Am looking primarily for people who fish saltwater in any of the local rivers/bodies of water. Want to know what kayak you own or what kayak you wished you owned for this type of fishing or what kayak you consider the best for this area/type of fishing. Looking for brand and model. Results will be tabulated and a winner will be announced.
Wilderness Systems Ride 135 is what I own. Is it the best? Don’t know. I love the stability and payload. Just had mine down in Islamorada and would paddle around the mangroves in the evenings with my wife sitting in the back, feet in the water and a glass of wine in her hand. Kind of a poor man’s booze cruise but very stable.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Wilderness Ride 135- most popular kayak for saltwater fishing in the Charleston area. By far have seen more/talked to people who own one/want one than any other kayak in the Charleston area. And well deserved.
Malibu stealth 12. I can stand and throw a cast net and it weighs 60lbs eventhough it has a weight capacity of 450lbs. Lowrance ready with a recessed spot under the hull with pre drilled holes, 5 gallon livewell right between your legs, 2 dry compartments next to the livwell, and a huge gator hatch that can store just about anything.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Malibu Stealth 12
94 J16 Carolina Skiff/2004 yamaha 25
I fish out of:
Hobie Pro Angler 14 - I enjoy using the Pro Angler because I like to stand and fish, and I can do so very comfortably in the Pro Angler. Pedal-driven, so I can keep a rod 'n reel in my hand more than a paddle.
Hobie Outback - Another stable kayak, I can stand and fish in it, but not as confidently as the Pro Angler. Lighter and less $$$ than the PA. Also pedal-driven…
JUST TO SHOW THE FULL RANGE OF OPTIONS I HAVE A TEN FOOT PELICAN THAT I PAID $199.99 FOR BRAND SPANKIN NEW AT DICKS. ITS A SIT ON TOP HAS TWO BUILT IN ROD HOLDERS ROOM FOR A FULL SIZE MILK CRATE AND FITS MY 6’ 6" TALL LONG LEGGED SELF SURPRISING WELL. I AM NOT GOING TO JUMP UP AND DANCE IN IT BUT IT WORKS. IT GETS ME WHERE I WANT TO GO WHEN I WANT TO GO. MY POINT IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO GET OUT AND FISH ON THE CHEAP IT CAN BE DONE. MY KAYAK, PADDLE, PFD AND TAX LESS THAN $300 BUCKS OUT THE DOOR. MY MOTTO THE KAYAK DOESN’T MAKE THE MAN, THE MAN MAKES THE KAYAK… LOL! HEY WHAT CAN I SAY… I AM A CHEAPSKATE. 
TIGHT LINES TD
Hobie Adventure, I like it because it is fast. This boat allows me to fish where some yaks can’t, fast current and offshore. Not a lot of room to move around.
I had a Wildy Ride 135, stable and lots of features/storage. You really can’t be the Ride for the price. That being said, I am looking at the Hobie Outback. It is kind of in the middle of the two.
Chris
Malibu eXtreme for longer paddles and moving water and a Diablo Adios for the flats.
All Day I Dream About Fishing
Malibu eXtreme
Diablo Adios
Key West 1720
Tarpon 160 - my go to yak. I like fast
Ride 135 - My number 2 yak. Not as fast as the Tarpon, so I use it for short paddles and stand up sight fishing the flats.
Commander 140 - my number 3 yak. Can’t take it everywhere the T or R can go, but for stand up pure stability IT’S DA DOMB!!! It’s not a kayak, in modern parlance it’s a hybrid, in the real world it’s a solo canoe and a (**() fine one.
Boat drinks, Waitress I need 2 more boat drinks!
I fish out of a Hobie ProAngler 14, the pedal drive gives you more time to fish, the stability allows you to stand and sight cast or throw a cast net easily. There is also plenty of storage space and rigging options to personalize it to your style.
I wish I owned a newer Hobie ProAngler 14 or the new 17
sun dolphin excursion (10 feet) that was $300 at sports authority. its a sit in and has 3 rod holders and a dry storage area too. ive added 4 eyebolts to the bow, 4 cleats to the sides, and an anchor pulley to the very front. this makes docking, attaching a stringer of fish, anchoring, or tying a crab trap across the bow very easy. you can easily store a full sized tackle tray between the seat and hull and is roomy enough for 6 foot 3 me no problem. not able to stand in it, however at only 40lbs its really light to load and carry. ive taken it inshore, in ponds, lake moultrie, tailrace canal for the shad run, paddling shark baits, and assuming calm sea conditions taken it out chasing menhaden schools and reeling up sharks (4.5 feet my biggest so far from the yak). definitely a cheapie but it does what i want no problem!
