Thread: FISHING KAYAKS

I have caught quite a few trout and flathead from canoes and kayaks, but have never used anything like the craft that most kayak fishermen now use.

That is because I am a kayaker first and a fisherman second. So my canoe fishing was done from a traditional 15ft canoe and my kayak fishing is done from my sea kayaks. A couple of people I paddle with regularly are keener kayakers and keener fishermen than I am. They often fish for salmon and tailor outside in sea kayaks and are likely to deliberately do an eskimo roll before they come back in through the surf in order to rinse the blood off the deck where they have their catch secures in a mesh bag.

I'm not that keen and I don't suppose you are that skilled.

Nevertherless, there are a few comments that I can offer that might help you make a decision.

The first thing I have noticed is that most purpose built fishing kayaks are heavy. Some are unbelievably heavy. The heaviest one I have ever seen reviewed weighed 70kg. Most weigh around 30 to 40kg. That is a lot of weight to lift onto the top of the car. I prefer my 10.8kg racing kayak that I can lift onto the car with one hand or my 13kg sea kayak. For some people, the weight is not an issue, but if your situation means that you might do yourself a mischief transferring the kayak between the vehicle and the storage, you might look closely at the weight. There are SOTs that are very similar to the specialised fishing ones, but weigh a lot less.

If you live within walking distance of the water and can just put the kayak on a little trolley and walk to your launching spot, weight might not matter.

You mentioned overnight. Any kayak less than about 4.5 metres will be a bit slow. Any 3 metre kayak with a flat bottom will be very slow. While you might say you are not in a hurry to get there, just consider the possibility that you might be in a bit of a hurry to get home if the weather looks like turning nasty. Trying to hurry home at the end of a long day with the wind and the tide or current against you is not an enjoyable experience. If there is any chance of trying a kayak similar to the ones you are considering it might be worth trying to cover some distance to see what you and the kayak are capable of.

All other things being equal (which they never are in practice), a longer kayak will be easier to paddle straight. Of course there is a downside to a longer kayak. They will probably be heavier.

I think looking for something you can stand up in (or on) means you will also be looking at something so wide that paddling it will be slow and uncomfortable. Wide kayaks can be difficult to handle off the water and can be unpleasant to paddle. I think standing up in a fishing kayak is a silly idea, but then I have never been able to see the attraction of standing up in a tinnie either. I like to fish sitting down.

My advice, for what it is worth, is don't get stuck with something that is so heavy that you hate getting it out to go fishing and don't get something so short that it takes you forever to get anywhere.

Originally Posted by vnx205

I have caught quite a few trout and flathead from canoes and kayaks, but have never used anything like the craft that most kayak fishermen now use.

That is because I am a kayaker first and a fisherman second. So my canoe fishing was done from a traditional 15ft canoe and my kayak fishing is done from my sea kayaks. A couple of people I paddle with regularly are keener kayakers and keener fishermen than I am. They often fish for salmon and tailor outside in sea kayaks and are likely to deliberately do an eskimo roll before they come back in through the surf in order to rinse the blood off the deck where they have their catch secures in a mesh bag.

I'm not that keen and I don't suppose you are that skilled.

Nevertherless, there are a few comments that I can offer that might help you make a decision.

The first thing I have noticed is that most purpose built fishing kayaks are heavy. Some are unbelievably heavy. The heaviest one I have ever seen reviewed weighed 70kg. Most weigh around 30 to 40kg. That is a lot of weight to lift onto the top of the car. I prefer my 10.8kg racing kayak that I can lift onto the car with one hand or my 13kg sea kayak. For some people, the weight is not an issue, but if your situation means that you might do yourself a mischief transferring the kayak between the vehicle and the storage, you might look closely at the weight. There are SOTs that are very similar to the specialised fishing ones, but weigh a lot less.

If you live within walking distance of the water and can just put the kayak on a little trolley and walk to your launching spot, weight might not matter.

You mentioned overnight. Any kayak less than about 4.5 metres will be a bit slow. Any 3 metre kayak with a flat bottom will be very slow. While you might say you are not in a hurry to get there, just consider the possibility that you might be in a bit of a hurry to get home if the weather looks like turning nasty. Trying to hurry home at the end of a long day with the wind and the tide or current against you is not an enjoyable experience. If there is any chance of trying a kayak similar to the ones you are considering it might be worth trying to cover some distance to see what you and the kayak are capable of.

All other things being equal (which they never are in practice), a longer kayak will be easier to paddle straight. Of course there is a downside to a longer kayak. They will probably be heavier.

I think looking for something you can stand up in (or on) means you will also be looking at something so wide that paddling it will be slow and uncomfortable. Wide kayaks can be difficult to handle off the water and can be unpleasant to paddle. I think standing up in a fishing kayak is a silly idea, but then I have never been able to see the attraction of standing up in a tinnie either. I like to fish sitting down.

