Buy a boat that suits *your* needs.

[wave97]

Ask anyone who fishes with a pungo if they fish anywhere but in estuaries, calm bays & ponds. If you plan on fishing on ocean-like conditions you'll need a stable, high capacity sit on top.
Pungos are great, but Pungos swamp and if you swamp in the ocean at night with an outgoing tide in 57 degree water you're probably dead (optimal striped bass fishing conditions).
It seems that some people feel the need to advocate on bulletin boards for their choice of boat instead of advising on the relative merits of different boats.. Many yak fisherman here on the east coast, seem to have a thing for the stable sit-in boats, that's fine - but if some poor bastard buys a Pungo - like craft without understanding its limitations that's potentially dangerous. Look on the yak fishing boards that are dominated by west coast yak-fishers and you will seldom, if ever, see a reference to a sit-in yak of any make. And yes, they fish in the ocean. Sorry for my rant, just my 2 cents.

[sideoff]

I wonder if the reason so many west coast fishermen use SOT kayaks is because it's warmer for longer there than it is here. I believe the main reason people on the East Coast use sit-ins is due to warmth in the pre-season.

As for tipping the yak at night in cold water (if you consider 57 degrees cold!) as long as you're prepared this shouldn't be a big problem. With a shorty wetsuit on getting back in is a breeze. I flipped mine a few weeks ago in 45 degree water and was back inside in less than a minute and had emptied the kayak completely only a few minutes later. No problem. I believe I could do it at night just as easily.

Incidentally, I don't think I would go out in a SOT at night in 57 degree water without at least a shorty wetsuit on either, esp in rough water.

[Bob Parsons]

If it's choppy then a spray skirt would not be a bad idea. You can take waves in the face without swamping the yak. Not that you would want to be out fishing in those conditions. If your yak is properly outfitted then you could learn the eskimo roll. If a 15" open canoe can be rolled back up right so can these yaks. :)

[ruge13]

Wave, I agree with your advice that people should recognize their limitations especially new yakers and that the sea is not forgiving. If you haven't tried to swamp your kayak and attempt rescues in bad conditions just to practice, you don;t belong outside of a bay thats protected. Going out for a days fishing for In Collinsville this weekend I listened to a lecture by an expedition expert who said it best for new yakers...whne you start you look at the bay and paddle around but your eyes are always looking out towards the see. Sooner or later weather you are ready or noit you are paddling out into the horizon and many times that is the worst place you can be. You are right, in open water Pungos are not the best boat to be in. Length becomes and issue. They may be stable and great in bays but in whitecaps and swells they can get hairy. water temp is an issue, you should know that you are sitting in an unstable boat in freezing water. You are an idiot if you think you will never roll or get wet, I don;t care how good you think you are. Even paddles dripping on your hands will make you cold and numb. We live in New England, the water is cold. Pungos are not bad advice, but if you are buying a yak for the first time, or even a new yak for a veteran, know your boat and what you can do with it. Talk to people who own them, ask people at stores, especially people like Reps at shows. They are not going to tell you that a pungo is the ideal boat for fishing a mile or 2 out. The boat is not going to help you when you get into trouble. you need to take some responsibility in learning how to save yourself.

[sideoff]

Wave, per what you were saying this guy was clearly not prepared. He's lucky to have been picked up

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/swampedkayaker26.htm

[wave97]

The Pungo salesman deserves an award.....

[RJ]

Wave,

Thanks you for the safety "Heads Up" on taking "short" sit in yaks off shore. We appreciate the sentiment and the common sense you laid out for us. But in your last remark you seem to have made a judgement that it's the Pungo guys against the world. Not so!

It has been my experience that the water we fish dictates the boats we use. East coast fishing from Florida to Maine is very different to the West Coast warmer water and lots of beach front facing the Pacific. The lack of estuary and bay fishing opportunity between San Diego and San Francisco is evident.

SOT's with their wider foot print work well along the warmer coast of California. SOT's north of Georgia from October to April are not the boat of choice on the east coast. The water is colder and the weather nastier. This dictates sit in craft. An example of different boats for differnt water conditions are - Florida Flats boats are great in the south but there are some applications in the Northeast that are not suited for. Deeper vee narrow beamed boats do it better here.

If the majority selects sit in yaks there is a reason. Hardly any of us who buy sit in's plan on off shore adventures. We have so much water inshore and so many rivers and estuaries to fish abundant populations of stripers, bluefish and weakfish we seldom need to heed the call of off shore species.

No harm, no foul - it's more of an evolution thing than a "my yak is better than your yak!"

See ya on the water. I have a Palmico tandem and a Pungo for my pleasure. if my pocketbook allowed it my personal craft of choice would be a 44 foot Outer Banks Trawler type I could live on. But, that's another story!

:)

[FLYRODER]

WAVE I have to agree with you. SOT's are the best all round kayaks around today. Sit inside kayaks are only good for back bays but to try and launch 1 from the surf your asking for trouble. Also with SOT's while fishing flats is so much easier to get off and on as compared to getting out and in your sit insides. Also SOT's can be used in Oct thru April if you dress right.

[wave97]

The "dryness" issue is moot. When fishing in placid waters a high capacity sit on top is exceptionally dry.
When the water is big you're wet in any boat as eskimo rolls are difficult to perform w/ a nine weight in your hand. Neoprene booties and dry pants will keep you comfortable.


Stable sit-in yaks will suit in most places.
Stable high capacity sit-on-tops will suit in any place.

