kayaks?

[razyrsharpe]

does anyone here fish from a kayak?  if so, what kind?  are there any used kayaks for sale on this forum?  

[roadwarrior]

I have a two man Ocean Kayak that's collecting dust. It's wide-body and steady. It's built to handle a small trolling motor and has a couple of dry storage compartments. I paid around $800 plus shipping for it a couple of years ago. If you're interested we might make a deal.

[razyrsharpe]

that's cool...i am a big man (300+lbs.) so i would need a kayak with a wide beam and high weight bearing capacity...maybe 450-500lbs.  i like to feel safe!

[Phishnutz]

I love fishin from my kayak.I bought a 9'6 Pelican kayak last year, planning to fish out of it more on the lakes and ponds in N.Y. than my Radission canoe. But I come to find out that I use it more to navigate miles of small untouched streams  to catch piles of native Brook Trout. You can take them anywhere, there very light, and hard to flip by accident.

[roadwarrior]

razysharpe, I don't think you would be comfortable in my kayak and it's probably as big and stable as they come. If you were just playing around in the summer and didn't care about tipping over or getting wet, it might work but just as a toy. For fishing, it's probably not for you.

[Dreadhead47]

I have a Jackson Coosa HD, its pretty wide and very stable , which allows me to stand up and fish from it. I would suggest getting a larger kayak with a wider base just to feel more comfortable and add much more stability. So I would suggest checking out a Jackson Big Rig, or a Hobie pro Angler. I'm not sure what your budget is but Hobies are very expensive, however they are very wide, spacious, and are pedal propelled. A pro anglers weight capacity is 500lbs.  Big Rigs run about $1,700 brand new but I'm sure you could find a pre-owned for around $1k. I think the weight capacity is around 450 lbs. I fish with some bigger guys who have Big rigs and they say it works perfect for them.

 

If you're on a budget you might check out Ascend kayaks. I don't have much knowledge on them, other than they are supposedly pretty stable and are cheaper for a wide 'stand-up kayak'. The weight capacity on them are 350lbs.

 

If you are on a budget I would suggest searching through kayak fishing forums for used kayaks, and maybe even Craigslist. If you live near a kayak/canoe dealership, they may have used demos for sale, which is how I bought mine. They may also be able to direct you to someone looking to sell their kayak.Demos are basically brand new, with a few hundred bucks shaved off.

 

I hoped this will help you out on your search!

 

Jackson Big Rig

Hobie Pro Angler

Ascend

 

[Darren.]

Tons of us here that fish from a kayak.

 

You'll definitely want to try and get to a kayak store

in your area. I'm sure there are many in SC. Reason

I say this is that, especially given your size, you want

to at least get to sit in some yaks at the very least, and

if you can, demo some, before plunging in on the buy.

 

Nice of @roadwarrior to give you an honest assessment

of his rig. That's what you get here! If you buy a yak

before trying, you may regret it big time. We have some

members that are on the bigger side and own a yak that

can give you some insight, too.

 

Also, you can find demo'd yaks at many of these stores

that sell for a big discount over new. Online shops provide

similar deals, but again, you gotta know what you're 

buying.

[HeavyDluxe]

Fellow big guy and kayak angler.  

 

If at all possible, get somewhere where you can test some boats.  They are all different, and how comfortable they are for YOU and how stable you'll feel will vary from boat to boat.

 

Most of the major fishing kayaks (Wilderness Systems, Jackson, Moken, etc) will have the features and general stability you want.  Find a demo day somewhere and paddle.  It's really worth it, and there's no substitute.

 

(I fish out of a WS Ride 115. I liked the Jackson boats, but with the seat in the high position I could roll it. And, even in the low position, the chines in the hull didn't bite the water the same as the Ride did.  I couldn't feel the edge as well.  The Ride, well, I can stand on the side of the hull and not tip it.  I walked out with the Ride 115, but a buddy who's pretty close to me in build  - just a little shorter - walked out with the Jackson Coosa.  So, YOUR preferences matter hugely and will only be found when you get on the water in a boat.)

[Hawkeye21]

I started kayak fishing last summer.  It's my only way to get out on the water besides going on my friend's boat.  I have the Pelican Catch 120 and bought it on sale for $599.  I believe the capacity is 450 pounds so it can handle a decent amount.  It's also fairly wide so it's very stable and I can stand in it easily.  I'm 5'11" and 215 pounds for reference.  I don't have any experience on any other kayaks so I can't say much about other brands but I highly recommend the one I have.  If you can find it on sale like I did you will find it hard to get a better kayak for your money.

[Baitcaster]

I would definitely take a look at the Nucanoe line. The open deck design is a must for a big fella. The cherry on top is the customer service. It is second to none.

[kbeeb374]

If your budget is on the smaller side I have a field and stream shadow caster that I absolutely love.  It has a really wide beam and an adjustable (and I think replaceable) seat.  retails for 800 but they are usually on sale for 750. 

[ChrisD46]

Old Town Predator 13 holds 500lbs. with options to paddle , pedal or motor - I have not used one but the reviews are positive . In the Wilderness Systems line up besides the Ride 115 / 135 ,  the new A.T.A.K appears to be a nice big man's kayak for fishing .

[DogBone_384]

I have a FeelFree Lure 11.5 and an Ascend 128T. Both are stand up stable and have all-day comfortable seats.  The Ascend's seat swivels and the Lure's elevates.

 

The Lure is lighter than the Ascend and has a wheel in the keel that makes it easy to transport short distances.

 

 

[1idrod]

I agree with Chris, the Old Town would be a good choice and also look at the Jackson Big Rig for your weight. These are yaks under $2000 that should be stable. There are other options but over $2500 unless used.

[shootermcbob]

I too am a "husky" dude...i weigh around around 240 with an occasional gust to 250. I currently fish out of a native watercraft ultimate 14.5 foot propel. This kayak is 32.5 inches wide. I was wary at first, but the design is very stable...for sitting. I do not stand. I too would recommend seat time in any that you buy. I would also recommend looking at something you can "pedal" vs paddle. FOR ME, it is so nice to peddle and fish. I can go forwards and backwards and never stop fishing. 

Good luck with whatever you choose. 

[NYWayfarer]

I have an upcoming trip in July to a resort in the PA area that has free use of their canoes and kayaks.

 

This will be my first use of a kayak to see if I like it for fishing. I have a local lake that I can rent a kayak on if need be. To me this is the best way to know if that is something I would be interested in purchasing before I leap in headfirst and regret a large purchase I am never going to use.

 

 

 

 

[Bassman37]

1 hour ago, Finesse Wayfarer said:

I have an upcoming trip in July to a resort in the PA area that has free use of their canoes and kayaks.

 

This will be my first use of a kayak to see if I like it for fishing. I have a local lake that I can rent a kayak on if need be. To me this is the best way to know if that is something I would be interested in purchasing before I leap in headfirst and regret a large purchase I am never going to use.

 

 

 

 

This sounds like a great way to try them out and see just how comfortable you find them after a few hours.