Budget Friendly Starter Kayaks

Happy Monday Spacefish!

So maybe you stumble upon my weekly writings because you have already been bitten with the kayak fishing bug and you’re looking to upgrade from your starter kayak to something a little more advanced. Maybe you have stumbled upon these reports because you want to be more involved in fishing, and you want to have a chance to get out from the shorelines, and the beaches and explore the water. But you’re trying to decide just how much of an investment you can make, or maybe you know what your financial limitations are and you’re trying to carefully plan a purchase of a fishing kayak – well if any of this describes you, then this report is for you. This is a review of kayaks that I have personal experience with that I would describe as “budget friendly”. I know times are tough economically for many of us, but one thing I am passionate about expressing is that you CAN HAVE a meaningful fishing experience without breaking the bank, borrowing money or making a life altering investment. I am going to take you on a little journey of my own experience, and how I became immersed in the world of kayak fishing.

My Starter Kayak

So when I first purchased a kayak to start fishing out of, I really wasn’t sure this was going to be my thing, I’d seen people do it, it looked really awesome, but I wasn’t sure I needed to drop a bunch of money. I already had a few rods, reels, tackle, and all the things necessary to catch fish, and I had been catching bridge fish, and fish from the surf off and on, but wouldn’t go as far to say I was truly dedicated to fishing hardcore yet. The pandemic slowed the world down, I was stuck indoors with little to occupy my mind, and I couldn’t get on social media or turn on the tv without thinking the world was going to hell in a handbasket so I went and borrowed a recreational kayak from someone I know. The rest, as they say, is history. I ended up later that year buying my own, a Sun Dolphin Aruba 10, at the time it was $199 dollars but the price has gone up now, I believe it’s closer to $250 now, but that’s still affordable to most people looking to take on a new challenge.

I was able to start figuring out the whole kayak fishing thing on this vessel, I drilled 3 rod holders in a milk crate and used that as a storage device. But I was still limited in this kayak, but for a year and a half I more than got my money’s worth out of a kayak at this price point. For someone who is on the fence and doesn’t feel like they can commit more than $400 dollars up front for a hobby that may not be for them, spending $300 on a kayak, paddle, and maybe a few rods and reels may be worth the chance, and if it doesn’t work you can always sell it on facebook market or something and get some of your money back. The picture at the top of the report shows me with a nice largemouth, but you can see the whole set up I had going on, is it perfect? No. But was it a great way to ease my way into a fantastic recreational activity without feeling guilty for spending too much up front? Absolutely!

Pictured below is my brother on the same model, and while he does not have the same milk crate set up, you can see how he has a cooler and tackle bag in the back compartment. The obvious cons to this kayak is that it is a sit in, and not as easy to get in and out of. It also has limited storage capabilities.

As much as I hate to say it, kayak fishing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re on the fence a sub-$300 starter kayak may be a great way to give it a shot without breaking the bank. The other perk is the weight of this kayak, at only 36 pounds it is very easy to load and unload and you don’t have to invest in any fancy gadgets like a rolling cart or anything to get it to and from your vehicle.

My First “Upgrade”

Ok, so after a year or so on the Sun Dolphin I decided it was time to invest in something a little more conducive to fishing, something that would give me more storage space as well as an easier climb in, climb out experience so my next kayak was the Heritage Angler, it was also a 10 foot kayak. Pictured below is my original kayak next to the Heritage on an outing my wife and I took last summer. On the Indian River Lagoon, the Heritage is the tan one.

So let me first go through the con’s, because this is far from a perfect or ideal fishing kayak. The seat kind of sucks, actually it sucks big time. Very much, not comfortable. It was also a little on the tighter side, it was narrow with not a lot of room as far deck space goes. It also has a “v” shaped bottom, which means no stability to be able to stand up. Outside of that, I really don’t have much to complain about. This is a pretty good kayak for the price point, which was roughly $400 when I bought it. It may have gone up some, but last time I was in Academy, I saw it listed for $449, that was earlier this summer. This would also put it in the category of good starter kayak.

The pro’s are price point mainly, it’s tough to find many true fishing kayaks for under 500. Beyond that, it is small, light, very easy to manage, load and transport. It also is very easy to navigate and paddle, it can get in tight places, and it is easy with a good paddle to be able to change directions and turn in a tight space, it is also very quiet which is a huge plus. It had 2 built-in rod holders, but I would always bring aboard a cooler with 2 more rod holders drilled in, and this still left ample storage space behind the seat. There were two dry boxes that offered good storage space on board, in the front deck as well.

I would still be using this kayak today if I hadn’t felt the need to upgrade due to longevity purposes. Having a kayak with standing stability allows me to fish much longer because I can stand up to stretch a bit, but also the seat is more comfortable. Also, when I am on the water for several hours it’s also nice to be able to stand up and take a leak without having to find a shoreline to get off on. Especially when fishing in Alligator infested waters!

Starter Kayak on Steroids

Ok, so I am going to talk about one more kayak that I have experience with that I would put in the “starter” category, but is a clear step up from the Heritage, and that is the Vibe Yellowfin 100. Disclaimer, I have never really used this as my own, it’s actually been a purchase made by a great friend of mine, Coach Ted Kimmey. That he has allowed me to use when I take people out, to give them a better experience than the Heritage. So, thanks Coach! Pictured below is Coach with a Redfish caught on his maiden voyage to the Thousand Islands in Cocoa Beach. For those that may not be able to tell, Coach Kimmey is a big dude, former D1 Offensive Lineman big. 6’3”-6’4” and 250+ (with an absolutely glorious beard if I may say so). So if you’re a big dude too, and you want a vessel that can add comfortability then this may be a good start up kayak for you. I myself am a portly 5’10”, 215-230 (depends on how much cardio I have been doing), but I am able to get away with a smaller set up.

In addition to size and space, this kayak offers a much more comfortable seat, and yes, if you’re wondering, it’s a big deal. Not only does it have a higher vantage point than the Heritage, but the seat will allow you to fish for longer. It also has ample storage with a space in the back for tackle boxes, and coolers. It has two dry boxes in the front deck, and space under the seat that offer great tackle tray storage. It also has 4 rod holders built in, two of which are in front which offer the ability to troll, as well as a convenient place to put a rod while handling a fish, and in case you’re wondering, this is also a big deal. This can be one of those small details that leads to being able to be photographed with a 30+ inch Snook, or catching and awkwardly fumbling and dropping a 30+ inch Snook in the water (oh yes, it happens – it happened more than I would like to admit back in my starter yak days).

The only knock on this kayak would be stability and lack of ability to stand, but when you’re starting out, that is probably not the make or break thing you’re looking for, this is a very solid kayak to begin your foray into the lifestyle. Lastly, pictured below is my cousin Mark, who is a good Bass fisherman, but had never fished from a kayak before, and it took him less than an hour to get comfortable and start whacking them this summer when I took him out.

The price point for this kayak is in the upper 700 range, but depending on your budget, may provide a great place to start.

Conclusion

With fall weather, cooler waters and air temps coming around the corner, this is just as good as any time to get into kayak fishing. I hope that if you are on the fence and considering getting into it, and looking for some ideas on where to start, you find this article helpful. With so many choices out there it can be overwhelming sometimes. My advice is this, take your time, find what works for you, and just know a cheap starter kayak is better than no kayak, and anything that floats and gets you where you want to go can be the first step in a journey into self-satisfaction and fulfillment.

I hope everyone reading this is healthy, happy, and planning to have a great week of fishing ahead. Until next time!