The Jackson Liska and the Bonafide RS117 are good looking new models. Any thoughts/comments/alternatives any one want to share? I weigh 225 lbs and want to paddle with good stability. Thanks.

Bonafide is prob ok is super smooth conditions but the seats are so high, that coupled with how bad they perfom in the wind....any wind would make it a no go for me. Not familiar with that model of jackson. There is a really great boat on the classifieds, its a wilderness commander. Nice price and really stable with lots of room and a lawnchair type seat. If i could afford it at the moment id jump on it.

What kind of water to you plan on fishing?
You might want to go to Jackson kayak site then products -> Fishing kayaks.
This will bring up a page, Jackson Fishing Kayaks, comparing their fishing kayaks.
Shows length, widdth, weight, capacity and grades for water types and characteristics like speed, manuverability, standability, tracking.
You can click on ones of interest to see more about them.

You can demo the Jackson kayaks at Mountain Sports in Arlington which has other brands as well or through Kayak Instruction Inc at Paddle Point Park on Lake Ray Hubbard where you can also do rentals.
Have you checked out the coosa hd, cuda hd and mayfly?

I have the Jackson coosa hd and love it. Very stable, lots of room and track. I can not say enough about the seat, I fish 6 -7 hours in it with no back pain. For its size and width speedy and maneuvers pretty good.
Adjustable seat helps with manuverability and wind.
You can't go wrong with a Jackson.

Flat water (Coves, Small Lakes, Rivers). The Liska is a replacement for the Cuda.

The Cuda HD is a premium boat, the Liska is a value boat. The Liska sure doesn't replace lthe Cuda HD. The Liska is also more like a munchkin Mayfly. While the Mayfly is marketed as a fly fishing boat, it makes a nice bass rig. ,

What does "value boat" mean to you? For me a Hobie PA 14 is a value boat compared to a 21' Ranger. A $4000 kayak is a value compared to a $95K bass bass boat. They are different animals.

There are boats out there that will get you where you want to go for just over $500, there is a bunch of boats in the $1000 category and and $1500 category.

It's really less about what you spend on the boat and more about what YOU do with your purchase.

By the way the Jackson Mayfly and the new Big Rig looked very nice indeed. The Bonifide SS127 is a nice boat. It's still less about nice boat and what you do with it. Tell us what type of water you plan on paddling and what your expectations are for your new kayak. NO boat does everything well.

Pick the type of water you plan on fishing in the most and start there. Just remember this isn't your last Kayak, it's just your next kayak.

Check out a used kayak. You can usually get one used for at least 1/3 - 1/2 off retail
I have a 115x wilderness that is very stable.