Fishing from a kayak is an incredibly fun and relaxing experience. Kayaks let you maneuver to places where larger boats can’t go, and they move very stealthily, so they don’t scare away the fish!
When buying a kayak, you need to consider a few things:
- Price: For most people, this will be the deciding factor. Kayaks are not cheap, and can easily cost from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars, depending on how many bells and whistles it has.
- Size: The size of the kayak is also an important thing to consider. Once you have your kayak, you’ll have to be able to transport it from your home to the lake/river and back! So before you buy, you’ll have to make sure that the kayak is something you can move around comfortably.
- Storage space: When you go fishing, you’ll have quite a lot of stuff with you – fishing rods, your tackle box, an ice box for caught fish, some snacks and drinks, and of course, a fish finder! So your kayak must have enough space for you to comfortably sit with all this stuff in it.
- Maneuverability: Contrary to how easy it looks, maneuvering a kayak is challenging at first. Most modern kayak designs are very streamlined, so you should not find it too difficult to maneuver. Still, it should be something you can handle!
- Stability: Depending on what you are trying to catch, you may have quite a fight in store for you before you can finally reel the fish in! Because of this, you’ll need a stable kayak that can withstand the occasional jerk here and there as you are fighting the fish and tiring it out.
- Type: Kayaks are of two types – sit-inside and sit-on-top. For less experienced kayakers, sit-on-top is the best option, because you are not confined by the kayak in any way, so in case your kayak tips over, you can safely get away from the kayak. With sit-inside, your legs will be inside the kayak, and you may even have a spray skirt not letting water inside the hull, so that’s more stuff to get out of in case your kayak tips.
This post showcases some of the best sit on top fishing kayaks.
While sit-on-top fishing kayaks are much more stable, they are also a little heavier, so you may find it difficult to paddle them over very long distances. But if you are not that experienced with kayaking, then sit-on-top is absolutely the best way to go because it requires less instruction to use.
Lifetime 10 Foot Sport Fisher Tandem Kayak
The Lifetime 10 foot fishing kayak is a great all-round sit on top kayak. The kayak is made from high-density polyethylene and the shape of the hull gives it a lot of stability, so you can comfortably use this kayak even if you are not that experienced with kayaking.
It is designed to seat up to three people(two adults and a child), and the maximum weight it can take is 500 pounds. The neat thing about this kayak’s design is that it has multiple footrest positions, so boaters of different heights will still find it comfortable. Additionally, it has 3 slots to put your fishing poles in, cup holders, a storage area with bungee straps in the front, and also a 6 inch storage hatch for keeping knick-knacks.
The way this kayak is designed lets you fish standing up or turned to the side in your seat without fear of the kayak tipping over. This kayak comes with two seat backs, two paddles, and 5 scupper plugs(in case you lose one or two). There are only two scupper holes, though.
Finally, this kayak was built for stability and slow cruising – NOT speed. So if you are looking for a stable platform to fish from, this is the one to get.
Vibe Kayaks Sea Ghost 130 Angler Kayak
The Vibe Kayaks Sea Ghost 130 angler kayak is designed with the fisherman in mind. Its hull is specially designed to give the most stability for a comfortable and safe fishing experience. There are 4 fishing rod holders, 2 hatches that can be sealed for extra gear, four carrying handles to help move it around, a rear storage area that can secure your stuff with bungee cables, a drink holder, 8 scupper holes, and a foot controlled rudder system – making steering the kayak a breeze. You just have to paddle normally and you can steer with your feet.
The Vibe Ocean Ghost is a little more expensive, but it is designed to provide a comfortable kayaking trip. It can hold up to 550 pounds, and is 13 feet long.
Ocean Kayak Frenzy Sit-On-Top Recreational Kayak
The Ocean Kayak Frenzy is a stable and maneuverable kayak – perhaps one of the best beginner kayaks available right now. The hull is a unique tri-form hull which gives it the stability it has. Weighing just 43 pounds and at 9 feet long, the Frenzy is small and easy to transport, too. Because it is a smaller kayak, it’s maximum capacity is 275-325 pounds. The smaller size also means certain conveniences like fishing rod holders are not there. There is a storage section towards the front of the kayak which has bungee cords you can secure your stuff to.
If you are looking for something that you can both fish from and casually use – even without much kayaking experience, this is a great choice. Plus, the sub-$500 price point can’t be beaten.
Ocean Kayak 12-Feet Malibu Two Tandem Sit-On-Top Recreational Kayak
The Ocean Kayak Malibu is a tandem sit-on-top kayak that comfortably seats a couple with one child. The comfortable seats can be adjust to many rowing positions – one person, two people, or two plus one child. The max weight capacity is 375-425 pounds, which is quite a lot.
This kayak is also a great way to take your pet out onto the water. It is very stable and can also handle mild ocean swells, so you can use it regardless of whether you are a freshwater or saltwater angler!
There aren’t any fishing conveniences built into the kayak other than the storage area with bungee cords, but since it is a larger kayak, there’s a lot of space for a single person to take a few fishing rods and some tackle boxes, too.
Paddles are not included so you’ll need your own.
