I've been thinking about kayak fishing and wanted to get the OBs opinions.

1. Kayak - thinking about the Kaku Zulu or maybe the Old Town and like the peddle option. Thoughts on these two or any others?

2. Usage - I am thinking I would fish lakes, surf (3rd gut), bays and lakes like buchanan for striper/whites. Thoughts on fishing these and distances to travel in a kayak safely. I think I have seen about 5 miles.

3. Places to fish - what are good places to start off with? I'm in Austin but can travel and would probably camp out in the fall/winter/spring.

4. Any other comments?

If you're big on stripers you'll want a pedal option for trolling.

I enjoy my NuCanoe. Wish I went with a smaller version than the Pursuit because that thing is a tank.

I have a Kaku Zulu and it is incredible. Fished in rivers/lakes and at the coast with it and never felt like it was unstable. I'm a paddler and have done about 5 miles total one-day trip length at the coast. I have the peddle drive but took it off because I value my deck space more than the effort of paddling. If you don't want to paddle, I would get the MCO, register it, and put an electric motor on the stern to keep the front deck space open. However, it will haul butt with the peddle drive.

Hobie

Kayak fishing is the best.

Go with a peddle kayak.

Don't focus on going offshore in your selection unless you've done it (opens up a lot of options)

Simpler layouts are WAY easier to use when you are on the water.

You mention surf fishing the 3rd gut. Are you talking just using the kayak as a way to drop a shark bait from shore?

If a pedal drive is in your budget, I'd definitely get that.

Thinking I might just troll in the guts but could also use to drop baits. Just thinking of easy ways to fish that are easily accessible.

Would it be too rough to fish the guts from a kayak?

Do you all run any electronics like fish finder and or trolling motor? Any recommendations?

Fish the rigs if you surf fish. Fishing a gut would get rough. Look up "prof. Salt"for btb fishing videos.

I used to live in Austin and mainly bay fished east and west matty and oyster lake. Also fished lights in sargent and rockport during the summer.

White base run at granger wma and at gravel road on lampasas river outside salado.

Colorado bend sp gets crowded, but is a great kayak fishing area. Pretty trolling that part of the river if there is water flowing.

Stay light, simple, and shallow. If it requires deep water, a trailer, being registered, or a big price tag, then might as well get a real boat because you've lost all the advantages.

I have the Old Town 12' PDL. It's awesome to be able to pedal and keep our hands free to fish! I couldn't go to a paddle after having pedals !

combustion artist said:

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I've been thinking about kayak fishing and wanted to get the OBs opinions.

1. Kayak - thinking about the Kaku Zulu or maybe the Old Town and like the peddle option. Thoughts on these two or any others?

2. Usage - I am thinking I would fish lakes, surf (3rd gut), bays and lakes like buchanan for striper/whites. Thoughts on fishing these and distances to travel in a kayak safely. I think I have seen about 5 miles.

3. Places to fish - what are good places to start off with? I'm in Austin but can travel and would probably camp out in the fall/winter/spring.

4. Any other comments?

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get a kayak that is hybrid lake/ river - you are sitting in the best part of Texas for river floats for bass. Guadalupe, Nueces, Llano, etc.

I have the Kaku Zulu with the I guide trolling motor.

Thing is a beast - definitely need a trailer as car topping was very tough. Only used it a few times but very stable and great. You can mount the trolling motor on the back with their mount but I'm not a huge fan (steering is backwards).

Lake Austin is good kayak fishing on the upper end. The Colorado river itself as well.

I used to go down to the coast a lot and B2B fish but it is a beating physically and time wise. It's great fun but you have to have a group that goes for safety.