Kayak or Boat?

I love fishing and I love the idea of fishing from an ocean-going kayak.  But I've never done it before, and before I start plunking down thousands of dollars on this hobby of yours, I'm looking for a reality check.  What are the pros and cons of purchasing a kayak (and related gear) versus a small boat and trailer (and related gear)? Storage, related gear, launch locations, and even cost are all different, I'm sure.

For context, I am a 55 y.o. male in reasonably good physical condition. Up to this point in life, I have been strictly a shore and charter boat fisherman. I owned a canoe for years so I am not terribly afraid of kayaking but I've never owned any water vessel other than the canoe. I would like to use my vessel to fish for everything - salmon and groundfish in the ocean, halibut and stripers in SF bay, maybe even sturgeon. Also: salmon in the Sac River and trout or bass fishing in FW lakes.

If this is the wrong board for this thread, perhaps the mods can move it to the correct board. I'm new here. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Powerboating and kayaking are two completely different worlds, IMO.

With kayaking, you are engaged with the surface of the water, and, if you're doing it right, you're married to all aspects of your personal safety.  Going kayaking is a well-rounded adventure where the challenges can be as amazing as the discovery, the fishing accomplishments and even the workout.  When we kayak out into the fog for offshore fishing or down a river with its ever-changing currents and a whole host of other considerations, we are looking to feel alive and to do things that inspire other parts of our lives.  None of this is hyperbole, in my experience.  Kayaking, and kayak fishing specifically, can and will change your life forever.

I grew up on my dad's powerboats, but even on flat days I'd get seasick.  I don't get seasick on my kayaks - even when tying all the knots in shitty seas.  I will always cherish my memories of fishing with my dad on his boats, and he was a master fisherman and an extremely conscientious and safe boater.  But...  being on a powerboat doesn't compare to the thrills and the true inspiration and growth that comes on the kayak.

You should try to get out for demo'ing some yaks, and it's also a good idea to consider a guided trip.  I guarantee that you will have a way better idea about what you want after getting out there to taste it.

Best of luck~   

to me Kayak vs Boat is very different experience - both are great, both different - both way better than shore fishing.

kayak - one with / one against nature.  I love being low on the water, love the sound of my paddle in the water, love hearing the water gently break on the hull...though my paddle is now peddles and far less romantic.  When you catch a fish, the boat moves, catch a really nice fish - it takes you for a boat ride.  Wanna talk to someone, paddle on over, don't wanna talk -keep paddling away.  I really love it, can't see myself getting a PB, but would love it if a friend had one during salmon season, I'm good at filling the gas and cleaning up the boat.

PB - endless possibility, you can fish the whole bay in a day looking for fish, get too hot, go for a boat ride to the next spot, fish out far, gun it and go.  Have partners or friends who want to join - super easy.

my only PB experience has been fresh water, and most of my kayak experience salt water.  others can probably provide better insight.

Thank you for the reply, LE. Your reasons certainly appeal to my heart. If I ever find myself up your way with some free time, I will definitely book a trip.

Thank you for the reply, LBT.  Salmon fishing from a powerboat does seem more productive, and that is a big selling point to me. But I also hear you guys about man versus nature and the romance/challenge of kayak fishing.  I would love to try it.

I was hoping for some answers dealing with the practical pros and cons of each, perhaps from those of you who own or have owned small powerboats for fishing. But maybe this is the wrong group to ask that question. The first two bites in this thread, yours included, ignore that question and basically say that you can't compare the two... which is an answer I can accept if it is a dumb question...

If you ask an avid tennis player what is the difference between pickleball and tennis, you'll get a certain answer. If you ask an avid golfer what is the difference between playing mini golf next to a go-kart track by the freeway and Pebble Beach, you'll get a similar answer. That answer you would get is that there is no comparison so there is no point in going into specific differences. Maybe that is what I get for asking an avid kayak fisherman to compare pros and cons of kayak fishing and powerboat fishing.

