New yak fisherman

Hi guys, my name is Mark and I'm new to kayak fishing.  I found a great deal on a malibu pro 2 tandem 13ft.  I love that it has so many hatches but am having difficulty figuring how best to set it up for fishing.  I bought the tandem so I can still use it for recreational use with the family and friends.  Here is where I'm at so far.  My thought is that I would sit at the back seat position,  if I ride in the front, I dont have access to the large hatch ,but riding in the back makes it hard (not impossible)to reach the crate. I'll be fishing kelp patties in the ocean. I'll probably mount a rod holder the side just behind me and possibly a mount on the hatch with a fish finder.  And sitting here I just realized with the crate in front will give me a heck of a time casting and fighting fish.

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Welcome, Mark, wherever you are. 

Welcome, Mark, wherever you are. 

I'm in ventura,  I can't seem to find the places(forums) where the ventura/ Santa Barbara yakers hang.

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Welcome Mark 

Welcome to NCKA!

Cool Wellcome. Did you try central coast kayak forum ?

Welcome Mark!

if that's the older pro 2 tandem without a middle seat option then it doesn't really paddle well with one person unless you put ballast in the front.  I'd load up about 30-40 lbs of rocks in mine and it would be gtg.  ymmv, and hte newer ones don't suffer from that.  They are great family boats, I just sold mine last winter since my kids are old enough to paddle on their own now. 

wttm

Thanks for the info crash

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Cool Wellcome. Did you try central coast kayak forum ?

No,  but thanks for letting me know about them.   Saw a post with a yak like mine.  Seems he put PVC pipes in the scupper holes to make a place to rest his feet

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if that's the older pro 2 tandem without a middle seat option then it doesn't really paddle well with one person unless you put ballast in the front.  I'd load up about 30-40 lbs of rocks in mine and it would be gtg.  ymmv, and hte newer ones don't suffer from that.  They are great family boats, I just sold mine last winter since my kids are old enough to paddle on their own now. 

wttm

Ditto to what Crash said.  I just sold mine for the same reasons.  Mine had two flush mount rod holders mounted just behind the front seat.  One on each side.  It also had a couple mounted behind the back seating position too.  I used the flat spot on the large hatch to lay my portable fishfinder.  It was mounted to a Pelican case which housed the battery and the transducer mounted to the side with a suction cup mount.  I secured the Pelican case to the kayak with bungie cords.  It worked great.  Good luck and welcome aboard!

Welcome!

Welcome to NCKA Mark 

Welcome aboard Mark, new to NCKA myself!

Hi guys, my name is Mark ...

Welcome. And you've got a great, great, name.