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  • New Sea Ghost 130/Mariner Point Park

    This is going to be kind of a double post about my first ever sit on top yak and my first trip to Mariner Point Park. Over the weekend I picked up my new Vibe Sea Ghost 130 from Chris at BigBass USA in Denton. He was a great guy, really easy to talk to and honest about the product. Others here have spoken to his reputation, and he was fantastic to work with. Highly recommended.

    I'd done a ton of research through SnaggedLine members, Instagram folks, review videos, and review articles, and the Sea Ghost 130 seemed to be the perfect fit. After my first trip out on it last night I couldn't be happier with my initial findings. It took some practice getting it on and off my RAV4, but YouTube had some videos on how easy that can be once you get it down. I decided to hit Mariner Point Park, mainly because it looked protected from wind, based on Google Maps views. I wanted somewhere I could ease into using the biggest and most versatile kayak I've ever owned. Despite kayak fishing for 16 years, I've only ever owned 2 kayaks, and both were cheap sit-ins. So this was quite an eye-opener. As soon as I pushed off from the shore I felt like I'd gone from a go-kart to a Cadillac! Just being in a raised, lawn-chair style seat was incredible. All of that stability, all of the foot space, all of the storage. Man, it was awesome. I don't know how I spent 8 hours on the water in my sit-in before!

    One part of the Sea Ghost that was paritcularly impressive was the tracking and the responsiveness of the rudder. Even with the rudder up, it tracked really well. And with the rudder down, it took only a handful of strong paddle strokes to get it cruising. The foot pedal rudder controls were really nice, and I could immediately turn one way or another with only a small movement of the pedal controls.

    Vibe promotes this boat as one that will get you where you want to go quickly and let you stand when you get there. I was able to stand quite easily, but even at 5' 10" 165lbs I'm not sure I've got strong enough sea legs to do much more than look around while standing. I took a few casts, and it was certainly cool to be fishing from a bass boat type of angle while in a kayak, but I found myself worried that I was going to have to set the hook, resulting in losing my balance and doing some sort of back flip barrel roll into the drink. I'll keep working at this and perhaps will get used to it, but to be honest I was more comfortable sitting and felt that provided enough of a vantage point. Overall, so far I feel that it's a great kayak for the price, and I'm excited to spend a whole day on the water with it rather than a quick after work session.

    Mariner Point Park was a really great place to go, despite the chocolatey water and stronger than usual current. There is a boat ramp area where I read that kayaks are forbidden from launching, but the regular soft-launch was flooded, and since it was gloomy there was only one trailer in the parking lot, so I used one of the boat ramps instead. On a busy day I can see why they want to restrict those ramps to trailered boats, but today it was no big deal for me to launch there as well. I worked my way out towards the bay and went around the first big corner I came to, using a black and blue Chatterbait with a small black paddle-tail on it. There was way more diversity of structure and vegetation than I anticipated- reeds, logs, trees, a couple of docks, submerged aquatic vegetation, etc. It provided a lot of targets. I worked around some of the reed beds and vegetation and ended up christening the new kayak with a small largemouth that hit the Chatterbait. A couple of small yellow perch hit as well but flopped off right next to the boat. Overall, I really enjoyed Mariner Point and thought it provided access to a diverse array of fishing opportunities. I'm looking forward to going back when the water level and clarity is more normal.
    Matt
    Instagram: @sunrisekayakfishing
    2019 Vibe Sea Ghost 130- "The Blurple Nurple"
    10' Pelican Angler 100- "The Starter Kit"

  • #2
    Congratulations on your new kayak. Good luck in your fish hunting.
    John Veil
    Annapolis
    Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

    Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

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    • #3
      I can feel your excitement in your words.

      Congratulations on your new ride!
      Mark
      Pasadena, MD


      Slate Hobie Revolution 13
      Hidden Oak Native Ultimate 12
      Lizard Lick Native Ultimate FX Pro

      Comment


      • #4
        Matt,

        Congrats on your new boat and welcome to The Vibe Tribe. What color did you eventually decide on? Team Orange on this end.

        Mariner Point is a nice place to put in. Lots of nooks and skinny water that you can explore with that new SG. Plenty of species to target as well - bass, crappie, perch, pickerel and panfish.

        Good luck with the new boat and hopefully we can wet some lines together.
        PASADENA
        2018 VIBE SEA GHOST 130- TEAM ORANGE

        INSTAGRAM - @duff_dynasty1

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by DuffDynasty View Post
          Matt,

          Congrats on your new boat and welcome to The Vibe Tribe. What color did you eventually decide on? Team Orange on this end.
          Thanks! I went with the new Galaxy color. I wasn't sold on it until I saw it in person, but it's pretty sweet. Orange was another one I was looking at as well. Definitely looking forward to crossing paths and fishing together sometime!
          Matt
          Instagram: @sunrisekayakfishing
          2019 Vibe Sea Ghost 130- "The Blurple Nurple"
          10' Pelican Angler 100- "The Starter Kit"

          Comment


          • #6
            Congratulations. I had the same moment the first time I used my SG 11, I’m never going back! I saw your Instagram post, it’s a nice looking boat.


            There are enough Vibe owners on SL now we could have a owners meetup. You should look into the “vibe kayak owners group” on Facebook, some stuff on there makes me question humanity. But for the most part it is a helpful group to answer questions and see modifications.


