kayak selection
 

Hey guys.

I'm helping my girlfriend pick out a kayak for ocean fishing. She is about 5 foot 7 and 120 pounds. Anyone got any recommendations of a good one under $500?

We do our pelagic fishing off of a boat, so this will mainly be used for our trips up the coast to fish lingcod. She doesn't need anything fancy, hence the under $500 limit.

Do you think a 10 foot kayak will be good? If not, what size?

I fish off a 10 foot lifetime tamarack. Being a 6 foot 4 man, I would absolutely love a bigger yak, but I make due with what I have. I just want her to get a good size that she will be comfortable and safe in.

Thanks.

Give her yours and upgrade to something more suitable for you. If it works for you then it should be good for her.

Go to OEX and get her a Malibu Mini X fish & dive. They got several models of the Mini X at discounted prices and the fish & dive has hatches and rod holder for the price range you mentioned. Super stable for someone that size.

That was my original plan, but I took quit my job and am taking the summer off to relax after finishing college, so I'm a little tight on money at the moment haha.

Does OEX sell used kayaks as well?

I've only been there once to pick up a rod holder and didn't look around too much.

I fish the Perception Pescador 12 and love it. It is an entry level kayak for sure, but it performs really well. This is the same boat as the older Tarpon 120 but @ a lower cost -- around the $500 mark.

I looked on the net for cheap kayaks and found all kinds for
$400.00 and less. Saw a simple 8' yak for 361 that you might
like.

I would probably echo the statement of giving her your current kayak due to your build and her's. There are a lot of options for used on craigslist within that price range, just have to inspect them carefully. OEX does a blem sale thats really cool, but it depends if you want to wait. I can also comment on the West Marine -Perception 120 (AKA tarpon 120). I had this kayak for a couple years. Got mine on sale and opened up a WM account and got a bunch of rebates. It was a fine kayak, pretty fast and budget friendly. Would have kept it, but needed the funds for the hobie.

2014 malibu x factor for $500 out the door...give this place a call...

I'm sure they sell used Kayaks, but I called them a few days ago and they didn't have any used Mini-X in stock. They do have new ones but you'll have to shell out a bit more.