Any of yall use it. I was told it is very close to tarpon 120....... Thinking about buying one...... any input greatly appreciated

It's the older model tarpon, pre-2009. One of the best all-around kayaks ever made.

All of the info I can find online is good. I think I'm gonna buy it I will let yall know how I like it. I have had yaks before....... wish I could find a cobra fish n dive for that price. Used to have one and that was one great yak

Just remember that the Cobra FnD is a completely different yak when compared to the Perception.

Yea much narrower........

Ok...... So if it was between the 12 foot perception pescador, the bass pro ascend 12t, or an ok drifter which one would you choose and why? For the money it seems like you get a lot more yak with the ascend or the perception but maybe I am overlooking something. This is going to be for fishing in Galveston and Matagorda bay complexes with trips to the surf ocasionally for yaking out big rods.

this it?
Clicky

yep at academy they are 499

Or is there another one I should be looking at.... I am trying to stay under $600

in that case the question id be asking: how does it handle in ruff water? her's the thing, most times you dont plan on being in ruff water. it just happens.

the Ocean Drifter is only a $100 more at $599.

i believe the Percep Caster Angler 12 & the Pescador are nearly the same. I was under the impression that they were discontinued.
Maybe Academy & Perception worked out a deal cause Dicks stopped stocking them & they were telling people they were closing them out. I owned one & took it back. they might still have a few somewhere but they were $400 last time i saw them at Dicks. if i remember the Caster Angler 12 was around 31" wide but wasn't as stable as a 31" should be and took a lot of water over the front in just a lil choppy water. Ocean makes a better product than Perception IMO. the nose of their kayaks curve up to prevent the water from coming over the front. their yaks are designed for big water. they handle creeks and rivers with ease. Drifters are jr's to the +$800 Ocean Prowler Big Game. I know this because im looking at them as my next yak and currently own 1 ok drifter myself.

i think the FnD by Cobra is one of the best.
IMO these are the top of the list in no order:

COBRA KAYAK - Mentioned
OCEAN KAYAK - Mentioned
MALIBU KAYAK
HOBIE KAYAK
WILDERNESS SYSTEMS KAYAK- Mentioned

have also been impressed with the Diablo and Jackson Coosa. although i haven't paddled them yet. a lot less will get you on the water.

PM me. I can help you with what others will be saying about handles & seats on the Ocean Kayak line. I'M NOT A REP for OCEAN in ANY WAY shape or form.

i have a perception pescador 12. i got it from gander mountain for $450 and they threw in a new seat and anchor. i found it in the back of the outside warehouse area and it was covered in dust. i think i made a good deal. iv used it 4 times now and once in very rough water. water would come over the front of the yak in rough water but it handled as well as i would expect it to and is plenty stable. i wouldnt try to stand it in and cast though.. my biggest complaint is the dry storage hatches are not seperated so you need to get the dry bag inserts.

now there's an honest review!!!

correction: perception caster 12.5

I have to disagree with certain aspects.

The Perception Caster and Pescador are not even close to being the same design. The Caster, as you accurately described, wasn't very stable for being 31" wide and was a very wet kayak due to it's zero rocker. Frankly, It was a poorly designed kayak. In fact, I believe they only produced the model for 2 years before they pulled them from their dealers. The current Tarpon 120 was redesigned for the 2009 season, so the older model got re-branded (remember Confluence Waterports is the parent company of both Wilderness Systems and Perception). The Pescador has more rocker when compared to Caster. Even though the Pescador is just 28" wide it felt to have the same stability as the Caster. Like I mentioned previously, the Tarpon 120 & 140 were probably some of the best designed fishing kayaks ever made.

The Drifter is not the junior of the Big Game. The Drifter has been around much longer than the Big Game, which was released around 2004 (I think). The Drifter and Big Game are nearly identical in length, with the Big Game being 2" wider. The Drifters bow is rounded and angles up like a ballooned surf board. It doesn't really cut through the waves more as rides up on top of them. The Big Game is more of a widened Prowler 13. It's bow design is designed to cut through waves. The Big Game has a more prominent keel, so it does track a little better. Both yaks aren't than much fun to paddle in windy situations, but if I had my choice, I'd take the Drifter over the Big Game.

If I were making a list for brand quality from the big boys:
1: Hobie (use a bit more plastic and the best customer service)
2:Tie - Confluence Watersports, Legacy Paddlesports, Johnson Outdoors, & Cobra
3: Malibu

All manufacturers make solid kayaks. It just depends on your style of fishing and where you plan to mainly use your kayak. Hobie gets the nod in customer service which is also important to factor in.

Obviously, we all have our opinions when in comes to which kayak is best. But my comments on design are easy to notice if you take a look at profile pictures of each of those 4 kayaks mentioned.

neumie is correct. the perception pescador 11 & perception caster 12.5 are not the same yaks. thanks for weight in again. your knowledge & opinions definitely add value. hope i comfuse you too bad Rusty. looking forward to meeting ya neumie PM Sent