3 Mistakes To Avoid When Purchasing A Fishing Kayak
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Looking to get your first (or a new) fishing kayak?
That’s awesome — kayak fishing is one of the best, cheapest, and easiest ways to catch some nice fish.
There are no batteries, engines, or trailers to worry about, and you can pretty much reach all the inshore spots you could ever hope to get to…
Including some areas boaters and wade fishermen can’t access!
But if you’re getting a kayak that’s new (or at least new to you) then you should definitely be aware of these common mistakes many kayak anglers make that could cost you:
- Money
- Unnecessary holes in your kayak
- Wasted time
- And more
See what these common mistakes are and how to avoid them below!
Mistakes When Purchasing Your First Fishing Kayak [VIDEO]
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Mistake #1: Getting too many accessories at once
Many people get a new kayak, buy a ton of accessories they think they need, then put them on their kayak before they’ve even taken it out.
Instead, you should take your kayak out with the bare necessities (safety gear, tackle tray, a few tools, and a few rods and reels), and get a feel for what accessories you need and where they should go.
You don’t want to put a rod holder on your kayak only to have to move it a few inches forward and be left with extra holes in your vessel.
Also, you probably don’t need all of the fancy accessories you think you need.
The less amount of stuff the better when it comes to kayak fishing.
As far as accessories I think you definitely should get, here are my top three suggestions:
- Rod holder you can mount in front of you for quick access
- Anchor trolley (this makes it easy to adjust your kayak’s position)
- Anchor pin (this makes it easy to quickly and quietly deploy an anchor in shallow water)
Mistake #2: Getting Too Much Kayak
The next mistake I see people make is buying too expensive of a kayak.
What if you don’t stick with fishing?
Or what if, after kayak fishing for a few months, you realize you prefer fishing from shore or from a boat?
My first kayak was about $300-400, then I got a pedal kayak a few years later, then I got a nice pedal kayak a few years after that once I realized it would definitely be worth it to invest in a quality kayak.
Mistake #3: Getting Too Little Kayak
Kayaks have weight capacities and you need to be aware of, and well under, that weight capacity.
My rule of thumb is to be 100 pounds under the kayak’s recommended weight capacity for optimum safety and stability.
For example, my Hobie Outback’s weight capacity is 425 lbs., so I wouldn’t want to exceed 325 lbs. when I add the weight of myself and all the gear I have with me.
Conclusion
Kayak fishing is a fun and relatively cheap way to get fishing on the water.
You can usually reach the same quality fish that you can in a boat for a fraction of the cost and headaches.
However, if you’re getting a new kayak, be sure to not get too many accessories at once, don’t spend too much money right away, and be aware of the weight capacity.
Have any questions about getting a kayak for fishing?
Let me know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who’s looking to get a new kayak, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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I highly recommend (if you are able) you borrow a friend’s before buying anything… I have back issues and needed to check how comfortable the seat would be and for how long being in that seat was comfortable. Staying seated for long periods is often an issue if you have back problems. So find a yak that the seat works for you. Don’t compromise on comfort or you WILL regret your purchase.
Absolutely!
What about vibes’ new cubera board
That’s a great paddleboard. All they did was change the name from the Maverick due to a name issue clashing with maverick boats. I have a review of that board here:
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/vibe-maverick-120-paddleboard-review/
Hey Tony I’ve been thinking about buying a kayak and I was wondering what length you would recommend? I know someone that purchased a short one maybe 10ft and it didn’t track very well at all.
Hey James!
I wouldn’t go less than 12ft. Tracks better and gives you more space. If the kayak doesn’t have a rudder you can always add one to it which will make it track even better, but when you paddle the shorter kayaks they tend to want to “zig-zag”.
Thanks Tony I appreciate all the help and your fishing tips are great!
I was wondering what spike do you recommend? Size and brand. I’m going to be fishing the Indian River, Mosquito lagoon area. I’m will be using the Sportsman pdl 120 (hopefully in the next couple weeks it will be delivered). Very grateful for the tips you share.
I know you were asking Tony, but I’ll share my experience. I fish in and around Tampa Bay, and use the 6′ Yak Attack Park N Pole. It floats in case you drop it and is lighter than others I’ve checked out.
Hey Bryan!
I use an 8ft Stick-It Anchor Pin. A 7ft would be ideal as well.
How do you like the drive on your Jackson Coosaw kayak?
Hey John!
I actually got rid of the Jackson a little over a year ago and went with a Hobie Outback. The drive on the Jackson was horrible. I had it replaced under warranty I believe 5 or 6 times for the year I had it.
Great post. I jumped right into a pedal kayak, wish I would have spent a little more upfront. Current Kayak (pelican) has gotten me to places I would probably would have never fished, but I’m ready for something a little better and can handle a little more weight. I didn’t get enough Kayak in my case
I definitely agree with not getting too much stuff upfront. milk crate, anchor line, a good PFD. 2 rod(s) is all you really need.
Thank you for the great feedback Jose! The Pelican is a pretty solid pedal kayak to start out with.
I am thinking about getting an inshore Kayak. Want a nice one but it will be my first. I do Kayak fish all the time though. My price range is 600 to 800
What type of kayak do you currently have? Any type can be used inshore. There isn’t really a difference between freshwater/inshore kayaks like there is with boats.
I currently use a mini x
I paddle a Feelfree Moken 12.5 V2 around Tampa Bay and recommend it. I think it retails for $800.