[ruge13]

I now fish form my new boat...Perception Corona. 14'10" long and 22 1/4 " wide. V hull. With rudder. I wanted a touring boat so I could paddle long distances with reduced effort. If I tried to paddle a pungo to the islands in boston harbor I would die before I ever got there and I am in good shape. Anyway, Its damn tippy. It "suits my needs" but I definately needed to get used to it. I rolled it a few times just paddling around so fishing has become a whole new sport. More like extreme fishing. Anyway, I did roll it with a 7ft spin rod in hand. IF I didn;t hold onto it I would have had to do a little snorkling to get it back. Thgis taught me a lesson...make some sort of leash for your rod even if it is in a holder. trying to recover all your gear after a roll and pump out the hull was tough and being able to let go of the rod would have helped significantly. Not that I want my rod submered or bouncing on the bottom but realistically, you will not be relaxed and thinking everything out when you roll. your first instinct is to jumpo out and start swiming. Tough to do with a rod..anyway, nothing broke, I managed ok. so I will try it with a fly rod and let you know what happens...as for what kind of water I can take it into. It feels initially like I am going to roll with every paddle stroke but now having goten used to it and controlling the boat more with my thighs and hips rahter than my arms and the paddle, I feel comfortable in swells up to 2-2 1/2 feet. It takes some getting used to with a rod because you no longer have the paddle to stable yourself but the rudder helps keep the boat turned to the waves. Honestly I have never tried a sit on top in any kind of water but I definately feel comfortable in my boat now. It took alot of practice, don;t get me wrong, but something to consider when buying a boat is how you feel in the boat. THe corona has a small cockpit but large enough to get in and out of. I like the feeling of bing so close to the water and being enclosed by the boat. I feel like I have better controll with the boat than I did in a pungo or even larger boats because I can "feel" the boat and the way it moves with the water. I wanted a boat that was very responsive to my movements, with the risk of sounding flaky, you do feel like you are part of the boat after some practice and this is a feature I love about the corona over the pungo or larger more stable boat. The stability compromise is one I was willing to make because it makes the whole experience of fishing and paddling more exciting for me. To say that you will never get wet is unrealistic. Even paddle drip will make you cold in weather other than 80 degrees. I use a spray skirt and that keeps my lower body dry. Even after paddling for 1 hour n a little wind and some small surf, spray from the paddle and waves has my hair wet so trying to stay dry probably won;t happen unles, like everyone said, you fish in estuaries and protected areas...but there are usually great fishing in these areas anyway. I usually fish areas like this however, to get there, sometimes I cross some pretty rough water. I fish around logan airport and deer island alot. For 5 minutes I could be drifting behind an island casting away with not a ripple in the water but as soon as I drift close to the end of the shoreline and out near a rip, the wind is nast and the waves are brutle so I need the speed and manuverability. Bottom line is I wouldn't say that you should fish from a sit on top or from a sit in because they do or do not perform well in certain conditions. I think the advice on this board is great and comes from guys with alot more experience than I have, but you are your own best instructor. Try the boats..in all kinds of conditions. These are not cheap investments, at least not for me. So it may be worth it to take a lesson or spend a day renting one that you might be interested in and play with it. this will teach you more about what will suit your needs better than any store rep. Sure, pungos are great, and guys with sit on tops swear by them, although I have never tried them, so I am not knocking them, I did try just about every sit in model I could get myhands on and I was sold on the corona. I did try to roll it and get back in in deep water before I bought it so I knew how hard it would be to do this before I bought it. Its not eay, in any boat so try them or you will never know until its too late...I don;t know if I am offering my 2 cents or just wanting to rave about the boat I just got...I will shut up now...

[Wes]

Good for you Ruge, it's nice to enjoy the boat with or without the cooperation of the fish. You're only nearly totally alone in this, not completely. I don't know your paddling or fishing experience/skills but I thought I'd give you my 2 cents. I'm also paddling a sea kayak, 17 ft by 23.5 inches. It took a few months to get used to it but I limited how I fished at first to learn abt the boat. I stayed away from bait, trebles, etc for quite a period, I think you are most vulnerable at that point when you have the fish alongside. They can go under you , straight down, who knows, and having to do oral surgery on a 15lb blue is not going to help things. I haven't dumped the boat fishing, just for practise so far, but I leash the paddle, the rods and even the gear inside the cockpit is stowed to stay there if I do. I never park the paddle, if I need to I can drop the rod and grab the paddle to keep under control, or one hand the paddle for a little correction. All other gear is stowed in a bag on deck and it is zipped up unless I'm in it. Pliers and other assorted tools are accessible in a velcroed pocket on top. You want to have nothing else to worry abt in a little boat in the dark, by yourself, with a 15-20 lb po'd fish in yr lap. A fish like that might still have half his body with tail in the water while your trying to hold fish, paddle, rod and still not take that 7/0 through yr thumb. Dress for a swim, carry sufficient safety gear with you and always stay alert to yr environment.
Jim

[ruge13]

Wes...good to hear I am not alone. I am still really in the beginning stages of this boats capabilities. So far I couldn't be mor eimpressed with what I can handle in it. As far as parking the paddle, that is not an option to me. I have it on a leash perpendicular to the boat in my lap.. I have had to lunge for it a couple times in boat wakes while drifting. I quickly found out that the instinct of just putting my hands down like a sled..don;t cut it. anyway, I have yet to be pulled braodside by a fish...the rudder aloows me to turn the boat pretty quickly. I was surpised by the handlng of this boat...turns on a dime. However, you are right, I am always dressed for a swim. The first time I took the boat out the zipper on my wetsuit brke and I didn;t have a life jacket...I headed out anyway and rolled it in the waves not 10 ft from shore....I got back on the horse but it was a cold day....good luck to you...

[Wes]

Just 2 more thoughts for my 2 cts.

Learn to handle the boat without the rudder, things break.

Never get in the boat again without a properly fitted PFD.

paddle safe

[ruge13]

good point about the rudder system....as for the pfd..yeah I know it wasn't too smart...since then I don't leave home without it...