Picking a Kayak Help

[FishingFella]

Ok so here is the deal i am looking for a kayak that is suitable for both rivers etc and the bay because i am going to start kayak fishing... I have about 450 bucks im looking towards a used one what would be a good one to get that would be great for both im 5ft 6 in If that helps...

thanks for the help

[Slackdaddy]

Best bang for the buck is the old Tarpon 120, now sold as the Pescador 12.
Academy has em in red for 499.00 http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...849+4294956176
West marine has them in yellow and will price match http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=50621

Slack

[chimo]

Best bang for the buck is the old Tarpon 120, now sold as the Pescador 12.
Academy has em in red for 499.00 http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...849+4294956176
West marine has them in yellow and will price match http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=50621

Slack

Going to be hard to beat that price / quality on a new yak. Watching C-list and this forum for a used 12-13 ft sit on top yak would be another good option.

[Aesiegel]

I agree with Slackdaddy re the Pompano 12. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...1#.UFhp6I5U6fc

West Marine occasionally has them on sale for $399. Hard to beat a deal like that. Maybe Don (Dogfish) could give you a heads up on the next sale at West Marine.

Another option would be to check with a local kayak shop and pick up a demo or rental boat. Annapolis Canoe and Kayak sells their demo/rental fleet later in the fall.

[Slackdaddy]

The Pompano is also an old Tarpon 120, less seat. if you can get it for 399.00 and then pick up a seat for 75-100.00, good deal too.

[wfauby]

Im new to the sport myself so take this with a grain of salt. i watched and watched Craigslist for several weeks waiting for a decent fishing kayak to come up without success...so i researched kayaks in the 500 range and the Field & Streams at Dicks Sporting Goods did fairly well. I checked them out at the store and they seemed o.k. I was going to get one but then my accountant (wife) freed up more funds and i went with something bigger. The biggest complaints i saw about the less expensive models was the quality of the materials (especially the strength of the hulls) many complained that under the heat of the sun the bottoms got very soft and made tightening down the straps for hauling difficult or actually crushed the hulls...this concerned me BUT I WONDER HOW TIGHT THOSE GUYS WERE RATCHETING THEIR STRAPS!? Good luck

[Slackdaddy]

Cheaper big store kayaks "appear" to have thinner plastic??
Slack