By Paul Lebowitz

Tarpon line-up, Ride from Wilderness Systems designed to fish hard

The tournament was only a couple of hours old, yet the voice on the radio was requesting a boat miles from the launch. Someone had fish to weigh.

It took the weigh boat more than 15 minutes to make the run. Eventually the graceful lines of a distance-eating ‘yak materialized out of the drifting fog. We’d found Mark Pierpont and his sleek Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160i almost two miles north of his closest competitor. Only a man paddling the fastest of fishing kayaks would dare travel so far.

“On the Tarpon 160i I can consistently travel over 5 mph for long distances,” explained Pierpont, Kayak Fishing Field Manager for Wilderness Systems parent company Confluence Watersports. “It’s very fast and can travel great distances, yet it is still maneuverable,” Pierpont added.

The uninitiated sometimes claim the 16-ft long T160i is hard to turn. Pierpont said they are missing the point.

“We’re not fishing, we’re kayak fishing. If people put a bit of effort into their kayaking skills they’ll find the boat is amazingly nimble. The boat turns on a dime when slightly tilted. Lean into the direction of the turn to release water from the keel,” Pierpont explained.

Wilderness Systems is known affectionately as ‘Wildy’ to the people who paddle the super-fishy line-up of Tarpon and Ride fishing kayaks. There’s good reason. The 160i isn’t the only high-performance kayak in their stable. These boats all fish hard.

A ‘WILDY’ FOR ALL WATERS – Mark Pierpont, Kayak Fishing Field Manager for Confluence Watersports sits atop his usual perch, the speedy Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160i. The company has a high-performance fishing kayak suitable for any fishing hole.

Pierpont pointed out the 14-ft long Tarpon 140.  “It’s a wonderful boat, the mountain bike of the line, universal and adaptable,” Pierpont said, adding that some beginners find the shorter boat more user-friendly. It excels on lakes and bays.

What about flat-water rivers? Which Tarpon is best? “The 120. Its compact features are superior for drifting rivers in swirling currents. As is true of the entire line, it is easy to outfit,” Pierpont said.

Even the heavy-weight of the bunch, the Ride 135, prioritizes paddling performance.

“Hands down its the most stable kayak on the water due to its hull configuration, a double pontoon design. Compared to other ‘big boy’ boats it is very maneuverable and a superior paddler. The Ride is an easy boat for first-timer, ideal for hoop netting or shark fishing and fly fishing friendly.