Do you want to find the best fishing kayak out there for your needs? Bass Fishing on lakes and creeks? Cobia on the oil rigs? Whatever you need, let our chart show you what the best fishing kayak is for you then read our reviews!

Why fish from the shore and not get to the best spots or spend huge money on a boat when you can get into the best fishing from a kayak? When fishing from a yak, you get the best of everything. Fish where the fish are, whether you want to get out to the rock piles where the lunker bass lie, go 10 miles out to hunt tuna or maybe just troll a lure to catch some fresh lunch while paddling from place to place.

If you’re reading this, you’re obviously someone who seeks adventure and wants to be close to the action. Trust me when I say that a 10lb fish from yak is like a 50lb fish from a boat. Compare how un-special 60mph in an SUV feels is to how fast and fun 60mph is on a go-kart!

Have you ever been fishing from the shore with not a fish to show for your efforts, watching the birds crash diving and fish leaping only 300 yards offshore and wished you could be there? Well with a kayak you can glide stealthily into the madness, no engine to spook the shoal.

With so many kayaks out there on the market and a bewildering amount of information it can be hard to make a decision on what really is the best fishing kayak for you.

The chart below and the analysis that follows will help you decide.

We are all different shapes, strengths and have different needs for the kayak so the guide will help you make the best decision so that you have a kayak that suits you perfectly.

Check out this article on how to choose the right fishing kayak for you!

Comparison Guide and Key

Included in the matrix are 13 columns:

• Kayak brand and name/model – (click to view more details or to purchase from the cheapest possible source)
• Overall Length – Feet
• Width – Inches
• Weight – kayak weight in lbs
• Number of paddlers
• Capacity – The maximum weight that the kayak can safely support in the water
• Propulsion – Kayaks aren’t just paddled anymore!!
• Tracking – The method that keeps the kayak straight when you paddle it.
• Best for– The ideal waters for the kayak
• Pros – The best thing about the kayak
• Cons – The drawbacks
• Fish standing? – These are kayaks that are actually designed so that you can fish standing up!
• Price – These are approximate prices on Amazon.com and Backcountry.com  These change frequently based on availability, special promotions, and more.  But generally speaking: $ = under $699, $$ = $700 to $899, $$$ = $900 to $1099, $$$$ = $1100 to $1399

I’ll be the first to admit that there’s too many columns with information that it wont fit on the page!

This makes it hard to use online because it wont all fit!

You can go down to the bottom and then scroll right to access the other columns!