After a small sample size, I am beginning to think that the answer is that kayak fishing is harder, as expensive or possibly more expensive, less versatile, less productive, but more rewarding and gratifying to the sportsman. If anyone here disagrees with that, please chime in. Thank you.

Hey fuzzy.

I am 59 yrs young. I wish i had gotten into kayak sooner. I love it but now i have to pick my days to go out. I still enjoy some of the near shore get togethers . I might end up using my boat but i still enjoy hanging out with the NCKA crew.

There are places that i believe will loan you a kayak but there are also good guys that will loan you a kayak as well. Probably a good idea to brush up on safety topics here and tag along as the weather improves.

Good luck on your choice. You can dm me if you have questions on boats. lol. I have owned many over the decades.

Alex

Long time boater and kayaker in the bay area. Currently have 2 hobie pedallers and a 16 ft fingfisher skiff. At 65 yrs old I like the ease of boating physically but still enjoy a yak trip.

If you ask that same question a thousand times on this board you will get a different response I'm sure.  It's personal preference to what your goals are for fishing.  It's not something you can evenly compare from one person to another.  Cost should be lower in the long run going for kayak fishing, but that depends on your tastes for new kayaks and equipment.  I've thought about boats for a long time, but every time I think about costs, maintenance, and launch ramps I remind myself that a kayak is simply easier for me to take care of and put to good use. Also there is versatility in a kayak that a boat does not have, but that still depends on what your goals are.  There are lakes or rivers where you cannot launch a boat, but can kayak.  To me that feeling of coming in the harbor with a limit of nice fish on a kayak, knowing you put in that effort and it paid off in many ways (exercise, food, entertainment, nature, etc) is worth more than money IMHO.  Otherwise why not just eat at a restaurant and skip fishing all together   

Good points, Alain. For me, if money and storage space were very plentiful, I’d get a boat.

BUT, I would still want to kayak fish, too. For Al’s reasons, for Eric’s descriptions - the connection, the adventure. If you stay relatively simple, a kayak is much more economical.

Thank you for the reply, LBT.  Salmon fishing from a powerboat does seem more productive, and that is a big selling point to me. But I also hear you guys about man versus nature and the romance/challenge of kayak fishing.  I would love to try it.

I was hoping for some answers dealing with the practical pros and cons of each, perhaps from those of you who own or have owned small powerboats for fishing. But maybe this is the wrong group to ask that question. The first two bites in this thread, yours included, ignore that question and basically say that you can't compare the two... which is an answer I can accept if it is a dumb question...

If you ask an avid tennis player what is the difference between pickleball and tennis, you'll get a certain answer. If you ask an avid golfer what is the difference between playing mini golf next to a go-kart track by the freeway and Pebble Beach, you'll get a similar answer. That answer you would get is that there is no comparison so there is no point in going into specific differences. Maybe that is what I get for asking an avid kayak fisherman to compare pros and cons of kayak fishing and powerboat fishing.

After a small sample size, I am beginning to think that the answer is that kayak fishing is harder, as expensive or possibly more expensive, less versatile, less productive, but more rewarding and gratifying to the sportsman. If anyone here disagrees with that, please chime in. Thank you.

I think the answer is largely "it depends".  Unless you are getting a dinghy that is barely seaworthy, cost of entry into kayak fishing will very likely be less than a small powerboat.  In many instances, at a certain price point, a kayak will be more capable than a power boat.  If I am spending $3k, I am far more likely to feel comfortable taking a Hobie (even an older used one) on the ocean than a 12ft dinghy or an old crappy Bayliner.  I'm not gonna lie, if money was no option, I'd have a $100k Grady White tomorrow.  But, there is a peaceful nature about paddling, and a fantastic community of likeminded folk here on this board.  We could all use a little more exercise, and NorCal is about the most scenic place in the world as viewed from the water - pretty much everywhere there are fish here is wonderful in it's own way.  Also, kayaks can have close access to a lot of fishing that boats can't, so accessibility is huge and convenient. 

