Hey guys,

My son is 16 and the only way I can get him off video games is fishing. We live in Houston and he and a buddy often just take off and find places around town to fish. It's great... just killing time and having fun.

HIs buddy was given a Kayak this week from a neighbor that is moving - so now my son wants one.

Any tips or recommendations you all can share so I can get him one and keep him moving out there?

He drives my 2004 Tahoe with a roof rack so he can transport it but not sure what kind of equipment he needs to secure it up there.

Thanks

I'll start. What's your budget?

There's so many options that I can't keep track anymore. 10' is a good utilitarian length. Not too heavy or difficult to transport, long enough to be easy to paddle, short enough to be maneuverable in smaller waters. Maybe 12 if he is big or will be fishing larger spans of water.

Sit on top is generally better for fishing and for new kayakers. They are easier to deal with getting in and out, and back into on the water if need be. They are heavier and slower than a good sit inside, but also safer for the reasons above.

Start here http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/

ID the kind you want and then try to get a used one that checks the boxes, just in case your son loses interest.

shiftyandquick said:

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I'll start. What's your budget?

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my wife found a website called KMVIPShop.com and the Argo 100x angler fishing kayak is only $120 so dang - not bad! that's a good price that's for sure

he's 120 lbs and won't ever be more than 150 like his old man

You can pretty much kayak fish for as much or as little money as you want. I'd start him off with an inexpensive used sit on top, get him a good life jacket and send him on his way. If he falls in love with it, it's easy enough to sell the cheap kayak and upgrade. It'll teach him how to learn with the basics and grow into the hobby.

Used tarpon or pescador 120. Might be a little more than they used be to due to the run on outdoors stuff the last year.

Used to be 400-500 dollars all day, great starter kayak that never actually needs to be replaced.

nosoupforyou said:

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shiftyandquick said:

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I'll start. What's your budget?

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my wife found a website called KMVIPShop.com and the Argo 100x angler fishing kayak is only $120 so dang - not bad! that's a good price that's for sure

he's 120 lbs and won't ever be more than 150 like his old man

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if the price is too good to be true, it's too good to be true.

That site looks super scammy. MSRP for that kayak is 300ish.

I don't like sit inside kayaks personally, they don't have the same storage options and are less stable feeling.

Also don't like pelican kayaks but if you're getting it with the idea it's disposable/not going to be something he sticks with.

I have a hobie outback, perception 12 footer, and 2 small sit-in kayaks for the kids that are super cheap. Obviously for someone starting out, you probably don't want to drop a lot of $. I would try to get the 10 or 12 foot perception pescador, preferably used, or new on-sale. But if you can get just about anything cheap used, try that first. Can probably sell it for close to what you bought it for.

I have a 14' Heritage Redfish that I use for coastal fishing and duck hunting. I don't think these are made anymore but any similar sit on top wide beam kayak in 10' - 12' would probably be fine.

Funny enough, I also drive a 2004 Tahoe. I have no issues securing the kayak to the roof rack with ratchet straps. No extra equipment needed.

you guys are awesome - thanks!

I would like to find a used one to see if this is just a fad so will look around but at least now I have some general ideas

Maybe let him pick what he wants and offer to match money with him. Build in a little financial education into the kayaking. Sit on top only.


As for securing it to the tahoe, at his age I would recommend you get something to help succeed. By that, I mean some kayak saddles, or a rack to make it easy to secure. Yakima, Thule and several others. They are expensive and not often found used, but a kayak getting loose on 45 could easily kill someone. Set him up for success. I recommend ratchet straps and a good lesson on how to use them. I have used cambuckle straps, but saw them come loose too many times for comfort. A bow line and stern line are good ideas as well.

Facebook marketplace is full of kayaks that are already set up for fishing. I'm tempted every day. Granted, they aren't Hobie's but I've seen plenty of rigs for anywhere from $300-600. There's a 12' Heritage Red Fish for $450 in Round Rock that's available today.

Also, I'd make sure that you really make sure he knows the importance of safety considering he's 16. I'm sure you're already planning on it, but it's obviously best to be over cautious especially with teenagers out with their buddies. Weather can change quick out in the bays. It's very easy to paddle too far out and then run into issues trying to make it to the boat ramp. It's easy to look at open water and think you can make it just fine to realize that you can't. Make sure that you guys have a plan for where he'll be fishing and for how long. Also, I'd really suggest getting a self inflating life jacket similar to the link. They're not big and bulky like a traditional life vest, so he'll be more likely to wear it in the kayak all the time. If he's pretty comfortable with water, you can switch it over to using the pull string to inflate rather than auto.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-am24-auto-manual-inflatable-life-vest?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CAllProducts%7CHigh%7CSSCCatchAll&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlMaGBhD3ARIsAPvWd6j-xiEtrepHkjHCETg7wZoBg9sT8aYQ1aIDnous4PS9BPwDbOkpg9QaAjeBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I just went through this exercise a few months ago. I ultimately spent much more than my original budget. Very happy with my purchase but after 6-8 trips down to the bay I'm already looking at improvements that I can make. Things you want to consider...

1. Where are they fishing? Fresh vs salt, pond/lake vs river vs bay? How big of an area (ie how far does he need/want to paddle)? The answers can make a difference in what would work best for your son. YouTube can also be a good source for reviews, details about options, etc...
2. You don't have to spend a ton but you want a good quality PFD (life vest) that is meant for paddling (Im not a fan of the inflatable options) and a paddle that is the correct length for the kayak & person.
3. Figure out what you want to spend. Be VERY wary of random sites (like the one your wife found). There are lots of bogus crap out there. The used market is nuts right now. There are still deals to be found but many people are taking advantage of lower supply. FB Marketplace, OfferUp & Craigslist are probably your best bet. The big box stores (Academy, Bass Pro, etc...) have some reasonably priced beginner options (assuming that is your budget) that may be better buys then some of the used ones at the moment. My suggestion would be to stick with local pickup options to help avoid the scams.
4. Don't get wowed by the kayaks with lots of features. Good chance he ends up not using most of them. Better to start with a simple setup with room for customability.

Feel free to shoot me a PM or email (in my profile) if you need anyone to bounce ideas or ask questions about the search.