New guy intro and questions

[xjchad]

Hi I'm Chad. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife, dad to 5 great kids, and a fisherman.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/ABQ%20Vacation/IMG_7474_zpsaro7kybc.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/ABQ%20Vacation/IMG_7474_zpsaro7kybc.jpg.html)

I grew up fishing for trout in lakes and streams, started fly fishing and bass fishing in high school, then a few years ago when we moved to the Ventura area, I got into surf fishing. The last couple years I've mostly fished for sharks and rays from the beach.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/C7C4F00D-73B3-4CBA-9315-F46A4EC3101D_zpsm2kerte8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/C7C4F00D-73B3-4CBA-9315-F46A4EC3101D_zpsm2kerte8.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/IMG_2086_zpsaloi0nr0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/IMG_2086_zpsaloi0nr0.jpg.html)

So now I've really gotten interested in kayaks. Mainly for 2 reasons.
1. To paddle baits out further than I can cast them.
2. To fish the kelp beds just off shore.

With a large family, the budget is pretty tight, but I'm also cheap haha.
I'm not looking for the best, just something that can get the job done.
I've found a Cobra Navigator and an Aquaterra Prism both in my price range.
Are either of these boats decent platforms for fishing?
Thanks in advance guys!

[tacmik]

Get the navigator. Cobra makes a good yak.

[xjchad]

Get the navigator. Cobra makes a good yak.

Thanks! Hopefully I'll be able to check it out tomorrow.

[TheBentRod]

Of the choices, get the Navigator. It is a good starting platform. Just beware, you may like it and it is an expensive hobby. Although, much cheaper than a boat.

However, I have seen guys have great success with keeping it simple. 2 rods, some hooks, sinkers, plastics and jigs.


I miss those days:reel: Just fishing....

[goldenglory18]

Hi I'm Chad...I'm not looking for the best, just something that can get the job done.
I've found a Cobra Navigator and an Aquaterra Prism both in my price range.
Are either of these boats decent platforms for fishing?
Thanks in advance guys!

Hey Chad, welcome to the party.

Lots of great folks with volumes of info here. Best advice I can give is to read a lot and then spend as much time of the water as possible. Internet fishing only gets you so far...

As for the boat: Of the two you listed, the Cobra is the better platform. Although I will say that I was once a "Pro Staff" angler for a small Kayak Dealer in AZ and I never once suggested a Cobra over the other brands we had access to. I was just never really impressed with their products.

If you are comfortable with it, let us know what your overall budget is (there is a list of things one MUST to buy besides the boat itself) and we can recommend a path for you. Kayaks are just like anything else in the fact that you get what you pay for. Although enough of us have been around long enough to hopefully help you cut a few $$ out here and there.... :cheers1:

[Dave Legacy]

Sup, Chad? I got myself an entry-level kayak (Malibu Kayak) and although I often yearn for a fancier kayak it gets the job done fine. I'd go with the Cobra between the two.

[kayakfisherman]

Chad,
Don't buy the Navigator, it's too small and tipsy, you will regret it. If you want a Cobra, the FishnDive is the way to go. It's old school and a bit slow, but that shouldn't matter to you as a beginner.

The fish n dive is the perfect fishing kayak, and there's plenty of them out there for cheap, that is, less than $500.

You need a kayak that is no less than 32" wide, period. There are plenty of old school kayaks on the used market. Good luck. Yanni

[makobob]

Chad,
Don't buy the Navigator, it's too small and tipsy, you will regret it. If you want a Cobra, the FishnDive is the way to go. It's old school and a bit slow, but that shouldn't matter to you as a beginner.

The fish n dive is the perfect fishing kayak, and there's plenty of them out there for cheap, that is, less than $500.

You need a kayak that is no less than 32" wide, period. There are plenty of old school kayaks on the used market. Good luck. Yanni


2X-4X what he said^^^.