            Best of luck, hope to see you out there one day.
            Annapolis
            2018 Vibe Sea Ghost 110
            Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 - For when the fish aren't biting

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by CarsonNash View Post
              Congratulations. I had the same moment the first time I used my SG 11, I’m never going back! I saw your Instagram post, it’s a nice looking boat.


              There are enough Vibe owners on SL now we could have a owners meetup. You should look into the “vibe kayak owners group” on Facebook, some stuff on there makes me question humanity. But for the most part it is a helpful group to answer questions and see modifications.


              Best of luck, hope to see you out there one day.
              I'd love to do a Vibe M&G, great idea. I will definitely not be going back! All I need now is the cart because that is an awkwardly shaped 75 pounds to carry through Baltimore City streets! I get some really odd looks manhandling it down the street to my car.

              I joined the FB group the other day and have absolutely found some helpful info there, and as you said it's great internet "people-watching" haha I got sucked into the videos on mods and additions and now my wife is worried that I'm going to bankrupt us from working on this thing!
              Matt
              Instagram: @sunrisekayakfishing
              2019 Vibe Sea Ghost 130- "The Blurple Nurple"
              10' Pelican Angler 100- "The Starter Kit"

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by YakMan1731 View Post
                I'd love to do a Vibe M&G, great idea. I will definitely not be going back! All I need now is the cart because that is an awkwardly shaped 75 pounds to carry through Baltimore City streets! I get some really odd looks manhandling it down the street to my car.

                I joined the FB group the other day and have absolutely found some helpful info there, and as you said it's great internet "people-watching" haha I got sucked into the videos on mods and additions and now my wife is worried that I'm going to bankrupt us from working on this thing!
                Having a cart is definitely important. I use a cheap cart off amazon and a 4$ ratchet strap from home depot. It gets the job done for my 30 foot trip from garage to water. And I save 140$ on a c-tug, win-win.

                I have been avoiding the cost of a fish finder, and I think I can hold off. Being raised boating and fishing on the Severn I have the topography and fish patterns down pat. I really don't fish other waters yet, but I can see the benefits for unfamiliar places. The only thing I bought was a cheap milk crate and a yak attack rod holder for my gear track, but that was needed to hold my flyrod.
                Annapolis
                2018 Vibe Sea Ghost 110
                Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 - For when the fish aren't biting

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by YakMan1731 View Post
                  I'd love to do a Vibe M&G, great idea. I will definitely not be going back! All I need now is the cart because that is an awkwardly shaped 75 pounds to carry through Baltimore City streets! I get some really odd looks manhandling it down the street to my car.

                  I joined the FB group the other day and have absolutely found some helpful info there, and as you said it's great internet "people-watching" haha I got sucked into the videos on mods and additions and now my wife is worried that I'm going to bankrupt us from working on this thing!
                  Recently got a Sea Ghost 110 myself. I definitely got sucked in with the mod videos! I have installed foam deck padding I got off Ebay, cut to size myself. Modified the rudder deploy rope hole so that it is a slot (makes for easier steering) and installed an anchor dumbell with a bunch of pad eyes, deck cleat and quick cleat. Drilling all those holes was nervewracking! Going on my first river trip with it for smallies tomorrow! Will be sad to scratch it all up, but this is what I got it for!
                  Green Old Town Loon 111
                  Vibe Sea Ghost 110 - TeamGreen

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by mepps3 View Post
                    Recently got a Sea Ghost 110 myself. I definitely got sucked in with the mod videos! I have installed foam deck padding I got off Ebay, cut to size myself. Modified the rudder deploy rope hole so that it is a slot (makes for easier steering) and installed an anchor dumbell with a bunch of pad eyes, deck cleat and quick cleat. Drilling all those holes was nervewracking! Going on my first river trip with it for smallies tomorrow! Will be sad to scratch it all up, but this is what I got it for!
                    Nice to see another team green member, they are less common. I need to do the rudder mod, figured I could do it with my dremel. How did you do it? If you don't mind me asking.
                    Annapolis
                    2018 Vibe Sea Ghost 110
                    Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 - For when the fish aren't biting

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I haven't fished out of Mariner for quite some years. Yesterday evening after work, I had a few spare hours, so I thought I'd go on a snakehead scouting trip.
                      I paddled nearly 4miles, fished from 5pm to 8pm. Threw frogs,buzzbaits, spinnerbaits. Not a sniff from anything. Not a bass or a SH.
                      I found a couple spots that looked like they'd be sh haunts but nothing.
                      Here's my track. I'd like to explore Days Cove, but I'd prefer to find a closer launch spot.
                      20190523_085723.jpg
                      Native Slayer 12
                      Native Ultimate

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                      • #12
                        Thanks for sharing this. I tracked some of the same locations as you did and had the same result. It looks very snakehead-y. I checked the DNR map of locations where SH got caught in this area, and it looks like they were on that shoreline right near the launch. My best guess is that the population of SH there is still growing and maybe they are more of a lucky bycatch. But I'm pretty new to fishing that area so I could be completely wrong. I see online that there are some whoppers being pulled from the Middle River area, but despite taking 5 trips to 2 different launches I haven't had a sniff either. Hopefully we can keep covering the area and find them!
                        Matt
                        Instagram: @sunrisekayakfishing
                        2019 Vibe Sea Ghost 130- "The Blurple Nurple"
                        10' Pelican Angler 100- "The Starter Kit"

                        Comment

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