Corpusfishing.com

Ugly Tuna

Hello all, I'm starting my quest into purchasing a fishing kayak. I've been able to rent out two different ones to test out. One was a wilderness system tarpon the other was a shorter wider Heritage Angler. Between the two I perfered the shorter wider Heritage model. To me it was more stable of the two.

So, Im looking for something that will accomodate my 5' 11" 190 Lb. frame plus fishing gear and a live bait set up. Something I can set up a live bait well in. I've been using a 5 gal bucket with airator and a gamma lid seal.

I do like the looks of the hobie yaks and they do offer a live bait well attachment but they are expensive and cost is kind of a factor here. Also, like the mirage feature they offer but, I'm not so sure that would work very well were I intend to fish which is in Aransas and Redfish Bays.

Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance!
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Spooled · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject:

Try your search in Texaskayakfisherman.com. Great bunch of yakers and they will even give you some great tips in buying and outfitting your yak. Look under the Kayak and gear for sale menu.
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obsessed · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1200

UT...hit up Jerry B's there in Corpus and especially the demo days...
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justletmein · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:05 pm Post subject:

There's a HUGE range of quality yaks, best to narrow it down by price first.

If a bait tank is important to you, I think one of the BPS house brand yaks has a built-in bait well in it instead of a standard hatch, complete with drain and all. I have no info on how effective it is, but I'll see if I can find a link.
edit: It was the Malibu Stealth yaks.
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jebsays · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:24 pm Post subject:

Ignoring the fact that I haven't had my kayak out in forever, I've been very impressed with my Malibu X-Factor. They have a live well kit available for it from Malibu, but I don't have any experience with it.

Jake h · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 3:31 pm Post subject:

Do yourself a favor and just get a Hobie. I have the outback and fish Aransas Pass almost daily. Pm me if you want to test drive it and I'll meet you out there and let you try it out. I also have a Cobra Fish N Dive for sale, you may want to test drive it as well.
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tdarr · Pony Mullet Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 99

I've only owned one kayak in my life and i can't really tell you how it would compare to some of the more expensive brands but I use a Perception Pescador 12. it only ran about $400 at Dicks and Academy if i remember correctly. I know that the more expensive brands have more room for storage and wider and lighter and all that jazz but I guarantee you that its tougher then any of those brands. I take mine out to the PA jetties and ramp it up on the rocks and it has never had any issues or deep scratches or anything. also it makes you more creative as to how you want to store things.. for instance i always just take a bait bucket and throw it over the side of my kayak so i don't waste room with a 5 gallon bucket. they are also great cutting through water.

J.McDonald Knives · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:11 pm Post subject:

If you are wanting to use live bait, its best to keep it in a bait bucket and throw it over the side. The reason is that all that extra water is extra weight. If you have to have a lot of live bait, just use 2 and put one on each side. When kayaking you can just keep them with enough water to keep them alive for about 10mins and keep them in the boat until you get to your fishing spot. You don't want a 5gal bucket as a live well cause what are you gonna do when you hook a fish and it ends up flipping you out of the boat? Its going to be a pain in the supple bum just trying to flip it back over, if you can do that without losing your bucket. If you look at all the live wells for kayaks, they sit low and long in the yak but that takes up precious room for extra tackle. I'd suggest just trying to find a kayak that you feel comfortable in within your budget and have a capacity about twice your weight. Like the others have said, test drive any and all kayaks that you are interested in buying. Also it does depend on what kind of fishing you wish to use it for.
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Kingz · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject:

FishBites · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:35 am Post subject:

AcousTennis · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 13 Sep 2010 Posts: 1319

Go to the Yak-Shack and try out the Jackson Cuda...great flats boat....a cuda or a tarpon
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Ugly Tuna · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks so much for the info! Jake H, I think I will take you up on offer to test drive the hobie and the cobra fish and dive. I'll PM you as requested.

Also, I think I will just use bait buckets as suggested and drop the idea of using a 5 gal bucket type bait well. If I go that way then maybe invest in something that is designed for a yak, as also suggested.

Also, I plan on hitting both Jerry B's and Yak Shack, I did look at the Jackson Cuda online and did like the looks of that yak.

Thanks again all!
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"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life son."

Mad Hatter · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:55 pm Post subject:

Jerry B's no longer has any kayaks in stock. He can still order a new kayaks for you. I don't know if he has any of his rentals there anymore. Talk to Jerry and see what he can do for you. He does have a wealth of knowledge to give that will help you pick a good kayak.
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J.McDonald Knives · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:41 pm Post subject:

Don't forget that you can rent yaks at Wind & Wave. They carry a few brands including Ocean Kayak. You should check out the OK Trident Ultra. They have 2 different sizes and they both can be equipped with a live well that is built for it. They have the long center hatch that is a dry box and the lid is reversible to be able to tuck your electronics and rod holder out of the way of the water and there is a water bottle mounted on the opposite side of the lid so you can hydrate while paddling. Its a pretty sick kayak with a lot of other extras built in and the longest one is a grand less than the 14ft hobie pro angler.

http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/angler_kayaks/Trident_Ultra_4.7/
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Jacob McDonald
210-445-9402
www.jmcdonaldknives.com

5moreminutes · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject:

For live bait I would ditch the 5 gallon bucket and the trolling yellow bucket. Buy a soft sided cooler with hard plastic liner and a Mr. Bubbles

In heat of summer throw in a frozen bottle of water with the saltwater. It will keep a quart of shrimp alive and well. Easy to transport.

Cuda 14 is nice and stable. Ocean kayak prowler another good choice. If this is your first time in a yak stability will come with time.

Demo days will be coming up.
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