This thread is prompted by a few things. Johnny B is a good example of this in his thread requesting info on the fishability of an Ocean Kayak Frenzy. He walked into a kayak shop and asked for a kayak to fish from. there are many excellent models that fish well but the suggestion he received wasn't one of them. IF you shop at a kayak shop that doesn't have a serious kayak fisherman on staff you will get SOLD and most likely end up wasting your money. Kayak fishing is growing rapidly however its still a tiny, fringe sport. Yo can fish from almost anything but .............. some kayaks are just lousy choices. Why not get a good choice. There are many to select from.
Joey and I have had tons of requests for info on kayaks. We appreciate it and want to help, however there are a few problems with all the requests. Sometimes I type a long reply and it comes back undelivered. Very frustrating. We are spending a lot of time repeating ourselves. Also we haven't been provided with much information. We get requests like - " I want to buy a Fish in Dive because I hear its the best, please send prices. Also I don't want to spend much money." How can we address that. The person provides no info and wants one of the most expensive kayaks used for fishing. ITs a great kayak for big men and certain other criteria. Its a lousy kayak for other criteria. How you plan on using a kayak for fishing makes a big difference. ALso if you ask these questions on this forum all readers of the thread can benefit and you can also get feedback from others who can help you make a decision rather than only Joey or my opinions.
First you need to answer some important questions.
1) Your physical stature is very important. What are your height, weight, inseam measurement, relative condition? If you're 5'4" and 130#s buying a FnD doesn't make sense. There are so many better choices.
2) What vehicle are you going to use to transport the kayak? This is going to matter. If you have a pickup truck almost any weight of kayak will do. If you want a faster, touring style of kayak and you're going to put it on a Suburban 4wd roof you need a lighter model or you should seriously consider getting a kayak trailer. Wrecking your back isn't fun.
3) What kind of fisherman are you? What methods of fishing do you like to use? Conventional and spinning, fly, fishing, bait? If you're a bait guy, do you plan on using live bait, cutting it up on the water? Do you want to keep your catch?. If the answer is yes then you should get a tankwell model. Leaving fish on a stringer and then paddling will significantly slow you down and on the ocean is dangerous as it you could end up with a shark looking for a meal. That wouldn't be much fun. These are important questions you need to answer.
So ask away, but do it in a public forum so all can benefit. You're going to love kayak fishing.
Joey and I have had tons of requests for info on kayaks. We appreciate it and want to help, however there are a few problems with all the requests. Sometimes I type a long reply and it comes back undelivered. Very frustrating. We are spending a lot of time repeating ourselves. Also we haven't been provided with much information. We get requests like - " I want to buy a Fish in Dive because I hear its the best, please send prices. Also I don't want to spend much money." How can we address that. The person provides no info and wants one of the most expensive kayaks used for fishing. ITs a great kayak for big men and certain other criteria. Its a lousy kayak for other criteria. How you plan on using a kayak for fishing makes a big difference. ALso if you ask these questions on this forum all readers of the thread can benefit and you can also get feedback from others who can help you make a decision rather than only Joey or my opinions.
First you need to answer some important questions.
1) Your physical stature is very important. What are your height, weight, inseam measurement, relative condition? If you're 5'4" and 130#s buying a FnD doesn't make sense. There are so many better choices.
2) What vehicle are you going to use to transport the kayak? This is going to matter. If you have a pickup truck almost any weight of kayak will do. If you want a faster, touring style of kayak and you're going to put it on a Suburban 4wd roof you need a lighter model or you should seriously consider getting a kayak trailer. Wrecking your back isn't fun.
3) What kind of fisherman are you? What methods of fishing do you like to use? Conventional and spinning, fly, fishing, bait? If you're a bait guy, do you plan on using live bait, cutting it up on the water? Do you want to keep your catch?. If the answer is yes then you should get a tankwell model. Leaving fish on a stringer and then paddling will significantly slow you down and on the ocean is dangerous as it you could end up with a shark looking for a meal. That wouldn't be much fun. These are important questions you need to answer.
So ask away, but do it in a public forum so all can benefit. You're going to love kayak fishing.
