Thinking about getting into Kayak fishing(Sacramento, ca american river area)

http://www.santacruzkayaks.com/

The best in my opinion..100% USA made by " Baitman "a club member..

If your thinking about it you've already got the madness welcome aboard.

My opinion...I'm sponsored by no one. When I stated yak fishing I was about 270 at 5,8. My first boat was a cobra fish and dive I loved it. Then I went to a wilderness t140 then the 160. All good boats for big dudes. Then I test drive hobie Revo. Then cruised a Revo for a year or so now I'm in a adventure island. And dive from a old school p13.
My advice is paddle them all from a raptor to a trident and see what you like best.many dealers will let you test paddle if your intent is to buy at no cost.
A little bit of extra time tryin them all out will be worth it in the long run.
 
Good luck I hope I see you out there.

I went to the site and was looking at the specs on them and the weight limit on those beauties are only like 310-350 pounds. that is cutting is awefully close. just me sitting in it is going to put the weight in it at like 85-90% i guess if i dont want any gear in there that might work. please tell me something that will put my paranoid heart at rest. because what is the ratio of weight carried and weight capacity, or what should it be. after i am sitting in the yak and all my gear is in what % should be accounted for compared to the maximum allowed weight?

 Call around to a few paddle shops. Any shop worth its salt will let you do a test paddle. They will have suggestions of their own as to what might work for you.

The only way to really answer your question for yourself is to actually sit in the yak on the water, and feel what is like to move around on it.

Cobra fish n Dive or OK Big game would be my first thought, maybe a malibu XFactor. These are all rated to 600 pounds load capacity. A lot will depend on your personal comfort level and how you see yourself using the kayak.

For me, I'm right at 200# most of the time, and I paddle a Tarpon 140 (since 2005). The weight rating is at 375#. I have never felt like I was overloaded in the kayak at all, even with two rods, landing gear, tackle & fish aboard. So figure you'll want about 175# over your weight and you should be good to go.

Once you are close or have purchased your yak, totally go & take an into-to-paddling course from a shop. You'll learn in one day what it might take months to learn, and you'll be safer on the water.

The OK ultra 4.7 and the wilderness ride 135 both can handle 550lbs I have a ride 135 and love it.

for the record there was no disrespect towards the Santa Cruz yak. just putting my thoughs out there. they look cool, i just have no idea what i am looking for really just yet

Bear in mind that no 1 kayak will work for everything so plan on owning more than 1

Great advice and suggestions from all.

Demo like everyone has said to find what works best for you!

I have a Jackson Cuda 14 and an OK Trident 15 here in the Monterey bay area you would always be welcome to demo.

The Santa Cruz Kayaks workshop is right around the corner from my house so if you need help coordinating with Jim Martin (Baitman on here) just let me know. The Raptor is an awesome boat for sure.

Best of luck and look forward to seeing you out on the water!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

i have belonged to other forums for other interests and i have never been met with such a warm reception, seems like most of the members on here are pretty receptive to new blood in the water....so to say. so much information to mull over so many aspects to consider, looks like i just have to get my rear in a bunch of yaks and try them out. i feel sorry for whoever is helping me demo them because i have a laundry list of yaks that i want to try has anyone subscribed to a guy o you tube that is based out of Australia called yakass? he is the one that i originally started watching and he sparked my interest in yak fishing. great videos on his channel. i suggest you go check him out. along with that "bruddah" out of Hawaii that tapes all his outings on his Go-Pro. those videos are pretty kick a**. I fish the American pretty frequently in years past and i was always limited to just a few bank spots that i knew produced but have seen sooo many other placed where the fish were boiling or action on the other side of the river that i couldn't reach... i just want o be able to paddle over to them and anchor up for a few minutes and give them a try. not to mention my love for ocean fishing... the sheer amount of species of fish that are out there makes kelp bed/rock fishing appealing. you never know what you are gonna hook into.

Anyways i got to rambling. thank you so much for the outpouring of support, i hope to start testing yaks..but ultimately i need to sell my AR-15 to get the money to get my buns into one of these great yaks...so if anyone wants an AR-15 talk to me because i have one to sell...

x factor

you lost me baitnBeer... what do you mean x-factor?

Malibu kayak I believe.

Trying to find the "perfect" first kayak WILL drive you insane.  Find the best fit for you & your needs through demo/trials ... chances are, you will upgrade after a year or two because you have been bitten by "the madness" and find that your kayak needs changed or you are better able to know what you need/want.  Then of course, you can always have more than 1 yak! 

Dang... that X-factor is looking pretty nice right about now. although the 2013 is a bit pricey for me initially but i would be ok with a 2012 for 750 less... I'm all about buying something in nice condition that is used. i like that flush mounted pole holder areas right in front of where you sit. nice flat spot right there if you aren't using it for a pole.... dang whoever just suggested that just added another one to the list of "to sit in" options. I'm really liking this site. you guys rule.

also i was going through some of the pictures in the picture area of the forum... i didn't realize how many people are here in the Sacramento area. that is good to know because I'm going to need someone to shadow me a couple of times until i feel comfortable. with the American river as low as it is right now I'm itchin to try it out before they start releasing the water for southern California(water hogs lol)

Wet: the Port of Sac(search: Barge Canal access/Port, etc.) is a great place with an easy launch no(or little) current, and fish to be caught - sometimes.
It can get windy, but protection is available depending on wind direction.
Watch for hook ups-there, or check it out solo, it's a pretty easy piece of H2o.
Good luck on the kayak search!