Last Updated on September 14, 2022 by Donnell Henderson
There are many types of kayaks out there; some are made for fishing, some for speed, and others for recreational paddling. There are also many specialty kayaks designed to handle particular conditions. But if you’re simply looking for the best kayak that will give you the best overall experience on the water, then a fishing kayak is really your only option.
In truth, it’s difficult to find a kayak that is not at least somewhat suitable for fishing. The very nature of a kayak means it has room to store things, like a tackle box and rod holders. However, if you can make it your sole focus—and don’t mind investing in the extra equipment and accessories—a fishing kayak is much better suited than a regular one.
Indeed, most recreational paddles won’t be able to stand up to the conditions you’ll face on the water. A good fishing paddle is built from light and durable materials to use effectively in windy conditions and against strong currents. They will come with features like feathering shafts which help keep blade angle constant regardless of speed or load. Plus, shorter lengths make them easier to maneuver in small spaces like coves and along shorelines.
Are You Better off Going With a Fishing Kayak or a Regular Kayak?
There are all kinds of kayaks on the market, but one of the most popular is the fishing kayak. Often, it will be called a “sit-on-top” or “open” kayak. The main difference between a fishing kayak and other models is that it has a large space in front of you to store your gear and fish, while regular kayaks tend to have smaller storage compartments built into them.
Many people think they will save money by buying a regular model and keeping their fishing stuff in a separate container that they can attach to the boat, but this isn’t always true. To begin with, you’ll have to pay for the attachment device separately. Then there are all kinds of special containers for storing life jackets and fishing gear, and if you don’t buy the right kind of attachment rod or other devices, you may find that it’s not compatible with your kayak or your accessories.
Finally, fishing accessories can be expensive in and of themselves—if you plan on using them often enough to make them worthwhile, it may cost more than if you had just bought the fishing kayak in the first place.
Fishing Kayak vs Regular Kayak: The Differences
The main difference between a regular kayak and a fishing kayak is the addition of fishing rod holders. Other than that, fishing kayaks tend to have more storage space for gear and tackle, and some even have live wells for keeping your catch fresh. Some kayakers prefer sit-inside kayak for fishing, while others find sit-on-top kayaks to be more comfortable and stable. While most fishing kayaks and regular kayaks might look similar to the untrained eye, there are some important differences between the two.
Size
Regular kayak is used to cruise on the water surface, not to fish, but to go out for a walk or race. This is the most popular option, but it has a big size and is not very convenient to transport. On the other hand, a fishing kayak is designed specifically for fishing. It makes it possible to work without leaving the kayak and enjoy a great view of the horizon. This type of kayak can be transported in an ordinary car and does not occupy much space. These models’ lengths vary from 7 m up to 10 m, so you can choose depending on your needs.
Structures
Regular kayaks are made for recreation. They are not made for fishing, hunting, and other activities for which you need a fishing kayak. A regular kayak is made of different materials. It has the shape of a long body with two ends. In many cases, it has space to put some objects in the middle of the kayak. A fishing kayak is more flexible than a regular kayak. It has a small body and sharp bow and stern. It can be used to reach a narrow area like a shoreline or shallow water to fish or enjoy a beach party.
Stability
The stability of a kayak can be hard to define or describe, but if you’ve ever had a kayak tip over on you, you know what I’m talking about.
Fishing kayaks and regular kayaks are designed to be relatively stable, but there are some differences between the two types of kayaks that could affect how easily one tips over.
Two main factors contribute to stability in a fishing kayak: the weight distribution of the kayak and the volume of water displaced by the hull. If a fishing kayak is heavy enough and displaces enough water, it will be harder to tip over than a lighter one. If it’s too light, catching a fish could cause it to tip over, so the ideal weight is somewhere in between.
A regular kayak’s hull is curved, smooth, and deep. This shape creates less resistance as you paddle and makes it easier to go straight through the water. A fishing kayak has a deeper “V-hull,” which means more surface area below the water’s surface—this causes more drag while paddling but also makes it harder for waves and wind to turn your boat over.
Storage
Regular kayaks have a covered cockpit, which means that the whole cockpit area is covered by a molded design of the boat’s hull. This design makes it easy to get into and out of the boat, even in rough waters. However, this design also limits your storage options. Most regular kayaks have only one bulkhead (if any) in the boat and little or no space for extra gear other than what you can fit inside your compartment when you go out on the water. Also, a regular kayak will have a more rounded hull with more stability than a fishing boat.
Fishing boats have an open cockpit design that allows for easy access to your gear from dry land or on the water. Fishing boats also have multiple bulkheads and lots of space to store extra gear like coolers, anchors, and fishing rods.
You can easily find fishing kayaks at the nearest essential fishing gear store. But a typical fishing kayak is different. Because companies just add some gear on touring kayaks and recreational kayaks and label them as kayak fishing giants.
Tracking
Fishing kayaks are designed to be easy to paddle, stable, and secure for the fisherman. The hull of the boat is designed to be wider in the back so that it sits lower in the water than a regular kayak. It is also made more rigid so that it sits higher in the water and doesn’t bounce around while paddling. The wider shape helps keep it steady while casting and retrieving your line.
The seat on a fishing kayak is also very different from that of a touring kayak. The seat on a fishing kayak places you high off the bottom of the boat so that your knees are bent at 90 degrees or more when sitting down, allowing for comfort over long periods. This makes standing up easier, giving you more stability when casting and retrieving your line. A regular kayak seat does not provide quite as much leg support, making standing up for long periods difficult.
Weight
A standard, one-person recreational kayak (the kind you might use for racing or touring) is about 12 feet long and weighs about 26 pounds, give or take, depending on the brand. This length and weight apply whether it’s a sit-in or sit-on-top model.
The size and weight of a fishing kayak will depend on how many people it holds, how many features it has, and its intended use. A standard two-person fishing kayak is 14 to 15 feet long and weighs between 65 and 90 pounds. Many fishing kayaks are sit-in models with large hatches for storing gear; they’re made of heavy-duty plastic, aluminum, or fiberglass frames covered in polyethylene plastic hulls. These features add significant weight to the boat. So, always do a check on such things as weight capacity.
A three-person fishing kayak can be 16 to 18 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds—the length adds more stability, which makes for a safer ride in rough water; the weight adds more stability as well, making the boat less likely to flip over in high winds.
Conclusion
One of the most important things when looking for a kayak is to find one that fits your needs and your personal style of fishing. If you like to travel light, then you might want to look into a kayak that doesn’t have many added features. You may even want to purchase an inflatable kayak. For the fisherman that wants something more comfortable, roomier, and overall better suited to the sport, a brand new sit-on-top kayak or a used sit-in kayak would be better. A used sit-in kayak is preferred as it could save you quite a lot of money while getting you the same benefits.
The main benefit of sit-in kayaks is the additional storage compartments, but this can also be seen as a disadvantage in some cases. If you do not like to take much with you on your fishing trips, then you may find the extra space taken up by these compartments to be unnecessary and even annoying.
