the hull - is that true? How effective? 6/2/2019 18:20:34
Hi, good tips there. I thought another point that will make wonder about fishing kayaks when they choose one is whether they'll want a pedal Kayak or Jackson kayak. I think the benefits of the fishing kayaks are worth exploring too =)
Joseph Doran
20/1/2020 20:39:19
I just saw your comments on the Galaxy kayaks back in 2017, do you still have the same opinion now or do you think they have improved
Alan
31/5/2020 17:13:07
Are there any two seater sea kayaks you would recommend 10/6/2020 10:12:38
Great article, i have always wanted to go kayak fishing. I reckon ill need to try it out before i spend $600 plus. 23/12/2020 07:28:01
Wow i can say that this is another great article as expected of this blog.Bookmarked this site.. <a href="https://www.vacationrentalsmanzanita.com/post/kayaking-oregon-coast">kayaking oregon coast</a>
Perception Outlaw 11.5 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak | Fold Away Lawn Chair Seat | 4 Rod Holders | Integrated Tackle Trays | 11' 6" 27/9/2021 15:52:40
Great article! Thank you for sharing this informative post, and looking forward to the latest one. If you are looking for coupon codes and deals just visit coupon plus deals dot com
Joey gone fishing
21/11/2021 09:58:18
Excellent post and still relevant.
Awesome content. Loved this post and I’m definitely pinning it to share! You might like to visit couponplusdeals.com for amazing coupons and promotion, especially for health supplements, jewelry, gadgets, home and office supplies, apparels, and many more, with thousands of brands all over the world. Thanks for the great read. Kudos! Comments are closed.
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AuthorLiam Faisey SPONSORSProudly associated with
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