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The new kayaks, if you can call them that, have been released at this year’s 2024 ICAST. Needless to say I have some strong opinions about the directions the industry continues to move in. Here are my thoughts on the changing landscape of the kayak fishing industry.
😢😢😢 baby…
As someone who just upgraded from a PDL drive to a Motorguide due to fishing in strong currents in the Chesapeake Bay, I personally run a Kaku Zulu that was specifically built for inshore anglers like myself. Man, it is a beast of a kayak compared to the lightweight Hobie Passport 10.5 I had before it. But the honest truth is, if you are looking for stability, nothing comes close to the Zulu. I would put it up against any of the $5,000 kayaks, and the base model of a Zulu costs $1,650. It was built to be paddled first! Then he added the PDL drive Motor-guide. Plus Kevin is the most down to earth guy whose customer service is unmatched.
The salt is strong with this one:) I personally love Bass fishing from a kayak more than any other species and I'm in the PNW. Don't hate on ditch pickles man! These big new heavy kayaks are pretty silly though. I wish Hobie would evolve the Outback a bit and include the 360 drive and a bow motor mount with stock ports, a higher seat and a little more stability when standing.
I sold my pedal drive kayak and got a used 1436 Jon for $500.
Got her set up with a 9.8 outboard I overhauled, new trolling motor/battery, and super comfy B100 seats. All for around $2000 to $2500 total. I can bring my two kids and all my gear and cruise along at 21mph still.
Can push-pole or paddle on the flats as well since it is so skinny and light. The hull is 135 lbs.
Now, I just bought $1k worth of aluminum ti deck it out and set it up like a bass boat. She is the perfect boat. Thought it would miss the kayak but I don’t.
Long story short… different tools for different jobs.
Damn, I just want to go fishing.
This is why I don't bass fish, it's pointless, if I catch a bass, I will eat it if it's legal size
New here, you should see the latest video from Fish Anything. He got gifted a kayak from a sponsor and was shitting on it most of the time. You might get a kick out of it. It was a wilderness systems too
1000 percent agree with everything you said. I was going to make a similar video but havent had time. As for the Manta Ray, call Next Adventure in Portland and I gaurantee you they can order one from the factory if they don't have one. edit that, they are sold out but are a dealer
This was hilariously informative. 😂
I like fishing my kayak tournaments but I like paddling and only really use my motor when it’s a crappy day I still use a Jackson kraken but holy these new ones are dumb
The whole point of kayak angling in the first place was an inexpensive alternative to the craziness of boat angling. Now it's just insane. I got my Ocean Kayak 13' on sale at West Marine for $400.00 Bare bones but solid.
I love that they upgraded the outback, but I don’t love the price hike.
What about the Native Slayer? Still 60lbs and pedal drive. I assume that’s why Native left behind the Manta Ray. It sort of fills that fishing need while still being lightweight.
I recently went down that rabbit hole of what’s a lightweight, pond hopper fishing kayak and was very dissatisfied with current options. Everything is heavier and needlessly more expensive now. Went with a Hobie Passport because I found a great deal on the used market (still in plastic). The manta ray was on my radar but they aren’t near my area.
That blows
The Revo was the last true car topper.
You call KBF wannabe pro. Why don’t you go and fish against them? And see first hand how good those wannabe are. Get the salt out of your pie hole.
more stable… hell, a barge is stable, but it won't fit down a creek. 😤😖😝
Native/Bonifyde two more mini-skiffs. 😖👎😤
168 lbs!? Hell, I only weigh 128. (I'm 71 y.o.)
Bigger, heavier, geared toward electronics are NOT KAYAKS… CALL THEM MINI-SKIFFS! 😱😖😤👎
I am a dirty, ditch pickle kakak angler, among other thing. I do own a too big, too expensive hobie with a fish finder and 1 screen. I also have 2 smaller, much cheaper kayaks that I use for non fishing activities or just smaller water fishing. I would have a real boat if I had the space to store it, but I dont.
That said, I am 100% anti motors on kayaks. I quit going to tournaments when motors took over. The bass tournaments are the driving force in the industry and are kinda ruining it. But thats where the sponsor money is, and where the deep pockets are. Thats the whole reason the tournaments started allowing motors for non disabled anglers, sponsor $$$. If you have to trailer your kayak to get it in and out of the water… It's not a kayak anymore. You should have bought a john boat and decked that out instead.
My hundred plus pound Jackson Big Rig paddles easier and better than my 50 pound lifetime Tamarack. Weight isn't necessarily an indication of how well a boat cuts through the water. That said, there is a place in the market for larger motor driven boats. Not all of us are scrawny little wisps of men, and many of us need more than the average sized boat without having to drop big cash on a Majek. The popularity of the solo skiff and imitators is testament to the fact that one man gas power rigs have a place in the market. The older I get the more I can appreciate the conveniences offered by larger more capable one man boats. Yes it means the extra expense of an engine and trailer but still a way cheaper option than even the smallest multi person flats boats.
Is the manta ray propel 48 lbs without the drive, cuz their website says it’s 70 lbs. (I’m always looking for a lighter kayak as my 2019 Outback is even starting to get on the difficult end of lifting for me… yeah, I’m getting old…😒)