By Paul Lebowitz

The name Big Game says it all. Ocean Kayak’s newest addition to the capable Prowler line is a 12 foot 9 inch long beast of a boat designed specifically for fishing. With a capacity of 550-600 pounds, it easily floats an NFL lineman. His uniform will stay dry too, because the Big Game’s seat is perched high above the water. Normally such an elevated seating position would compromise stability. Not on this 34 inch wide aircraft carrier.

But this is more than a ‘big man’ boat. The Big Game’s incredible stability appeals to people who find narrower kayaks too tippy for their tastes, and offers the user a new perspective – the lofty view that comes from standing upright. This trick is a great one for sight fishing on flat water, and it’s easy because OK provided level deck space for the purpose.  

This boat comes ready to fish, with a couple of flush-mounted rod holders and all the usual stuff like a tankwell and bow hatch and acres of deck space for mounting accessories. There are some real surprises here too, like a front scupper that doubles as a mounting point for fish-finder transducers. About time! A unique below-decks shelf is hiding beneath the bow hatch – that’s a battery tray. The center console provides additional, easy to reach storage beneath a removable lid. And in a first for OK, there’s room for an optional rectangular hatch just in front of the seat.

What are the drawbacks? As expected, this massive machine takes considerable effort to get going. Once moving it’s no speed demon either.  There’s some hull slap – more commonly known as noise as the boat splashes through the water – but its quiet enough.

THE PROWLER BIG GAME BY OCEAN KAYAK has the heft to float an NFL lineman. But this is more than a ‘big man’ boat. It boasts several fishing kayak firsts, including a built-in battery tray and a molded-in spot for a fishfinder transducer.