By Paul Lebowitz
Need a ticket to ride but afraid you can’t afford the fare? Think again.
In kayak fishing, it doesn’t cost a lot of green to get out on the blue. Five crisp Benjamin Franklins gets it done.
Of course you can’t expect BMW performance on a Kia budget. In general, a budget buyer gets an econobox: basic transportation that won’t win any races, shouldn’t stray far from a smooth track, nor carry a truck’s worth of cargo.
It doesn’t matter. These modest kayaks get you on the water. If you can do that, you’ll get into the fish. Lash some PVC rod holders into a milk crate, strap it down on the deck, and you’ve got a fishing machine capable of Plastic Navy Tournament Trail competition. One more thing; at these prices, seats and paddles usually cost extra. Bite the bullet but go cheap. You can always upgrade later.
Now let’s see what $500 or so buys.
Cobra Kayak’s Escape - $495
Break free from the shoreline with Cobra Kayak’s 10-ft, 5-in Escape, a slightly scaled-down version of its cousin the Explorer. At 31-in wide it’s a bit of a lightweight; the Escape’s capacity is a skinny 240 lbs. On the other hand, the boat is only 34-lbs itself. Fishing features include a tankwell and ample flat deck space for optional hatches or other gear. www.cobrakayaks.com
Hobie’s Lanai - $499
Fine Hobie engineering for less than $500? Absolutely. The little Lanai measures a maneuverable 9-ft long by 30-in wide. Pack up to 325-lbs of paddler and gear; a recessed cut-out on the aft deck is just right for a tackle box or small cooler. There’s room for more cargo on the flat aft deck. www.hobiecat.com
The Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT Angler - $549
Yep, that’s right. For just over five bills you get an angler edition ‘yak from a major manufacturer. The Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT is a true classic, a 12-ft long, 29-in wide ocean-capable kayak that boasts just about every fishing kayak staple. It comes with a large oval bow hatch, a spacious tankwell, bungee deck fittings, even a pair of flush-mount rod holders and will carry up to 350-lbs. That’s a lot of ‘yak for the dough. www.oceankayak.com
Malibu Kayak’s Mini-X - $499
Listen to this: just $499 buys a fishing kayak featuring a pair of flush-mount rod holders and a large rectangular cockpit hatch. The Malibu Mini-X is a little boat with a big heart. Only 9-ft long but nearly 34-in wide, this stable platform offers a large tankwell and a comfortable cockpit. The Mini can carry man and gear up to 325 lbs. It’s a nimble package, great for fishing tight spaces. www.malibukayaks.com
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 - $499
The tiniest Tarpon shares the best fishing features of its larger siblings: a useful tankwell, a day hatch behind the seat, and another up on the bow. Wilderness Systems even outfits this 10-ft long, 29-in wide Tarpon with the company’s exclusive Comfort Seating System: a padded seat pan and rigid fold-up lumbar support. Weight limit: 325-lbs. www.wildernesssystems.com
The Pamlico 100 from Wilderness Systems - $425
Little boats come in sit-inside packages too, recreational-style to be specific, with enlarged non-confining cockpits. Kayaks such as the Pamlico 10 aren’t suited to wide spaces, but in trade they benefit from higher relative weight capacities. The 30-in wide by 10-ft long Pamlico is rated for up to 300 lbs. The boat features the Phase 3 Lite seating system, an aft oval hatch, and deck space for rod holders and other goodies. Sister label Perception offers the similar Prodigy 10 for even less, a wallet-easy $330. www.wildernesssystems.com or www.perceptionkayaks.com
Now a few final words. As you can see, fishing kayaks offer a lot of bang for the boating buck. If $500 gets the buyer a workable ‘yak, consider what doubling the budget can do. $1,000 or so is enough to bring home most front-line fishing kayaks, the true state of the art. The extra cash buys longer range, greater carrying capacity, enhanced comfort, more fishing-friendly features, and eye-catching good looks. All that is nice to have in an ocean-going ‘yak; in the bays, a little boat paddled by a talented angler will catch as many fish. |
COBRA ESCAPE PHOTO COURTESY UP SPORTS
HOBIE LANAI PHOTO COURTESY HOBIE KAYAKS
OCEAN KAYAK SCRAMBLER XT ANGLER PHOTO COURTESY OCEAN KAYAK
MALIBU KAYAKS MINI-X
WILDERNESS SYSTEMS TARPON 100 PHOTO COURTESY WILDERNESS SYSTEMS
WILDERNESS SYSTEMS PAMLICO 100 PHOTO COURTESY WILDERNESS SYSTEMS |
