Fishing kayaks

If you are only considering flat water then you have more options including the mass produced plastic ones and shorter, easier to handle out of the water ones. Start heading offshore a bit and it will be a South African style ski (stealth etc) or some of the longer skinnier mass produced plastic ones (predator, ocean kayaks etc). Mirage kayaks Australia also do a nice version. For surf landings there are heavier, wider, flatter styles of skis (pope, Eric’s canoes etc). Like bicycles, boats and motorbikes, the correct number of kayaks to own is N + 1. N being the number you currently own. Like any boat, first write down what exactly it is you want it to do first, because every one is a compromise in one way or another. Also there are some pretty fast “fishing” kayaks that are more like life saving skis and are certainly not for the novice or large (like me at 120 kg) paddler, so size and experience is also very much a factor. I’m not a guru but I have been involved in various types of kayaking over a long period of time so am happy to try to answer any questions. I’m sure I’m not the only one here either.

Good morning GBC,
thank you for you response to my query, like you I am at 120kg and 6.1" tall, and after taking a ten foot kayak out for a test drive I found being 71 and at the weight that I am I was a disaster looking for somewhere to happen. I had a conversation with a couple of Kayak people in Perth and was told at my age, and height, and weight I should be looking at a 12 ft kayak with good stability.
I am proposing to use the Kayak in sheltered bays and creeks and rivers, as I am to old to start heading for south Africa without o.s.w.m.b.o. and a lunch box. As I need to keep some sort of fitness up I am looking a paddle craft only, that can take some fishing gear. I see a lot of tinnies, on top of vehicles that never seem to come off the roof once they leave the eastern states, that is why I am looking at the kayak. while doing research I have found there is a multitude of craft available, but how do you pick the right one, that is the question I suppose, any clues????

Would look at a Yak with a carry capacity of 150KG + 30Kg for the Yak total 180Kg

When I load my Yak with with fishing gear, paddle, electric motor and lithium battery, my 125kg? carry capacity, I am lower to the water line that I like.

To load onto the roof rack: I insert an extension tube ( about 1.5m long)into the tube of the rear roof rack, supported by a pole, load one end of the yak onto the extension then lift up the front end to put on the front roof rack bar, then slide the rear of the yak off the extension, onto the roof rack and remove the pole and roof rack extension for travel. ( or ditto on the other side of the vehicle for SWMBO's Yak.)

similar to:
https://www.adelaidecanoeworks.com.au/budget-kayaks/854-surge-kayaks-viper-12-pro-fishing-kayak-with-rudder.html

Don't fish from a Kayak in the north of Australia or you will be croc food.

Have Outriggers on my Yak as well as a small motor and Lithium Battery ( plus Paddle/anchor) when I fish.

If crabbing with drop nets ( yet to do) SWMBO will not attend the outing claiming that the bait in the drop nets will attract sharks and I am shark bait. ( but the outriggers do provide stability and confidence).