What Is the Best Fishing Kayak on the Market in 2020?

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The is a seriously awesome angler kayak. It comes loaded with features, has an extra seat for a friend, and comes in at a very affordable price point.

This kayak was one of the first tandem fishing kayaks to hit the market and is still one of the most popular and highly-rated. At just over 13 feet long and nearly 3 feet wide, the Malibu Two XL Angler has the size to accommodate up to 2 adults and 1 small child.

This is great for couples who want to go fishing together, a dad who wants to take his son fishing for the first time, or any individual who wants a ton of extra legroom.

This kayak can do it all:

Built specifically for fishing, the Malibu Two XL Angler has ample storage for rods, paddles, bait, and fishing gear for two people. It also allows for the addition of up to two round Gaspachi hatches which will prevent water from entering the kayak.

Our research found that paddlers loved the versatility of this kayak. Most notably the maneuverability in the water (especially considering it can fit two people), the tracking, and the overall comfortability.

You simply can’t beat the price, either.

On the downside, the only real complaint we found was that some paddlers found this kayak a bit heavy. At 74 pounds, we’ve certainly seen fishing kayaks that are much heavier, so with 2 people carrying it, it should be no problem.

Overall this is our favorite fishing kayak of 2018.

It has all the bells and whistles you’ll need to have a serious fishing excursion – either alone or with a companion – all at a price that won’t break the bank.

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Next up is another Ocean Kayak model – the . Designed by professional kayak anglers, the Trident 13 Angler is a perfect balance of everything you’d look for in a fishing kayak.

It performs well on the water, as it’s stable yet quick and maneuverable – especially considering the 13-foot length. Our research has found that it actually performs best on rough waters, but can handle just about any element.

The other thing paddlers love about this kayak is the comfortability. During design, the pros felt that a fishing kayak needs to be comfortable and able to handle long day out on the water.

The ACS II Seat has adjustable leg and thigh support, a quick-dry mesh fabric, and a sleek, ergonomic design. A paddler we found through our research was 6’6″, 265 pounds and had no problems feeling comfortable.

One other feature we absolutely loved was simple, yet innovative. The Sonar Shield is a protective shield outfitted on the Trident 13 that guards your fish finder against water and glare from the sun.

This keeps your vision clear so you don’t miss a golden opportunity to reel in a big fish. We found one paddler through our research that weighed over 200 pounds and was able to take his 40 pound dog on the kayak with him without any issues.

Other paddlers also loved the speed and turning ability of the Trident 13 Angler. We found that there weren’t a lot of negatives to this kayak. One user wasn’t expecting the dry-hatch system – which is a locking mechanism, not snapping straps.

The Trident 13 Angler is an excellent choice.

While slightly more expensive than the tandem , we found that it has a nice balance of features and performance with a fair price, all backed by a good warranty from a great company.

3.

The is arguably the best fishing kayak on the market. It has a premium price tag, but it’s loaded with features to match the cost. In fact, if it weren’t for the hefty price tag, this would have been our #1 pick this year.

Hobie has also added more new features since last year’s model, which I’ll discuss below. One of the coolest features of the 2017 Pro Angler 14 is the MirageDrive 180 system. For those of you who aren’t familiar, let me explain.

Typical kayaks need you to use a paddle to propel the boat. Hobie has implemented a paddling system that allows you to propel the kayak as if you were riding a bike.

In this year’s version, they’ve added a tab you can pull to switch the direction of the paddles. Meaning you can put the kayak in reverse:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxAbr0dvEeQ[/embedyt]

Hobie has also upgraded the seating system for 2017. The new Vantage Seating system features a chair with full lumbar support that you can move up and down.

This helps your vantage point when fishing and helps those who are bigger and/or taller be more comfortable in the kayak. The seat can also fold up, which is nice because it puts it out of the way when you want to stand up while fishing.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5L87SqT0Y[/embedyt]

Finally, the chair has a new mesh fabric that dries much quicker than other materials. This is useful because you’re sure to get wet while fishing.

What to look for in a fishing kayak

First of all, it’s impossible for one fishing kayak to fit everyone’s needs and budget. Before deciding what kind you’ll need (and how much you should spend), you need to determine where you’ll be doing most of your fishing.

Before setting foot in a watersports showroom or perusing a single online catalog, you need to consider the type of fishing you would like to do:

The best fishing kayaks have ample seating and legroom and plenty of storage space for you food and gear. Be sure to consider the type of fishing you’ll do as well as the typical bodies of water you will spend your time on.

