First up is the very popular and well known Wilderness Systems kayaks. I have been on several Tarpon 12 in the past and had the chance to try out a 2014 model this past weekend. The Tarpon 12 is 12' 3" long and 30" wide. It weighs 67lbs with a weight capacity of 350lbs. It's one of the most popular kayaks out there and for good reason. It's fast, comfortable, relatively stable and fairly easy to transport. Here is my opinion on the Tarpon 12, in the areas that I feel are important.
Fishability: 9 out of 10 The angler edition has flush mount rod holders and a trax system for unlimited accessories.
Comfort: 9 out of 10 It comes with an adjustable seat that is very comfortable. Has adjustable foot braces.
Stability: 7 out of 10 At 30" wide this kayak felt pretty stable, but not enough to feel comfortable standing in it.
Speed: 9 out of 10 The Tarpon 12 is very fast for a 12' kayak, and it tracks very straight.
Agility: 8 out of 10 Most 12' kayaks are pretty agile and the Tarpon is no exception.
Portability: 7 out of 10 I found this kayak to be a bit heavy and cumbersome to load on my Jeep Cherokee by myself, but loading in the back of a truck was no issue.
Overall: 49 out of 60 The Wilderness Systems Tarpon 12 is a tried and true kayak. It's a great option for fishing or pleasure paddling. The price is also reasonable at just under $1,000.00.
The next kayak I was able to try was the Ocean Kayak Frenzy. Not really a fishing kayak, but it's a kayak. The Frenzy is 9' long and 31" wide. It weighs 44lbs with a weight capacity of 325lbs. It's not fast, but very stable and extremely easy to transport.
Fishability: 2 out of 10 The Frenzy has no rod holders, but some could be installed. There isn't much room on this kayak for gear either.
Comfort: 7 out of 10 You have to buy the seat of you choice. Does not have adjustable foot braces.
Stability: 9 out of 10 At 30" wide and the design of the hull makes this kayak a very stable platform.
Speed: 5 out of 10 Very slow kayak and doesn't track very well. It was, however, very easy to paddle.
Agility: 10 out of 10 The Frenzy can turn on a dime, and can get into very tight places.
Portability: 10 out of 10 With it's light weight and small size, the Frenzy was extremely easy to load on my Jeep.
Overall: 43 out of 60 The Ocean Kayak Frenzy is a great little kayak. Made more for pleasure paddling. With a price of $450.00, it's a great way to get out on the water with a limited budget.
Next up is my Malibu Mini X. The Mini X is 9' 3" long and 33" wide. It weighs 40lbs with a weight capacity of 325lbs. It's a bit slow, but cuts through the water easily, is super stable and extremely easy to transport.
Fishability: 9 out of 10 The Fish & Dive and/or Recreational versions have flush mount rod holders and the famous X-Wing will fit on the Mini X. Also the square center hatch can hold a lot of gear with easy access.
Comfort: 7 out of 10 You have to buy the seat of you choice. Does not have adjustable foot braces.
Stability: 9 out of 10 At 33" wide this is a very stable kayak. It's built to stand in which can be done.
Speed: 6 out of 10 Slow compared to longer kayaks, but easy to paddle and tracks fairly well.
Agility: 10 out of 10 The Mini X can turn on a dime, and can get into very tight places.
Portability: 10 out of 10 Very easy to load and unload on my Jeep.
Overall: 51 out of 60 The Malibu Mini X is a fantastic little kayak. Well suited for fishing or pleasure paddling. With a price of $580.00, it's very budget friendly.
Finally, the last kayak I had the pleasure to paddle was the Malibu Stealth 12. The Stealth 12 is 12' 4" long and 33" wide. It weighs 55lbs with a weight capacity of 450lbs. It's a very popular kayak for fishing and for good reason. It's fast, comfortable, very stable and fairly easy to transport.
Fishability: 10 out of 10 The Stealth has 4 flush mount rod holders, a build in live-well and the X-Wing as an option. Lots of storage with the gator hatch, which is large enough to store rods.
Comfort: 7 out of 10 You have to buy the seat of your choice. Does have adjustable foot braces and a seat for your little angler to ride with you.
Stability: 9 out of 10 At 33" wide this is a very stable kayak. Build to stand in which is very doable.
Speed: 8 out of 10 Has the speed needed to get to your fishing hole. It's width slows it down a bit, but hardly noticeable.
Agility: 8 out of 10 Typical agility for a 12' kayak.
Portability: 8 out of 10 This kayak was fairly easy to load on my Jeep Cherokee by myself.
Overall: 50 out of 60 The Malibu Stealth 12 is a true fishing kayak. The ability to carry live bait in the live-well and being able to stand makes this kayak a great choice for fishing all bodies of water. At $900, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Well there you go. These are just a few kayaks of the hundreds to choose from. I know which one of these will be my next purchase.
D.S
#HOOK1KFG
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