broberts

I am looking to get a kayak and had a couple of questions. The only placce locally that I live is Academy. To my knowledge, all they carry is the Pelicans. I was debating between getting the Pelican Castaway and the Apex 2 tandem.I will be fishing in the bay and back waters with it. If there is another that Academy carries that someone recommends, I would be glad to hear their opinion on them. Also, I am trying to stay below $500 for the kayak. Are the tandems very conducive to 2 people fishing at a time?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

FLSalomon

IMO, there are better yaks to buy than a Pelican. I don't have one and have not paddled one, but everyone who has wants to upgrade at the first opportunity. However, if it gets you on the water, then it is satisafactory. For example, at Academy, they sell Ocean Kayak Scramblers, Drifters and some others. The Scrambler is a more solid choice, a good fishing kayakand very easy to sell if and when you want to move up. If you are big height / weight, then the Drifter or Big Game is ideal.

I would suggest you also post your question on the local kayak fishing site - www.gulfcoastkayakfishing.com - we would be happy to give you some advice and help you with rigging the boat...

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broberts

Thanks for the reply FLSalomon. I am 6'3" about 235 - 240. I will have to take a look at the ones you are suggesting. Thanks for the advice and I will take a look at the web site.

LocalOkie

Broberts,

I've been kayak fishing for about four years now, and there are several brands that I would strongly recommend (Ocean Kayak, Wilderness Systems, Perception), but Pelican is not one of them. I have a couple of friends that own Pelicans, and they paddle very poorly. On top of that, they have poorly welded seams so they often take on water, and the hull is very thin and often warps. I have two Ocean Kayaks and I have no complaints with them. The Scrambler can be purchased at Academy, and it's a great kayak, but it may be small for a guy your size. The Drifter would fit you well, but it may be over your price range. If you live within an hour ofa kayak shop, it might be worth the time to visit and paddle a few models.Check the classified ads as well.Sometimes youcan find a steal.

broberts

I went by Academy and checked out the Ocean Kayak Drifter. That one looked really sweet. I think I will be purchasing this model. It looks to have a lot more features than the Pelican. It is a little more than I wanted to spend, but the added features make it more than worth the money. I really appreciate everyone's input. Can't wait to go pick it up and try it out.

Turbow

Back in Texas a lot of the kayakers buy the OK Malibu II and even the Malibu II XL and set it up for a single person. It is very stable in the surf, can carry lots of gear,and just suits the big dudes well. I bought one myself once I got to FL mainly for the versatility ofbeing able to take the girl out for an evening paddle, fishing the sound, and yakking out shark baits. They can be had really cheap used compared to a true fishing yak.

Linda

at your size broberts and your price range, I was thinking the same as Turbow stated.

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FLSalomon

Brobert - the Drifter is a good choice to get you started. The only drawback to the boat is the narrow tankwell - it fits a playmate cooler perfectly, but it takes some ingenuity to fit a milk crate to store gear. It can be done, we can show you. However, it is designed for guys your size and you will be very happy with it.Academy's price is pretty good, these models are being phased out in favor of the Big Game and Trident - they are upwards of $1,000. Most of the Drifters are yellow - which is good. You want the powerboaters to see you, the fish don't care.

But spend some money and get the most comfortable seat you can - that will make a huge difference. Don't skimp here - the best ones are in the $100-$150 range. But worth it. You can look on www.kayakfishingstuff.com or some localkayak stores - Pensacola Kayak & Sail (PK&S) on Barrancas has some in stock.

Get a good paddle. Don't need to spend a lot, but expect about $75. Academy has some Carlisles with nylon reinforced fiber or plastic blades. You'll be using it to push off the bottom, pilings, etc. so you don't want something fragile. (PK&S) has a good selection also. Aquabound, Carlisle, etc.

I have an OK Malibu II and our club has a Malibu II XL as a spare. They are built as tandems but can easily be set up as solo boats and as turbow says, are very stable with lots ofrigging options. The XL is longer and slightly faster and tracks better.

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SheYakFishr

broberts.... if you don't get an expensive seat... you can always go to academy and get one of their stadium seats. They are like 2" of rubber (cut off the little handle part) and they are verycomfortable and located near the shoes. I love mine!

See you on the water....