My advice, for what it is worth, is don't get stuck with something that is so heavy that you hate getting it out to go fishing and don't get something so short that it takes you forever to get anywhere.

Nup not skilled & would probably just drown if that happened..Yeah i am taking my time before i commit to buy one, thats why i though i'd ask here..I like the kayaks you have built to i seen them in the show us your boat thread..But hopping other here do fish from them & can tell there story of them..

Jason
Look up Hobie Craft,they are featured on Fishing Australia.They have paddle fins that are foot operated,single and twin seaters.
Andrew

People who do the sort of fishing that needs two hands available for fishing, but still need to manoeuvre the kayak seem to find the Hobie quite convenient.

That propulsion system seems to work quite well.

The disadvantages seem to be the cost and the weight.

I've got a Hobie Revolution 13 that I use for fishing. It is a really great little craft - comfortably carries my 90kg self and fishing gear and, with the large size fins moves through the water at a very acceptable rate of knots without much effort. It would easily carry enough camping gear for an overnighter. Hobie kayaks are beautifully designed and quality of manufacture is first rate.
Disadvantages are weight and cost. Mine weighs close to 30kg, which makes it a bit of a struggle to get up on to the roof of the Disco3 by myself - but it is do-able, and gets easier with practice. With 2 people it would be relatively easy.
Hobie make a large range of 1 and 2 person kayaks, both paddle and peddle types. Like any other type of vehicle the cost varies greatly on model and options (that's where they get you - all the fish finders, GPS's and other doo-dads!) but the pedal system is an absolutely brilliant piece of engineering and well worth coughing up the extra dollars for.

Originally Posted by John58

I've got a Hobie Revolution 13 that I use for fishing. It is a really great little craft - comfortably carries my 90kg self and fishing gear and, with the large size fins moves through the water at a very acceptable rate of knots without much effort. It would easily carry enough camping gear for an overnighter. Hobie kayaks are beautifully designed and quality of manufacture is first rate.
Disadvantages are weight and cost. Mine weighs close to 30kg, which makes it a bit of a struggle to get up on to the roof of the Disco3 by myself - but it is do-able, and gets easier with practice. With 2 people it would be relatively easy.
Hobie make a large range of 1 and 2 person kayaks, both paddle and peddle types. Like any other type of vehicle the cost varies greatly on model and options (that's where they get you - all the fish finders, GPS's and other doo-dads!) but the pedal system is an absolutely brilliant piece of engineering and well worth coughing up the extra dollars for.

Couldn't agree more. Very easy to pedal and having two hands free, allows you to concentrate on fishing, photography, etc, except when you have to back up in a hurry. They are a bit heavy and more expensive than other kayaks, but if you can afford one you won't be disappointed. It would pay to ask a hobie dealer if you could try one.

Rick

Originally Posted by John58

I've got a Hobie Revolution 13 that I use for fishing. It is a really great little craft - comfortably carries my 90kg self and fishing gear and, with the large size fins moves through the water at a very acceptable rate of knots without much effort. It would easily carry enough camping gear for an overnighter. Hobie kayaks are beautifully designed and quality of manufacture is first rate.
Disadvantages are weight and cost. Mine weighs close to 30kg, which makes it a bit of a struggle to get up on to the roof of the Disco3 by myself - but it is do-able, and gets easier with practice. With 2 people it would be relatively easy.
Hobie make a large range of 1 and 2 person kayaks, both paddle and peddle types. Like any other type of vehicle the cost varies greatly on model and options (that's where they get you - all the fish finders, GPS's and other doo-dads!) but the pedal system is an absolutely brilliant piece of engineering and well worth coughing up the extra dollars for.

Originally Posted by bushrover

Couldn't agree more. Very easy to pedal and having two hands free, allows you to concentrate on fishing, photography, etc, except when you have to back up in a hurry. They are a bit heavy and more expensive than other kayaks, but if you can afford one you won't be disappointed. It would pay to ask a hobie dealer if you could try one.

Rick

Thanks Guys much appreciated.Would either of use have a pic ?. I had seen a kayak with the peddles & they where able to remove them easy so could paddle instead.Are these ones like that , Can be removed so you can paddle..I am hopping to try one eventualy before i buy one But that will be further down the track..

Jason
They had a Hobie on Fishing Australia yesterday arvo,twin seater and paddles,outriggers and a sail,from memory they said they were doing 7knots in it.
FishingAustralia.TV > Episodes > 2012 Episode Seven ? Lord Howe Island, NSW ? Sailboat Kingfish

ENJOY
Andrew