One point - there is no "easy" with kayak fishing.  Once on the water, all the hassle of kayaking is forgotten, but storing, transporting, equipping, and planning for kayak fishing takes work.  You gotta find a way to store your kayak that is safe, transport it safely, and get it to the water safely.  Most are less than 100lbs, but the hard part is that they are awkward AF to maneuver, especially for a newbie.  You gotta get it on top of your car or trailer, or into a truck bed, and learn how to strap it down without deforming it.  You gotta research safety gear, and equip your body and your boat in order to handle the worst case scenario - which will change depending on where you go and what season it is.  You gotta sort out what gear and deck configuration works best for you, your kayak, the area, and the species you are going for - which will likely change for different species and areas.  You have to be careful to learn how to understand marine weather forecasts, and how wind, swells, wind waves, and tides will influence you and your experience - messing this up can make your day go bad real quick.  The challenges with kayak fishing are what makes it appealing to me.  I am a life-long tinkerer, and as such, I enjoy the outfitting part of this.   

Once you get most of that stuff sorted out, kayak fishing is a super fun sport.  You will have skunk days, but a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work, right?  At least you got on the water, got fresh air, paddled/pedaled around and got some exercise, and probably took in some great views while at it. 

As others mentioned, try out a few kinds of kayaks - they really do vary a lot, and having the right kayak for your application can mean the difference between having a good day or really bad day.  I also recommend getting as long of a kayak as you think you can handle - longer kayaks are faster and will be more forgiving if you misread the weather report.  Kayak weight doesn't matter much on the water, but can be a big deal when loading/unloading/moving it around. 

... I am beginning to think that the answer is that kayak fishing is harder, as expensive or possibly more expensive, less versatile, less productive, but more rewarding and gratifying to the sportsman. If anyone here disagrees with that, please chime in. Thank you.

I've got to question the "as expensive" part of that.

I have a Hobie AI (bought it used) on a trailer (bought it new), and I believe my costs are a tiny fraction of what any of the ocean boaters I see have spent. I know that when I talk to boaters, they're always surprised at how little my setup cost. And, the cost each time I launch is minimal. Anyways, I'd be interested to hear what people who own "real" boats think about the relative costs...

Oh man...kayakfishing is way, way less expensive.
Even with my hobie ai, it was less.

My CC is 20 feet. Cost about 5-8x what my AI cost...it is super fuel efficient,  but I can still burn 8-10 gallons on a salmon trip. Registration, insurance, maintenance,  it all adds up

If I was trying to keep the costs similar, say choose between a small aluminum or fiberglass or a kayak, I'd stay with the kayak. You can go out in a broader range of conditions. Sure you are limited to the one place you choose for the day, and the range sucks...

Boating is no less gratifying, etc, etc...just different.  Like riding a motorcycle vs a bicycle.

Oh man...kayakfishing is way, way less expensive.
Even with my hobie ai, it was less.

My CC is 20 feet. Cost about 5-8x what my AI cost...it is super fuel efficient,  but I can still burn 8-10 gallons on a salmon trip. Registration, insurance, maintenance,  it all adds up

If I was trying to keep the costs similar, say choose between a small aluminum or fiberglass or a kayak, I'd stay with the kayak. You can go out in a broader range of conditions. Sure you are limited to the one place you choose for the day, and the range sucks...

Boating is no less gratifying, etc, etc...just different.  Like riding a motorcycle vs a bicycle.

i agree with all of this. i use my boat more just because I tend to have another person or 2 with me most of the time.  i will always squid fish off the yak, it will stain gelcoat.

The only thing I miss about owning a boat is the close quarters camaraderie that takes place on deck while fishing with buddies.  It's a bit harder to give hi-fives to each other and have conversations when you're all separated and going different directions.  Other than that I much prefer the simpleness of a kayak -- easy storage/transportation and minimal maintenance.

Get both, kayak and PB!