By Paul Lebowitz

February 2, 2007

Ready to dip a toe in and try kayak fishing? There’s never been a better time. Manufacturers are cranking out dozens of designs suited to casting a line. And whatever your target – bass in the bays, trout in the lake, or yellowtail out on the biggest pond of all – at the San Diego Boat Show you can see a wide variety of quality fishing kayaks produced by Cobra Kayaks, Hobie Kayaks, Ocean Kayak, and others. We’ll take a look at the show boats in a bit, but first, just what makes a kayak ‘fishy?”

Foremost is enhanced stability for fighting fish, scooting about the deck, kicking back without a care while enjoying a cold brew, or even standing up for an elevated view and longer cast. Add ease of re-entry and a self-draining design, and it’s simple to see why most anglers prefer to fish from sit-on-top models. Indeed, most current fishing kayaks double as novice-friendly recreational boats.

Next is plentiful and convenient storage space for rods and reels, tackle (can any fisher ever have too much?), and somewhere to stow tonight’s fresh fish dinner. Storage falls into two broad categories: below-decks, where the gear you want to keep can be safely stashed while dashing through the surf; and above-deck, typically in a recessed, self-draining well.

Finally there’s rigability, a measure of how easily the boat can be modified to create the ultimate personalized fishing machine. Does the deck accommodate multiple rod holders, have space to mount a fishfinder or GPS, and provide multiple attachment points for rod leashes, drift chutes, anchors, and other kayak fishing accessories?

But no matter how fishy the ‘yak, if it doesn’t fit, you’ll want to throw it back.

Kayaks come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. They are long and slim, short and wide, and everywhere in between. Obviously, larger people need bigger kayaks. Smaller people fit in just about any kayak, but putting a compact person in something the size of a supertanker is a mismatch.

Just like selecting a new pair of boots, the only way to know how a new kayak fits is to try it on. Sit down and make sure nothing is pinched and there’s wiggle room for your toes.

Let’s move on to how differently shaped kayaks perform on the water. In general, shorter kayaks turn on a dime. That’s just right for carving turns in tight spaces, but can have you spinning in place on open water. Longer kayaks like to go straight, a great attribute when there’s distance to cover. Wider boats feel more stable and can carry more weight, but narrower kayaks require less effort to get and keep going. 

Now we’re ready to tour the show!

FISHING KAYAKS HIT THE SHOW – Fishing kayaks abound at the San Diego Boat Show. This is Ocean Kayak’s fully-featured Prowler Big Game. La Jolla Kayak Fishing Guide Jim Sammons shows that its so stable, you can stand to fire off a cast.

HOBIE’S REVOLUTIONARY HANDS-FREE FISHING ‘YAKS – Hobie’s Mirage Drive Kayaks feature elegantly-engineered pedal-powered drive systems and rudders with fingertip control. As Plastic Navy’s Drew Clark shows, there’s never any need to put down the fishing pole.

COBRA’S FISHIEST ‘YAK – The Cobra Fish N Dive XF is a time-tested performer that shines in the surf. Here Al Silebi shows it at its best – with a full payload of angler, gear, and yellowtail.

Allen’s Kayaks is the place to see the capable Prowler line-up. This trio of fish-friendly designs is produced by Ocean Kayak. They all feature spacious tankwells, large bow hatches, highly riggable decks, and comfortable backrests. Incidentally, kayak fishing guide Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing had a hand in their design. Sammons will be at the show presenting his informative kayak fishing seminars. Be sure to catch one.

The first of the Prowlers is the 15. Its 28 in. wide and 15 ft. and change long. Those elegant lines aren’t just for show. This sweet paddling boat is right at home on the ocean’s swells. The knock on this kayak is that it’s a wet ride. Hey, kayak fishing is a water sport. Dress accordingly.

The Prowler 13 is two feet shorter than its longer cousin. That slows it down a bit, but makes it more nimble. It’s less boat to push around for smaller paddlers, and a good option for those short on storage space.

The Big Game is the newest of the Prowler family. Its rock-solid stability, dry ride, and massive carrying 600 lb. capacity appeal to big guys and people who feel uncomfortable on narrower kayaks. This boat sports several interesting features, such as built-in battery storage, a molded-in mounting point for a fish-finder transducer, and a unique covered center console storage tray.

Want to fish with a friend? Look into OK’s Malibu II XL. Room for two and all your gear, plus usable solo.

Boats in Bags specializes in kayaks that can be stored in small places. A good example is the BIC Yakka, a 9 ft. long kayak that folds down to a tidy 59 by 60 in. It’s a maneuverable ride best for shorter trips and quieter waters such as backcountry lakes. It’s not as fully featured as many of the other fishing kayaks at the show, but it’s the only one that’ll fit in the closet.

Fastlane Sailing Center has Hobie’s Mirage line of kayaks to show off. They feature an incredible pedal-powered drive system and a rudder with fingertip control. Hands-free! You’ll never have to put down the fishing pole.

The Mirage line begins with the improved Outback, a hair over 12 ft. long and a super-stable 33 in. wide. The Outback is a nimble powerhouse with room for a full quiver of rods and tackle – consider it a human powered bass boat. The Outback offers a large tank well, a cushy seatback, four molded-in rod holders, a large flip-up forward hatch, a couple of smaller hatches, and integral storage wells. Nice.    

Want to cover more distance? The slimmed down Adventure and brand-new Revolution are for you. These rockets are a little more than 28 in. wide and fast, fast, fast. They’re ready for offshore action, with spacious tank wells, a pair of molded-in rod holders apiece, big hatches up on the bows, and lots of other goodies. If they have any downside (hands-free!), it’s their slightly less fishing-friendly deck plans. The Mirage drive gets in the way, reducing space for rod holders and electronics up front.

Hobie also makes traditional paddle-powered kayaks. Their standout in this category is the nicely appointed Quest, 13 ft. of fish-chasing machine. The Quest has everything today’s kayak anglers expect, plus handy mesh storage pockets and bombproof adjustable footpegs.

And then there’s the San Diego Sailing Center. SDSC has been Cobra Kayak’s number one kayak dealer for years. The time-tested star here is the Fish N Dive XF. This 12.5-ft tank handles exceptionally well in surf, has tons of storage room, and at 36 in. wide, they don’t come any more stable. There’s an optional rectangular hatch that fits just forward of the cockpit – the handiest below-decks storage imaginable. And it can hold plenty of poundage. This baby can tote up to 600 lbs of man, gear, and fish.

The longer Marauder XF is better at covering distance. It’s 14 ft., 3 in. long but a still-steady 31 in. wide, capable of carrying up to 475 lbs. of payload. The deck is a real flat-top too, with room for up to three large hatches and plentiful deck space for easy rigging. A solid kayak fishing design.

The Tandem + 1 is all new, with room for two and then some. This 14.5 ft. long kayak offers a pair of paddle fishers the elbow room to fish comfortably, with plenty left over for a bait tank, rod holders, and all that other good stuff. It’s flexible too, usable solo from the rear or center seating position. Or add a third, smaller passenger for those fun-day cruises.