kayak width and length for the ocean??

Have been kayaking in small 8 ft in lakes for months. Ready to graduate to ocean kayaking. from what I have seen, widths for ocean fishing kayaks range from 28 to 36 inches wide. 13 feet long is max I will go. I think I have narrowed my search to the fishndive (36 inches wide) or the big game (34 inches wide) Are these good kayaks for the ocean?

Both are fine for the Ocean but the Malibu X-factor dominates them in all categories. IMHO it is the best ocean fishing kayak out there today bar none. That's the opinion of a Professional Kayaker

Welcome to the madness oceanluvr!

Test paddle these and see if it fits you right:

Prowler 13 -  by Ocean Kayaks
Marauder - by Cobra Kayaks
Tarpon 140 - by Wilderness Systems
Quest - By Hobbie Kayaks

Kayak Connection and Monterey Bay Kayaks will be your best bet to test paddle these kayaks since your in Salinas.
Take your time when choosing your kayak - remember that you will be paddling the vessel and not the sales person 

See you on the water soon!

thanks for the replies. I need to be patient, and It is driving me mad. I am so ready to do this. Been powerboating on the ocean for a couple of decades. ready for the yak scene now! What do you all think about the big game prowler for the ocean. 13ftx 34?

Kayaks to 12 feet length have been attacked, not just "investigated", by Great White sharks here in Northern California. So I personally like every additional foot of length I can get. While I'm personally paddling a 14' long boat right now, I would much prefer a boat 16' or longer. I'd really like that shark to be thinking "too big" when it sees my kayak from below...

Longer boats also tend to have higher cruising speeds. Something that's nice when you need to paddle a ways before you can start fishing, or if you want to hit multiple spots in a day.

If you have the $$ for a Big Game, then you have the $$ for a Prowler Trident. I"d really recommend waiting for the Trident, and then demo both. For at least an hour in each boat.

Regards,
Scott

appreciate the response. ever consider the shark repellant device? Is 14ft the average size for most ocean fishing kayakers?

oceanluvr,

I'm not a shark scientist, just someone that has read a fair amount about shark attacks, so take the following with a grain of salt. It seems like kayak anglers are subject to three different sort of interactions with Great Whites. There is the "I'm curious about what you are" scenario, in which the shark's presence is persistent. The shark will circle the boat, and may bump or bite it.  Next is the predation on a caught fish scenario. You've brought a fish to the boat, and a shark has been attracted by it's erratic movements. Then there's the "I think you are a seal" interaction: Out the blue a kayaker is hit hard from below, once, and the shark then disappears. The Shark Shield has proven it's worth in the first type of interaction. I'm not sure if it has proven its ability to defend against a case of fish predation or mistaken identity. Would the electric fields effective range of just a few feet be enough to turn a shark zooming in for the kill?

I'd say that 14' would be a reasonable guess at an average length. Lots of boats from 12' 9" to 15', with the occasional shorter or longer boat.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks Scott. All input is greatly appreciated.  . I was trying to avoid the demo's on the different kayaks, but it seems like the right thing to do. Alex (Bulldog)