Kayak Fishing: Hobie Outback Review

Happy Monday Spacefish!

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I got a chance to scratch a new species off the bucket list, the American Shad. I am going to write about that next week, because I have been putting off reviewing my new kayak.

Official Review of the Hobie Outback

So let me start by restating the Kayaks By Bo description of the boat from their website…

“This fully-loaded fishing machine is built for every conceivable fishing expedition, whether you’re prowling the ocean for monster gamefish or stalking bass in your favorite freshwater fishing hole. Hobie has advanced the sport of kayak fishing with patented Kick-Up Fins that automatically retract upon impact. The extra-wide standing deck offers an improved casting platform and convenient vantage point for sight fishing, allowing for superior vision from above while the revolutionary Guardian Transducer Shield gives you multidimensional vision below. The adjustable Vantage CTW seat provides 1.5″ of extra width for unmatched room and comfort. The Hobie H-Rail with integrated patented RAM® Hand-Track™ and numerous high-capacity storage compartments deliver the ultimate customization and organization in accessory mounting, ensuring that all of your gear is at your fingertips. Powered by the MirageDrive 180 with Kick-Up Turbo Fins, this fine-tuned angling vessel is highly versatile, fast, quiet, and exceedingly nimble. Featuring our Kick-Up Rudder system with dual steering capabilities, combating drift and navigating tight water has never been easier.”

My Thoughts – Pros

So I have been in this new boat for roughly a month now, I transitioned from the Old Town Topwater 120. Which is also a fantastic boat – I never had a problem or issue with it, I just wanted to try the Hobie Outback, as this has become one of the most popular fishing kayaks on the market today.

Disclaimer, I do not have the kick up fins mentioned in the above review, I have a used demo from Kayaks By Bo that is several years old, so obviously if you’re on the fence about getting a new Hobie, then I highly recommend going to Kayaks By Bo and getting the new one with all the cool up to date features.

So let me start with the PRO’S of the Hobie Outback. The pedal drive system is much more convenient for my style of fishing. I thought having to pull the lever for forward & reverse would be an issue, but it’s not been a problem whatsoever. The nice thing about Old Town is that their pedal drive system has an automatic forward-reverse, which is nice, but ultimately the kick fin style of the Hobie has some distinct advantages that I believe slightly outweigh the Old Town. However that being said, there are people I know that prefer Old Town, and people that prefer Hobie. Ultimately if you are trying to decide between the two, I’d recommend trying before buying at Kayaks By Bo!

What I like the most about the drive system from Hobie is the ability to split the pedals and latch the fins and be able to fish in shallow water, where you can still flutter-kick the fins to move. When I have to pull the drive up & out it is so much easier and more convenient to do. The drive itself is much smaller in profile, and much lighter, you also have a much smaller open hole in the kayak which is nice. There are two steering controls on the left and the right which is really cool, so you don’t always have to steer with one hand, on one side. The steering itself is much improved from the Old Town, the maneuverability and control is much better and precise. It is also a lot quieter which is a big deal when you’re getting close to mangroves for good skip casts, I believe it is less “spooky” that the larger circular style prop.

The other big PRO for the Hobie is all of the features for storage. The spacious deck vertical hatch is so clutch! I keep my keys/wallet/cell phone in there as well as all of the packets of soft plastic baits I will use on that particular trip. I also make use of the sides, where I can put essential tools in the rubberized mesh pouches and keep small tackle trays inside the gear tracks. In the back I can keep my cooler and more gear. If I need to bring more tackle trays they store in the slots between the rear gear tracks and sides. I also like the molded trays just behind the cup holders, that’s where I keep my Procure, Dr. Juice, Bang scents to add to my baits, or a place to put chewed up soft plastics after I change baits.

The other big Pro is the front rod holders. It has enabled me to not need my YakAttack mounted rod holder, which is a great piece of equipment but a hindrance to skip casting sometimes. This past weekend I was able to troll for Shad & Crappie using those front rod holders so I really grew to appreciate them even more!

My Thoughts – Cons

So I really don’t have much to complain about. My biggest knock is how low the seat is. It is much harder “just stand up” compared to my last two fishing kayaks. It is stable once standing, though not as wide as the Old Town. But it is definitely harder to stand up in. Though I will say the lower seat gives me more of an ab work out when kicking the pedals, so I have been able to really go after my Dad Bod Belly.

The other con would be the rudder on the bottom, it makes the process of landing, loading, unloading a little stressful worrying about damaging the rudder, but I did get a cool accessory that helps me unload, its a square block that latches to the handles in the back so I can lower it from the bed of my truck and pivot it while keeping the rudder off the ground. From there I grab the back handle and lift, and slide it to my transport cart.

The other “Con” would be all of the exposed metal parts on the kayak’s drive system. With the Old Town I would just hose it off when I got home, with this model I have got a small portable pressure pumper from Ace Hardware and some Ace Hardware brand Silicone Lube/Spray. I keep the pump in my truck and when I am done immediately hose down the drive, my reels, my hooks/lures before loading, before putting the drive away I spray the silicone spray on there to keep it operating at a high capacity.

So my loading process takes a few moments longer, but that’s a sacrifice I am more than okay with.

Conclusion

Is the Hobie Outback worth the hype? Absolutely. This is a vessel that maneuvers well, it’s quiet, it’s stable, and it’s loaded with built in features that can make the kayak fishing experience more efficient, and enjoyable. If you are looking for a long-term investment to take your kayak fishing to the next level, you will not be disappointed in purchasing this boat.

Kayaks By Bo
If you are interested in this kayak, I highly suggest going to Kayaks By Bo and doing a test drive to see how you like it! In addition to a great lineup of Hobie’s they have Old Town, and other great brands!

Another thing that sets Kayaks By Bo apart is when you go in to shop for a new kayak, you will be talking to dudes that know what they’re talking about. Chances are you will be talking with Jason, or Andy who are both kayak anglers themselves! Also, they have a cat named Tom Jones that hangs around the store. First off, when a cat has a first & last name, you know it’s a cool cat. Secondly, Tom Jones has swag dripping out of his ears, he may let you pet him, he may swat at you when you get too close, either way it’s always a pleasure to see Tom Jones.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review of the Hobie Outback!

Next week I’ll be writing about Shad fishing on the St. John’s River, until next time!