Standing up on your boat while casting for bass will require a wider, more stable platform. If you will be launching through the surf on your way to the deeper waters of the ocean, you will need a kayak that is able to cut through the crashing waves near the beach.

These questions are important, and unfortunately you don’t always know. That’s why having a sense of what you want to do, along with our in-depth research, will have you out on the water in no time. For shopping success, start by considering the end result you want.

Know the basics

Just like buying a car, buying a kayak means you have to weigh pros and cons. No single one will give you everything you want, so you have to know where you’re willing to give a little.

Whether it’s luxury, features, price, or something else, you have to be willing to bend on something. Before you decide which of these fishing kayaks to go with, you should be familiar with some of the most essential components that will help you make your decision.

Weight

Some of the most feature-loaded kayaks are also the heaviest. A heavy kayak isn’t a bad kayak, but it will require you to have a car that can haul it. You’ll also have to consider how you’ll get it from your car into the water, which may require a special cart with wheels, depending on the distance.

Seating

For the actual seat, cheaper kayaks will almost always have a seat formed into them (like an impression) for you to just pop right in. Sometimes they’ll have a removable seat pad, too. More expensive fishing kayaks feature advanced, adjustable seating that is far more comfortable for a long day of fishing.

Propulsion

How the kayak moves across the water may not seem like something you need to think about. But if you’re spending all day out on choppy waters, your arms might get tired from paddling. While you maneuver most kayaks with a paddle, some of the premium models feature motors or pedals to help you glide through the water with more efficiency.

Storage

Storage is crucial with a fishing kayak, especially if you’re planning to spend most of the day out on the water. You’ll need space to keep food, water (or beer), your phone and other belongings, as well as the fish you catch (or the live bait you might use to catch them).

If you’re camping or need an extra pair of clothes, you’ll want to make sure your fishing kayak has a sealed dry hatch that’s big enough to store everything without weighing you down.

Will you sit on top or inside?

The gateway decision for getting your ideal kayak is whether you should purchase a sit-on-top or a sit-inside kayak. Although you will find sit-on-top kayaks to be more popular with anglers, both choices have something to offer.

Sit-on-top

Sit-on-top kayaks have become increasingly popular with fishermen because their sealed chambers make them virtually unsinkable. These reliable boats are self-bailing, which means that any water shipped will simply drain out the scuppers at the bottom of the seating area. The one caveat with this arrangement is that a self-bailing kayak will always equal soggy clothing.

Sit-inside

Sit-inside kayaks have points of merit that are worth considering. Since they don’t require as much material to make, they can be lighter than a sit-on-top boat.

It’s also possible to paddle around in a sit-inside kayak without getting the seat of your pants wet. These kayaks place your center of gravity lower, too. A lower center of gravity contributes to a more stable ride.

Which is better – wider or longer?

The answer will depend on the conditions you will fish in and what is important to you. To answer this question for yourself, start by understanding the benefits of each option.

Wider kayaks

Generally speaking, a wider kayak will give you more stability but will be slower on the water. If you will be paddling long distances across the lake or in the ocean, a wide kayak will give you a workout before you reach your favorite fishing spot. While they don’t cut through waves as easily, a shorter boat will make tight maneuvers with ease.

Longer kayaks

A longer kayak will glide through the water straight and true. These sleek boats are faster and require less energy to go places. You will see a lot of ocean kayakers in these sharp-nosed versions because they pierce through waves with ease.

According to Ric Burnley at Kayak Angler Magazine, fishermen who plan on launching from the beach should consider a long, lean boat that will break through the surf with ease and speed. The breakers near some beaches have a habit of capsizing unsuspecting kayakers in plain view of surfers, fishing buddies and bikini babes.

A long, slender kayak increases your chances of passing the surf with your dignity and gear intact. You may have noticed that I did not include a long, wide kayak as an option. That’s because a behemoth kayak that is both lengthy and girthy would require a small Viking crew to row you around.

Manufacturers know this, and hence, your choices are long and slender or short and wide. To lay eyes a nice helping of different sized kayaks, check out the video below from Paddling.net. Jeff Little will show you a variety of sizes and point out the benefits of each.

Go on, I’ll wait:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXQEDiwyYc[/embedyt]

Let’s talk about stability

In order to understand how a boat stays upright, you’ll need to know at least two terms: primary stability and secondary stability. Throwing technical terms around may make you want to hide under your desk.

But consider that a salesperson is going to use these smart sounding words to sell you a kayak. It’s better to arm yourself before you shop.

It’s common for a beginner to purchase a kayak that has ultimate primary stability, only to later wish that he had considered secondary stability as well. Manufacturers and salespeople will often use a sharp looking graph with an expensive looking squiggly line across it to express a kayak’s primary and secondary stability.

