I'm fairly new to this but been watching the forums for quite a while now. I just got a Tarpon 120 (used) From what I have heard Tarpons are a very good choice. Good luck to both of us!!

Read and learn. I am still new to this . But reading from all the post .You can see what works and what doesn`t. Before you go the wrong way with your kayak. Enjoying it a fun ride.

This is not directed at ANYONE:

What I've noticed is that what works well for 1 doesn't work for everyone. There is no 1 yak that is awesome from pond hopping to BTB rig fishing. That's why many say, "Paddle as many as you can before you buy"
Think it was Spiny that wrote: "It's all about trade offs"

It appears that anglers are making some better choices when it comes to selecting their kayaks. Hope that the advise some have offered has something to do with that. Today's kayaks offer more & keep getting, better n better. To be clear...If your not paddling the most expensive yak, it doesn't mean that your a lousy fisherman or can't catch a fish of a lifetime. If you don't have all the latest gadgets, bells n whistles, it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the sport. It's all about getting on that water & making that new experience, setting that hook, landing that fish & exploring new waters

Stay safe out there guys. This is the time of year that we start loosing anglers.

This^^^

My first kayak cost me $65.00. Second was $1300.00. The second kayak just slightly changed the way I kayak fish but DID NOT improve my fishing any. In fact I still have both and in the cheaper I've caught 2-1 fish over the more expensive. My biggest bass this year was in my cheaper kayak. All that being said my third will be more expensive and loaded with goodies.

Yep....It's not the yak that makes the fisherman. Find one that's comfortable for you and that works with your style. You can catch the same fish outta a $299 Pelican as you can a $1400 Hobie. I like a mid price range because they are usually overall well rigged with storage space and travel through the water well. With that being said, the different designs of yaks will vary and cause slight changes in the way they handle or stay on course. The lower profile will have a tendancy to not catch wind as bad, but you could get a bit wet in heavy winds/waves. The taller profile will keep you drier and have more of a side/stability lean angle, but will also catch more wind and potentially cause tracking issues on a windy day without a rudder. The hull design also has tendancies to add to or take away from paddle speed and depth of water one can travel in without getting out to drag the boat.

My advice is to go test some and then get what feels right to you.

My first kayak is a Pelican that I bought used for $150 with paddle and PDF it was basically new when I got it

Now that I've used it and figured out I really like kayaking I'm going to save up some money to get a better one

I really like the ones you can stand up and fish like the Jackson