HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[Kyle aka Kcon]

GC, I agree with everything you've said except for the Ride being the best(most stable) in the surf. Without speed, you have no way of conquering decent surf. Stability means nothing if you're going backwards(you're gonna go under anyway). A long sleek, and stable, Perception(just an example) will slice through the waves, not "Ride" over the waves, which is the way to go backwards, or upside down, or down side up?. I've been out there in a storm with 12' seas. Breaking 3-5' on the 1st bar, and 5-7' on the second bar. I turned around before the 3rd bar, LOL! On the way back I was looking waaaay down at my truck parked well below me, LOL! There's no way in the world that I woulda made it there and back in a "Ride", without getting dumped.

To translate that, if you are less inclined to try the 12' seas because you are overweight, or, are not as ambitious, or, just don't like the idea of getting killed in the surf. And, still feel intimidated by a 3' wave(which can be scarey at times), a slow and stable yak will not help your situation if you don't have the speed or power to paddle through the wave. If you can't get through it, you will probably end up downside up. The bay is one thing, the surf is relentless. It keeps coming, and coming , and coming, and.....You don't have to own a racing yak, but there is a compromise that will suit everyone's needs(sometimes it is the Ride).

I guess my point is, not to get THE most stable yak, get the yak that YOU feel comfortable in, and is still as fast as possible. I believe that is the case in the bay and the surf. Wind is a biatch either place...............Kyle

BTW, I told myself, while towering over my truck, that there is absolutely no reason to do this again.LOL! (Sure wish I had a video camera!) That would be the only reason to do it again.
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I fish, therefore, I am................Happy!

[baldo]

I like my Drifter because I can stand up and sight cast in the flats.

[GoinCoastal]

I still think we agree, Kyle.

I think I kinda misinterpreted his question. Many newbies think these overgrown milkjugs flip over like canoes and their main concern is stability. So I saw in his question that NEED for stability. That is why I chose the RIDE. That's also why I suggested paddling some boats. Often after paddling a boat they find they don't need as much stability as they thought. Also height & weight of the paddler has a lot to do with this. After re-reading his question, I think I would change my "recommendation" to the PROWLER as the best compromise between stability and speed of his 3 boats.

I think the rankings are on the money. The PROWLER15 would be fastest. The RIDE is without a doubt the most stable, PERIOD!!! I think we will both agree tho that the MOST STABLE boat is not always the "BEST" boat. In the case of the surf, I agree about the RIDE in the surf zone but ... what about outside the breakers??? Wouldn't that stable boat be a better fishing boat once your out there? And let's limit this discussion to mild days... NO 12' SEAS!!! I ain't going out if its rough outside the breakers....

If I am going out in the surf.... I am probably taking my Tarpon120 over my RIDE on a typical PINS day. I have been paddling a long time and stability isn't that much of an issue for me. I, too, want that faster boat to slice the surf.... Now if it is a dead calm day.... I will be in the RIDE. I just love it as a FISHING PLATFORM not as a paddle craft (Does that make sense???)

SO... Since I am pretty much a yak angler in the bays and hill country rivers with not a lot of surf experience, my question of you surf paddlers.... What do think are the best surf boats for :

5'8" - 6' // 150-200# man ---

6'+ // 200#+ man ---

On the west coast, many prefer the Prowler or the Cobra Fish&Dive. I am curious because most of the yaks I see here on the PINS are the short slow Frenzy and Caper type boats...

BTW --- I have stood in my RIDE too. But for my 6'4" frame, my center of gravity is just too high for a kayak. I don't feel comfortable doing it.
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[GoinCoastal]

OH BTW --- Can yall tell I am passionate about kayak angling?????


I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

[pennspin]

Is it time to get in the h2o yet? Where is the best place to get maps or info on finding all of the back lakes that are out there? I have fished the last 3 years in and around Mud Island, Allyns Byght, and Hog Island. Always find something new everytime I go.

[Kyle aka Kcon]

I know GC, I just wanted to make a point. Like you said, it's all up to the angler, his/her size and coordination. I feel completely comfortable in my Perception offshore, but I know many people that wouldn't. I did get dumped once last year while offshore past the breakers, but that was because of my lazy a$$. I didn't feel like getting up to get into the ice chest, so I leaned way over trying to reach it and lost my balance(everything on my yak is teathered, including my rods) One thing about flat bottom yaks, is that they are harder to get back to shore, but easier to get out, so there's a compromise there. I sharkfish and take baits out, in addition to fishing offshore and the bays, so I have to take that into account. When I'm running a big bait full of big sharp hooks, the last thing I want to do is get flipped on the way out. On the way back I couldn't care less if I get dumped. So MY main concern is getting THROUGH the waves on the way out (I can't remember the last time I dumped on the way out...years!). That's one main reason I bought my yak. I used to get dumped on the way in(3' or bigger surf), but I've only been dumped once or twice in the last 2 years or so, coming in, that is. It just took some practice, and playing with new methods. I do alot of backpaddling these days in order to keep from "surfing" the wave.

As for stability offshore on calm days, it's really not much different than the bay. Waves don't break and they are smooth rollers so you go up and down without jolting you are anything. That changes when you fish in 4'+ seas because then you have rogue waves that are breaking anywhere for no reason, other than they are larger waves. Not due to the sandbars. You just gotta keep an eye to the sea and get perpendicular to the wave in a hurry. It's really not too bad until you hit 6', then, if you don't watch your back, you will end up wet. I wouldn't fish in rough seas if I could pic my days like all the coastal guys get to do. If I drive down from Austin, I'm gonna fish! LOL!

I also troll for miles, with, and against the current and wind, so the faster the boat, the more I can troll. The wind and current can be a biatch when you've been paddling for hours. Like above, my view is that a person should get the fastest yak possible, and still feel stable. You will be able to do so much more in your yak. I haven't done it yet, but I have no problems with traveling the 3+- miles to the BHP rig, even in 3-4' seas. I've padled several miles out in the past. Enough, that my truck is just a black dot next to several other black dots. Sometimes I don't even know which is mine until I get close enough.

Pennspin, I buy the Topspot maps from academy, and use them in conjuntion with the large airial photos that academy also sells(sometimes). I think you can get them in PortA too, or try online. There's so much more detail in a picture, than on the maps. There are many sloughs and lakes that aren't on the maps. Good luck all............Kyle
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I fish, therefore, I am................Happy!

[esanborn]

I bought a yak for my wife last year, and I am eyeing it for a bay and/or surf trip when I don't want the trouble of taking my boat down, and I don't want to pound sand.

How foolish would it be to take a sit-in yak into the surf? Bay? I can see that most everyone recommends the sit-on varieties. I am 5'10", 200#, yak is a Pelican 11-1/2'
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Edward

[Lefty Ray]

Go by Sun N Ski in SA, San Pedro and Bitters, close to Hooters. They carry Biminis, Illusions, and the new Caster.
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Lefty Ray

Kayak 4 Redfish Guide Service
www.kayak4redfish.com

[Kyle aka Kcon]

Esanborn, unless you're an experienced yakker, in that style of yak in rough water, I wouldn't doi it in the surf. The bay is a different story, You probably would be ok as long as it's a stable yak. A fishing yak needs to be more stable than a racing type yak. Good luck.............Kyle
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I fish, therefore, I am................Happy!