New Offshore Kayak Fisherman

Hey All,
I am trying to help out a friend of mine that has recently moved out to California. He isn't very computer savvy, nor am I , but I can a least find my way around a forum. Anyways we are used to fishing rivers in the southeast for bass, and now he is looking to get off shore some. Obviously he is going to want a stable boat, that offers features which make your time on the water easier (guess that goes for any kayak). I know he plans to start out using live bait and artificial, we are used to artificial, but this is a whole new ball game for him so hopefully the live bait will help. He has been looking at the Jackson Kayak Big Tuna, here is the link I found to the video online, . What do yall think about this boat for offshore, some live bait, and then possibly some nearby fresh water lake fishing. Do you have any other suggestions. I mentioned he should look at the Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game too, http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/angler_kayaks/prowler_big_game/ . Thanks in advance for any help!

realizing that I'm a newbie take my advice lightly.  But I was drooling over the Malibu stealth 12.  I have a borrowed kayak currently so I'll be using it for a while just to get adjusted to this new pastime, but the stealth 12 always looked very nice, and it has a live bait well.  My current SOT isn't really angler specific so in my one trip out so far I can see how having hatches and convenience features close to you would be a big help.   That big tuna does looks nice though, though maybe heavier than i would like.

Demo it, or rent if you can and see how it acts.  Some boats fit different type of people differently.  Definetly put your money in your safety gear!

the two you mention are heavy boats....be sure he factors that in also = loading/unloading usually happens solo, so the weight of your empty kayak is important.
like others said, be sure to demo/test before you buy.....you dont always need live bait to hook a fish in the ocean(it helps), but it also gives you something you got to accomplish even before you actaully get to fish for your target(s)

Good luck to him and teach him how to navigate this simple site = the NCKA way is to help those who need and ask for it nicely. 

Offshore with live bait?  Sounds lofty for a back-east freshwater guy.  I'm not knocking the aspirations, just a word of caution:  the Pacific will take you out quickly!  Invest in safety gear, time on the water, time on this site, and try be a paddler first (or pedaler, or whatever...).

Live bait - I've put about a few minutes into it, and I'm not impressed with the work required compared to the benefits.  Definitely depends on what you're targeting and where you are, but a dead chovie or herring will probably get you wherever you're trying to go.

Welcome to the Madness.   

PS:  Big Tuna looks cool, but take that in the ocean and your arms may fall off.   

Have him look at the OK trident series.  Much better paddlers than the OK Big Game, and nearly as stable.

You did not say where in California he's moving to.  Hopefully around here in NorCal, wehre he'll have friends to start out with (us).

Remember CA is huge.  Depending on where he's living he could be fishing the equivalent of New York, or Florida.

Allen