Although I enjoy fishing from a kayak...I don't have one of my own and I know jack squat about the brands and accessories...I am a big guy (6'4" and 230lbs) so I think I would need a longer kayak? The kayaks I have used before seemed a bit too unstable for me to feel comfortable..What kind of kayaks are the best? What length and width? What kind of rod holders? Storage? Depth finder/gps unit capabilities? Fish box? Sorry a lot of questions but all responses are greatly appreciated!

I suggest you go to Heart of Texas Kayaks in Grapevine. They can take you and several yaks to the lake and let you test paddle them. That is the only way to know what is going to work best for you.

My wife and I both have Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT's. They work good for us but a lot of folks don't care for them. I'm 5-10 and 270ish and with the scuppers plugged I have a very dry ride.

I've gone out and bought a couple of yaks without test paddling them that just did not work for me. Therefore, I highly recommend try before you buy.

A bunch of us will be at HOT Kayaks next Thursady at 6PM for a get together if you want to stop by.

Oct. 29th (next Thursday)

Meeting at 6pm with food starting around 6:30ish.

The address:

701 E. Dallas Rd.
Grapevine, TX

About a half mile east of the Dallas/Main St. intersection.

Oh we're probably gonna fish before so PM me and I'll bring the wife's yak so you can fish with us if you want.

Jerry is spot on. You need to try em before you buy.

A longer yak does mean more buoyancy, but it does not necessasarily equate to a more stable platform. Lots of other factors involved. A wider yak like the Manta rays may be more of what you are looking for. Best to try as many as you can. Come out to the get together and pick the brains of those who have been down this road before.

Lots of advice and used kayaks for sale at:
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/

The "Try before you buy" is real good advice.
Buy from a kayak dealer not a sports store. You will get a lot better "fit" and service.
I hear good things about HOT kayaks.

I suggest nothing under 12 feet long for your size. Shorter kayaks have directional stability problems, they "wig wag" when paddled.
Get the high back seat, if you are planning on fishing from the kayak.
No 2 kayaks are rigged the same, get one that you can rig the way you want to fish.
Most people add some sort of cooler to carry fish and maybe bait in. I like the Coleman 28 quart with the handle. It is easy to carry in one hand and will hold most any fish I want to keep. (I let the bigger fish go.)
Get all of the hatches that are available on your model.
Get the rear rod holders installed. I have external rod holders aft.
Get the front rod holders installed to your specs, so that you don't hit them with the paddle, but can still reach them. You will probably want flush mount forward or maybe roddy's.
I have a 5 gallon bait tank that draws water up through the scupper. If you are serious about bait this sort of thing is an excellent option, but must be planned for.
Can't help you with FF or GPS, but I know they make portable units that seem to work well. Most people get along fine without either.
The paddle is just as important as the kayak. Get a good one to start with rather than getting a throwaway. It will save time and frustration. I have a 230 CM ONNO that weighs 23 Oz, I like it a lot, but it ain't cheap.
PFD is required. Get one that fits. You will also need a whistle.
You can easily add a night light later if you decide you want one.
You will probably want some sort of cart for getting back and forth to the water. Helps keep water out of the vehicle. You can build better than you can buy, lots of people have done just that.
You need to consider transport, bed, bed extender, rack etc.
If you are going to fish mostly lakes you may want to consider a Hobie with the Mirage drive. People who have them love them.
Things I think are important: kayak weight, capacity in weight and cargo, lateral and directional stability, speed, transportability, hatch seals and cost.

I'm 5' 10 and 220 and I have a Hobie Mirage peddling kayak. I think the kayak is great but the real priority is stability. My kayak is 12 feet long and 34 inches wide. The Cobra Fish N Dive is a kayak you may want to try. The longer and thinner the kayak the less stable in most cases.

Sorry this is not correct.
Longer or wider will increase lateral stability. Shorter or narrower decreases lateral stability.

If your using the kayak in rivers and bays then you dont want something to wide like a cobra fish and dive at 36" you want something around 29-31" wide instead. If your going out in the surf or beyond the breakers as some people call it then you want as wide as you can get for those rolling waves.

Thanks guys you are all a great help....won't be able to make it thursday but thanks for the invite.

Hot Kayaks have several rentals at the Grapevine shop. The rental rates are cheap and it's a good way to try out a yak before you buy.

Mariner Sails also does a demo paddle every Thursday at white Rock Lake. Just let them know what your needs are.

Stability is more of a function of hull design than length and width. Paddle first buy later. Generally if you have to plug the scuppers to keep dry, keep looking.

I am 6ft 240lb. I have owned a few kayaks. Started with:
1. Perception Illusion Fast, great storage, tracked well, not stable, wet
2. Heritage FishermanPro Way to small, wet
3. Caster 12.5 Great freshwater river fishing boat, not very good in surf, sometimes wet
4. Cobra Navigator good kayak, dry
5. Cobra Marauder better kayak, great storage, tracks well, fast, stable, dry
6. Cobra Fish n Dive. ok storage, 600lb cap., not as fast, does not track great but good enough,dry, the most stable kayak I have ever used. I fell like I could stand up on the kayak and do jumping jacks.Best all around