When this happens to you, keep your game face on and keep a few things in mind:

If you would like to understand stability better, get familiar with the terms center of gravity and center of buoyancy. Again, these two terms sound like boat design voodoo, but they are actually simple.

I’m going to give you another useful generalization without causing your brain to lock up with formulas and ten dollar words. When a boat tips to the side, the center of gravity and center of buoyancy will both move to the side.

The design of the boat and several other factors will determine how fast and far these two points will travel. When the center of buoyancy moves to the side faster than the center of gravity, the boat has more stability.

Once the center of gravity moves further than the center of buoyancy, the kayak tips over. Remember these terms when perusing data about the stability of a particular kayak.  Here’s a quick video recapping the gist of what I’m saying:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIyvRq5U8U[/embedyt]

Which construction method is best?

If you plan to bring this question up at your next kayaker’s club meeting, be prepared for a ten-hour debate to follow. I’m not going to help you win any arguments here, I’ll just give you the basics of the most common kayak materials and the benefits of each.

How does shape affect performance?

As you may have noticed, kayaks come in all kinds of shapes. Some look like a sleek work of art while others appear to have been run over by a dump truck. Is there any point to these wildly varying forms? Yes – and before you shop, get a good understanding of the variables that will affect the performance of your chosen kayak.

Take a lateral slice

If you went into an outdoor store and sliced a kayak like it was a loaf of bread, you would probably go to jail for the night. Let’s only IMAGINE taking a slice of that kayak and looking at its shape. I’m not going to go into an exhaustive 900 page treatise on every hull shape imaginable, but a few general rules seem reasonable to me.

There are all kinds of creative and unnatural variations of these two basic hull shapes. If you would like to read further on the subject, check out this design terminology guide.

Check out the shape from above

While considering a kayak’s overall shape will not require you to cut it in half, it will tell you a lot about how a kayak will perform in the water. Imagine the kayak from a bird’s perspective. I am not asking you to view all kayaks as a target to mess on, just look at it!

According to Tom Holtey at TopKayaker.net, there are a few things you can glean from this overhead view:

What is chine?

Although the term sounds terribly nautical and complicated, it isn’t. Chine is how smooth the shape of the hull is when you look at that imaginary slice.

Whatever the shape is, a smooth transition across the bottom of the hull is a smooth chine and a hard chine has clear lines where one angle meets the other. Flip your prospective kayak over and note if it is a hard chine or soft chine boat.

Imagine this difference when you are sitting in a kayak fighting a fish that seems determined to pull you into the water.

What’s the difference between an angler model and a stock model?

When a supplier sells you a kayak and tells you it is an angler model, it simply means that the kayak is outfitted with the extras that you will need to use it for fishing. You can buy a stock model and outfit it yourself, or go for a kayak that is ready to go the moment you get it home.

Either way, consider these items that you may need in a kayak that you intend to fish from:

For a Rolls Royce version of a fishing kayak, your supplier will be happy to sell you a kayak already equipped with some useful extras:

Consider how you’ll get your kayak to the water

Purchasing the ultimate kayak can flood you with feelings of elation mixed with a sense of panic once you realize you have to explain to your wife why the bank account seems to have taken a hit. All joking aside, the very reason kayak fishing is so popular is because it’s much more economical than bass fishing from a $23,000 boat.

In all of the excitement, don’t forget to pause and ask yourself a few questions about how you will get your kayak to the water…

Is your vehicle equipped to handle it?

You can add kayak racks to the existing rooftop racks that are already on many vehicles. Once your kayak supports are in place, simply lash the kayak to the support.

Paul Presson at Southern Kayak Fishing Magazine warns us to always tie the bow and stern of your kayak down in addition to the mid-straps. If your kayak is longer than your vehicle, use a long load flag to keep other drivers aware of your added length.

Once you transport your kayak to the water where you will fish, will you usually have a companion to help you carry it to the water’s edge? This consideration may dictate the style and weight of the kayak you should buy.

If you fish alone but still want a heavier kayak than you can carry, you can skip the hernia by purchasing a wheeled kayak caddy.

Make it happen

Now that you understand what the different features and options in kayak designs will do for you, I suggest that you sit down with a pen and paper to write down what you would like in a fishing kayak. Writing this down ahead of time will keep you in charge of the shopping process.

It helps you decide what is important, rather than letting a salesman decide for you. Grab the kayak of your dreams, pack a lunch,always wear a PFD and for goodness’ sake, NEVER watch the movie Jaws the night before you go kayak fishing.