Kayak Recommendations

[firemanjj82]

My wife mentioned about getting me a fishing kayak for Father's Day. I was wondering what the go-to starter kayak is. Not looking to spend a bunch, but 350-400 is what I'd like to keep it around.

Thanks for any advice.

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[txoutdoorsman24]

For that price range, you will have trouble finding anything new that is worth a darn. I’d recommend looking on FB marketplace or Craigslist to find someone in your price range that is used yet a good brand. Jackson, Old town and hobie have been the 3 brands I’ve had and loved them all for different reasons. It all really Depends on the type of fishing you plan to do.
There are so many in the market nowadays, it’s hard to give one solid recommendation, find a kayak store close to you and go try them all out. Try Every brand available!! To me, swat confer is number one in my book in what to look for in a kayak. I’ll never have another kayak that doesn’t have a raised or adjustable seat. Stability, storage/space, and maneuverability are my other main factors.

[Outback77]

[ame="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qaqgQAoEEsk"]5 Fishing Kayaks Under $500 : Part 1 of 2 - YouTube[/ame]

This guy gives pretty good reviews by price point

[Wile E.]

We have had a pair of Pelican fishing kayaks for about 8 years now and they are still going strong, the other manufacturers would have you believe the plastic is crap but I have found the opposite to be true. These pelicans have held up very well, granted they have been babied but they've seen quite a bit of use and are going strong. By contrast, we also got a couple Ascend brand polyethylene yaks on sale last year, had to exchange one because it cracked and now the other one has a crack as well it would seem (all w/ the same very gentle use.) As long as you don't drag your boat across the parking lot the pelicans seemingly do just fine.

As far as other things to consider, in general a sit-inside will cut through the water more nicely but a sit-on-top might give you more flexibility of what to bring. If I were to buy another I'd buy a sit-inside, my .02. Looking at the Academy website, the Pelican maxim 100x angler ($300) is the most similar to what I have, although mine is tan. If you were willing to wait for a sale, I'd imagine it could be had for sub-250. I wouldn't worry about storage all that much. If anything, the one above looks to have more storage than mine does, and I've been duck hunting from mine and was able to fit everything I needed. Imo all that milk crate, 6 rods, bucket, cooler, etc is the wrong philosophy for a kayak and it will never really all fit comfortably whichever boat you have, it's more about bringing very little and being light.

[clay4626]

My wife mentioned about getting me a fishing kayak for Father's Day. I was wondering what the go-to starter kayak is. Not looking to spend a bunch, but 350-400 is what I'd like to keep it around.

Thanks for any advice.

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You do know that Sunday is mother's day Just saying

[firemanjj82]

You do know that Sunday is mother's day Just saying

Yeah. She got hers early, so she mentioned mine early too

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[diamond10x]

I have a Lifetime Teton Angler kayak. I’m not a serious kayak fisherman at all and honestly don’t care to kayak much. I bought it about two years ago because I was tired of fishing out of my inflatable having to patch holes from fins and hooks all the time. I mostly use it to sneak into some secret lakes and hidden hill country rivers a couple times a year and then for setting crab traps at the coast. I paid 375$ for it at the time and I think now they run about 399$. This yak has been all I’ve needed, plenty of storage, comfy seat, rod holders, stable, tracks well. Lots of guys will say you need to spend a lot more or whatever but honestly unless you’re going to use it all the time there’s no point, they all do the same dang thing. Whatever kayak you end up with just make sure it’s got rod holders or rod holders can be installed.