Make & Model	Length	Width	Weight	No. Of Paddlers	Capacity	Propulsion	Tracking System	Best For	Pros	Cons	Fish Standing Up?	Price
Riot Kayaks Escape 12	12′	30″	68lbs	1	300lbs	Paddle	Rudder	Lakes/Rivers	5 Rod Holders, Great Rudder	Better Out There for he Money	No	$
Perception Sport Pescador 12	12′	28″	60lbs	1	350lbs	Paddle	Keel	Lakes/Rivers	Rebadged 2008 Wilderness Tarpon at a Cheaper Price!	A Jack of all Trades	No	$
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100	10′	30.5″	55lbs	1	325lbs	Paddle	None	Lakes/Rivers	Stable	Not so Good in the Open Ocean	No	$
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120	12’3″	30″	64lbs	1	350lbs	Paddle	None	Lakes/Rivers	Stable	Hard to Paddle for Lighter Users	No	$$
Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem	13’4″	34″	61lbs	2	500lbs	Paddle	None	Flatwater, Rivers,Inshore	Can be Paddled Solo or With a Partner	Very Slow When Paddled Solo	No	$$
Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game	12’9″	34″	69lbs	1	600lbs	Paddle	None	Open Water	Enough Spare Capacity to Carry Home That 300lb Tuna!	Not Too Nimble on Small Rivers and Streams	No	$$$
Jackson Kayak Cuda 12 Kayak	12’6″	31′	68lbs	1	350lbs	Paddle	Optional Rudder	Absolute all Rounder	Great all Round Kayak for Ocean, Lakes and Rivers	Not as Good as Bigger Brother for Long Distance	No	$$$$
Jackson Kayak Cuda 14 Kayak	14’3″	30.5	80lbs	1	400lbs	Paddle	Optional Rudder	Absolute all Rounder	Great all Round Kayak for Ocean, Lakes and Rivers	Not as Manouverable as Smaller Brother for Small Waters	No	$$$$
Native Watercraft Slayer 12 Kayak	12′	31″	70lbs	1	400lbs	Pedal	None	Great for Ponds and Intercoastal Waterways	Standing Up and Sight Casting	It’s great Stability is a Trade off for Speed Which it Lacks	Yes	$$$$
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12	12′	36″	120lbs	1	500lbs	Mirage drive	Optional Rudder	Everywhere	Very stable, Mirage drive	Heavy to Lift onto Roofracks	Yes	$$$$$+
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14	14′	38″	110lbs	1	600lbs	Mirage drive	Optional Rudder	Everywhere	Very stable, Mirage drive	Heavy to Lift onto Roofracks	Yes	$$$$$+
Wilderness Systems Ride 115 Kayak – Sit-On-Top	11’6″	33″	76lbs	1	500lbs	Paddle	Movable Seat, Optional Rudder	Rivers	Super portable and stable	Not Great on Bigger Waters	No	$$
Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Kayak – Sit-On-Top	13’6″	31.5″	82lbs	1	550lbs	Paddle	Movable Seat, Optional Rudder	Rivers, Estuaries, Lakes	Fast Cruiser for Longer Distances Than the 115	Bit less stable but not really.	No	$$$
Ocean Kayaks Torque	13′ 10″	29″	86lbs	1	475lbs	Motor/ Paddle	Rudder	Open Water, Long Distances	Allows You to Go Further and faster than before	Very Heavy to Load on to Car etc.	No	$$$$$+
Hobie Mirage Revolution 11	11’6″	29″	Hull 57lbs Rigged 70.3lbs	1	275lbs	Mirage Drive/Paddle	Rudder	Rivers, Lakes, Inshore	Perfect for Lighter People, Ladies and Teens.	Too small for anyone under 180lbs	No	$$$$$
Hobie Mirage Revolution 13	13’5″	28.5	Hull 69.5lns Rigged 82.8lbs	1	350lbs	Mirage Drive/Paddle	Rudder	Rivers, Lakes,Inshore, Offshore	Fast Yet Manouverable	Outback is better for people over 200lbs	No	$$$$$+
Hobie Mirage Outback	12’1″	33″	Hull 75lbs Rigged 88.3lbs	1	400lbs	Mirage Drive/Paddle	Rudder	Rivers, Lakes,Inshore, Offshore	Stable, Great All Rounder for Bigger Yakkers	Needs a User of 190lbs to Sit Properly in the Water	No	$$$$$+
Hobie Mirage Adventure Island	16′	42″ or 9’4″ with the Amas	Hull 86.5 Rigged 115lbs	1+	350lbs	Mirage Drive / Sail / Paddle	Rudder	Open Water	The Absolute Ultimate Open Water Cruiser, Deep Sea Big Game? NO PROBLEM!	Not So Good in Small Bodies of Water Due to Size	Yes	$$$$$++
Sea Eagle SE370 Inflatable Kayak	12’6″	34″	32lbs	2	650lbs	Paddle	Skeg	River/Lake/ Very Calm Conditions	Light and Portable, Cheap, Good Way Test the Waters	Very Easy Blown About by the Wind	No	$
Lifetime Sport Fisher Kayak	10′	36″	60lbs	1/2/3	500lbs	Paddle	None	Flat water, River,Lakes, Inshore	Versatile family day out or fishing boat.	More of a first kayak to test the waters.	Yes	$