Recommendations

Hello all,

I've been researching kayaks and wanted to ask people their opinions on what they think is best. Mainly I'd be taking it out in salt water for diving and fishing. I'd eventually love to salmon fish off a kayak. Anyone have some suggestions on ones I should be checking out.

Thank you.

It's all about Demo, Demo, Demo

While your at it you should demo a Eddyline Caribbean 12 or 14.

You'll get all kinds of answers from all kinds of people.
Do your research.
What may work great for one may not work so great for another.
Test paddle/pedal a bunch and see what works best for you.

There are lots of good kayaks today well serve you well on salt and fresh water. I suggest checking out kayaks from local dealers. I would also take the drive to Headwaters in Lodi. You can demo their kayaks from their boathouse on Lodi lake, and their staff are all kayak anglers.

There are other options to demo too. If you are interested, i have a viking profish that you are welcome to try out on lake natoma (I work 5 min away). Other guys will probably extend a similar offer for other brands. Demo them all

Mainly I'd be taking it out in salt water for diving and fishing. I'd eventually love to salmon fish off a kayak.

I do lots of fishing and diving from my kayaks and am 6' / 190#.  I recommend researching and trying different models for sure.  I haven't found one I like as much as the Malibu X-Factor.  It's very stable, very roomy, easy to paddle, and I load two of them on my overhead racks regularly.  Trolling 10 to 15 miles per session chasing salmon offshore is a regular activity from April through November.  I've logged over a thousand miles on the salmon troll in the past three summers.  I never leash gear or stow stuff in hatches for use on the water other than emergency gear, spare paddle...etc.  I can easily stand and do SUP for extended periods of time on a calm ocean and drifting down streams.

Good luck, and welcome to NCKA.   

Welcome to NCKA CaliFreedive 

Thanks for the information I plan on headin over to headwater to take a look at some of there kayaks I ran into a few people from there at the sportsmen expo.