If you want fast and lightweight: Tarpon
If you want to stand up and add more stability and are ok with the weight: Ride
If you like the ride and have no budget: consider the Cuda
If you are a big fella: Big Tuna
Maybe not that popular but I recently purchased a Feelfree Lure 11.5 and love it. I went with it over the Moken series because of the new Gravity seat in the Lure. The seat is comfortable, which is one perk I like. I was in it for 10 hours on Saturday and felt fine afterwards. The seat has about 8 positions you can adjust while on the water. If you like standing while fishing it is very stable with a rock solid, padded platform. It also has a uni track system for adding any accessories (so no drilling in your kayak) and works with Scotty and Ram mounts. It won’t win any speed contests but like others have said, you give up some perks to get the one’s you are most interested in.
I also have a couple of Native Ultimates and love them but I’m more comfortable on a SOT out in the bays. Good luck!
Feelfree Lure 11.5
Native Ultimate 12 & 14.5
I bought the same Kayak that tall doug mentioned above (10ft. pelican apex)… 199 brand new and I put a milk crate in the back to hold all of my things. cant stand up in it but other than that you cant beat it for 200 bucks.
ride 115X
There you go. Wasn’t trying to bust your chops but I think you’re getting some answers now you can really use. I started kayaking in mountain rivers up to Class 2 rapids, but wanted the versatility to fish small to mid size lakes and small coastal inlets as well. My first yak was a Wilderness Tarpon 120. I found it to be an excellent all around boat and a solid choice for all those uses. Then, when I realized that even my fat butt could stand and fish from a Wilderness Ride 135, I added that to the fleet as well along with a rudder system to help combat the wind. The Tarpon is much easier to maneuver in fast moving water and is easier to load on the truck racks, but I’m doing more lakes and marshes now and much prefer the stability of the Ride 135. Additionally, my paddling has improved and I have no problem using it on those same rivers with the added ability to stand and look for good fish habitat.
My petite wife has largely taken over the Tarpon. She has no desire to stand and finds it easier to paddle.
I’d love a Tarpon 140 for longer paddling distances. I’d like a Mirage drive boat as well, and one of the Hybrids like the Commander has my name written all over it to stand up all day on the flats.
While I agree that you should paddle as many different boats as possible to make the right decision, theres something to be said for just getting out there and getting some fishing time in to discover what’s most important to you.
If I were you, I look at the used market. I’d try to get a long, reasonable wide and as stable of a sit on top from a reputable manufacture as I could find in my price range and I’d get out there and go fishing. If you decide you want something different after the first season, the resale shouldn’t hurt too bad and you’ll have learned what you need for your style of fishing.
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120
I 2nd the used market comment. I started with one I bought from someone here on the forums for $350 used it loved it. It was 14’ Heritage Redfish it was fast but I could not stand with a lot of confidence but could if staked out and also throw a cast net from. I now have an Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game II. Shorter and wider so not as fast but I can still get going and standing no problem. I stand while drifting in the current or staked out and can paddle from the standing position. Yes if you can try the different brands they all have pros and cons. You just have to make it work for you. If you have not already checked us out look for the post of the Lowcountry Kayak Anglers next meet and fish and come out to look what others have and maybe paddle one at the landing or if you want to fish someone might have an extra that you could use. You can find us on the web at www.lowcountrykayakanglers.com or on FB at
Lowcountry Kayak Anglers. Tight lines!
Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game II
everyone should believe in something; i believe i’ll go fishing
-henry david thoreau
I bought a green 10ft spirit 120 for 200 bucks and fished that for about a year. Fishing out of a cheaper yak will really help you guage what you want. I decided I wanted something with alot of storage, and something really stable so i can stand and just feel safer when im out in the winter months. After I looked around ALOT I decided on the Malibu stealth 12. I didnt see anything that came close to the amount of storage as the malibu kayaks. The gator hatch up front is awesome. Enough room for a weekend long camping trip. Looking foward to some camping trips this coming fall. Tight lines!
All fishermen are liers except me and you and I’m not sure about you.
I use a Native Ultimate 12. It’s the older model, bought new about 7 years ago for fishing catfish in the slow rivers in the Midwest. I’ve rigged it well for fishing in the tidal creeks around here. I wouldn’t take it out in the surf due to the fact that it’s built like a canoe and doesn’t self-bail. However, with the egg crate, 7 rod holders (not necessarily to carry as many but convenient to rig how I want it). I also have a Lowrance gps fish finder, the battery that powers it and have also added a 12v aerator in order to keep my bait alive. I love the stability. I throw a cast net from it all the time and am very comfortable in it all day.
My roommate has a Malibu 12 Stealth. It’s a great, well-rigged kayak that has nice waterproof compartments and a livewell. It says it’s about 60 pounds dry/unrigged but I disagree and feel it’s closer to 80+. Plus I cut throw the water much quicker in my Native than what I affectionately call the “Stealth barge.”
Both are great yaks, I am jealous he’s able to take it out in the surf, if he so wishes.
Right now it looks like the Wilderness Ride 135 is in the lead, Malibu Stealth 12 and Hobie not far behind. I have been told that the Ride 135 would be the one to beat. Keep those responses coming.