I am for a good kayak to start fishing soon here in Charleston.
I have been told that I should get a double kayak because I am 6’3" 250lbs and this would hold more weight than a single.
Any other pointers of what to look for in a kayak and anything to avoid?
Much appreciated.
There are some doubles that can be paddled solo, but most will not handle as nice as a single. There are plenty of single seaters that can hold a good bit of weight (for example, the Ocean Kayak Big Game has a rated capacity of 550-600 lbs). I paddle a single and had my son sitting in the rear tank well (combined ~250lbs) and felt very secure and stable.
As a general rule, you should not have a ton of weight besides yourself when yak fishing anyways. There are lots of us here, so you should get a lot of opinions, and lots of people will point you to Dolphin Dave over at Time Out sports in Mt. P.
John
1996 Sunbird Spirit 170 - 112 Johnson
15’ Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro
I wouldn’t get a double even if I planned to fish with a partner 90% of the time.
There are some really good boats available in 3 or 4 price ranges. You can go see a pro and rent a couple of different boats to see how they feel and paddle.
There is a canoe and kayak expo coming up in 2 weeks at James Island County Park. Should be a great opportunity to try several brands in a row.
So much water, So little time
Go see Dave over at timeout sports in Mount Pleasant. He will be able to point you in the right direction and they have lots of demo/rental boats available.
14’ Pamlico 140 Angler w/ rudder
Switching to lead-free tackle.
do you plan on wade fishing out of it?if not,the ultimate 12 or 14.5 would work fine.if you plan on wading,get a sit on top like suggested above.i sold my ultimate because it was very difficult to get in and out of,atleast for me.i have a redfish 10 that keeps my 240 lbs dry,but i would get a bigger model if i could.go see dolphind at time out sports in mt pleasant.
“Anywhere in the surf”
Thanks everyone for the information. I will go see Dave tomorrow as he seems to be highly recommended here.
What are your guys experiances with a sit on top vs. inside from a stability and ease of fishing?
I don’t think I would be wading too much as I would imagine the pluff mud around here would be a nightmare. Is that not the case or is do you all do wading around here?
thanks again
I love my sit in. It’s stable and dry.
I opened the deck up for easier access to all the junk I take fishing
If you get a sit in BE SURE it has either waterproof bulkheads or float bags. Otherwise they will sink
I’ve paddled a few sit on tops and been very happy with them. They are much easier to get back onto when you flip.
So much water, So little time
ColMustard,
Generally Sit on Tops are preferred by Kayak Fishermen, though there are many exceptions.
Any kayak will hold a 250 lb man, and the +6’ height, limits it somewhat, but not much. Dave is a good source in the area.
Once you take the plunge, you will be hooked.
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Col M,
I have an Ultimate 14.5 that I take my 12 yr old out with me. Extremely stable for fishing. I can also take it out solo with no problems. Holds a ton of stuff, but it is an open boat. Overall, where we fish it’s a great yak.
DolphinD can give you pointers, and make sure you ask him about his Sponge Bob Square Pants fishing rig. Makes for dynamic fishing 
Also, check out this new site.
http://www.sckayakfishing.com
Welcome to yak fishing, you’ll be hooked in no time.
TB2
TimBuck2
Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5
Jimmy Buffett can have Margaritaville, I’m going to Redfishville!
I have both and it really depends on what time of year it is and what type/ area I am fishing. My sit-in is faster, warmer, and Lighter! (to load/unload).
SOT is nice in the summer heat and you look cool!
Stability is not an issue after you put some time in it, both are good. SOT has a little better primary stability and Sit-in is a bit better on the secondary.
Ok…went to Timeout sports yesterday, but Dolphin Dave wasnt there. Some other guy offered to help, but did not offer a wealth of information or much at all. Pretty disapointing trip.
He did say he thought the wilderness ride would be the best kayak, but new without paddle I was already over $800.
I guess I will search the used market for this model…any other brands/models I should search for.
Thanks again
check out the kayak forum at pierandsurf.com
The same discussion is going on over there.
A few good used yaks to choose from on Craigslist
So much water, So little time
ask the local kayak shops about their rental fleets( they may have allready been sold this late into the season), I bought my scrabler xt at a deal as an ex rental, its got some scratches and scrapes, but for what I’m going to do with it, it doesn’t matter. If you run inot a deal on a tandem sot, I’ve seen some people mount a cooler in the front for balance, and its a great place to mount rod holders, stow your stuff, and put your fish. Keep looking on Craigs list, don’t forget to search near by areas(Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Hlton Head, etc)
You can find deals at the Kayak Festival next weekend (I think it is April 18-20). All of the dealers are there and some will have specials and access to factory blems.
BC
Mt P, SC
Wag more. Bark less.
check with the pawn shops, money Man in Goose Creek has a Scimtar sit in, and a Heritage tandem SOT for under $400
yeah, I would check out the pawns shops if your looking for a deal, just be careful what you get.