Best Fishing Kayak Under 1000 and 600 Dollars
There are lots of great fishing kayaks that you can buy for under 1000 dollars. There are less good fishing kayaks for under 600 dollars but there are a few.
You have to decide what bells and whistles that you want on your kayak. So you will want to have a decent platform to add the gear and accessories that you like. BUT the costs can be more than you might think.
An expensive best of breed pedal powered kayak can cost you over $3,500 before you rig it up with all of the accessories that you want. A best of breed paddle powered kayak can cost you $2,000.
I am a kayak fishing guide on the Treasure Coast of Florida and have been fishing the flats and mangroves all over Florida for more than 40 years.
In the article below, I will give you the pros and cons of the kayaks that I use for my fishing charters.
Watch the video below to learn about the best fishing kayak for under $1000.
There are lots of great fishing kayaks that you can buy for under 1000 dollars. There are less good fishing kayaks for under 600 dollars but there are a few.
You have to decide what bells and whistles that you want on your kayak. So you will want to have a decent platform to add the gear and accessories that you like. BUT the costs can be more than you might think.
An expensive best of breed pedal powered kayak can cost you over $3,500 before you rig it up with all of the accessories that you want. A best of breed paddle powered kayak can cost you $2,000.
I am a kayak fishing guide on the Treasure Coast of Florida and have been fishing the flats and mangroves all over Florida for more than 40 years.
In the article below, I will give you the pros and cons of the kayaks that I use for my fishing charters.
Watch the video below to learn about the best fishing kayak for under $1000.
The Ascend kayaks that I use for my kayak fishing charters are a Bass Pro Shop brand. I use the Ascend FS 128T and the Ascend FS 12T fishing kayaks. The FS 128T was $850 and the FS 12T was $550 during an after Christmas sale.
In my opinion, you do not have to spend a whole bunch of money on a sit on top fishing kayak that is not a pedal drive. If you want a pedal drive kayak, then you can expect to add $1000 to the cost.
What do you really need your kayak to do?
- You need it to float well with you and all of your gear in it.
- You need it to be comfortable for your body type.
- You need it to be stable enough so you don't fall out.
- You need it to be light enough to load and unload from your vehicle.
- You need it to have enough storage space on the deck or under it for you gear.
- You need a sturdy platform to build upon if you want to add electronics.
- You need it to be well built so it doesn't get holes or cracks in it.
The FS 128T is almost 13 feet long and easily floats some of my larger fishing charter clients. I have had clients that were 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 300 pounds. The kayak performed well and was able to keep decent speed when paddling.
This kayak also is easy for smaller people to maneuver. I have had petite women that could handle the FS 128T just fine too. In other words, this kayak will float and perform well regardless of your weight and body type.
This kayak is stable enough for me to stand up and fish from with some but not a lot of effort. However, I have surfed my whole life and probably have better balance than most. I would not suggest standing and fishing from this kayak unless you are very coordinated, have excellent balance and the water is calm.
The Ascend FS 128T weighs about 100 pounds. It doesn't seem that heavy to me but I can imagine that some people might struggle with its size when loading and unloading this kayak. The FS 12T is around 80 pounds. That 20 fewer pounds of weight might make all of the difference if you have problems loading and unloading your kayak. I will cover the FS 12T further down the article.
There is a ton of deck space and space under the deck to store your gear. You could definitely use this kayak for camping on some island somewhere or on some river. Some fishermen bring ALL of their fishing gear when they head out. If you are this person, then there is plenty of room for your fishing rods and accessories.
When I originally bought this kayak I thought that I would need all of the extra storage space BUT I never use the space in the hull. In hindsight, I should have only bought FS 12Ts for my kayak fishing charters. It would have saved me money and they are more maneuverable.
If you are going to rig up your kayak with electronics, then I would definitely suggest buying the FS 128T. That was my original plan and the in-hull storage space if perfect for your battery, switches and wiring if you want to add lights, trolling motors, bait wells, fish finders...
There are huge storage compartments fore and aft of the vessel. You have plenty of space for just about anything you want to bring on your fishing trip. There is a large storage space right behind your seat that is almost as big as the one in front of your seat.
Okay, that about covers the Ascend FS 128T. Now let's cover the Ascend FS 12T in more detail.
Watch the video below and learn about the best fishing kayak for under $600.
The Ascend FS 12T is the kayak that I like the best for inshore saltwater fishing. It has the qualities that I am looking for in a fishing kayak. I have caught everything from big tarpon down to little spotted sea trout from this kayak. I have fished it in 20 feet or water and 6 inches of water and it worked just fine for me.
Here are some of the things that I like about the Ascend FS 12T:
- It is a lot of kayak for only $550.
- It is very stable.
- It has plenty of deck space.
- It weighs only 80 pounds.
- It paddles and maneuvers well.
- It is a fish catching machine.
The one potential drawback is its limited in-hull storage space. If you are someone that wants that extra storage space to add electronics or just to bring a lot of gear with you, then you should probably spend the extra money and buy the FS 128T.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, the more expensive kayaks do not add enough value to warrant spending all of the extra money for them. Yes, the other brands that I have used do seem more sturdy. Maybe they are more structurally strong or made of some different materials but they are often twice the cost.
Some of the expensive ones look cooler than the Ascends do. They have multiple camouflage colors to choose from and are often more aesthetically pleasing. BUT again, they cost twice as much. The value added is just not there, in my opinion.
I will stick with the Ascend brand for my fishing charters and my personal fishing trips. My charter clients and I beat the hell out of those kayaks and they still perform just fine.
If you are into inshore saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing, then the Ascend kayak brand is a good choice for you. If you are fishing saltwater offshore, then you will probably need spend the extra money and get a pedal powered kayak.
*I am NOT sponsored by Ascend or Bass Pro Shops. I use the Ascend kayaks when I fish and I like them a lot.
Bonus Video--Kayak Fishing for Tarpon and Bluefish
Bonus Video-- Kayak Fishing for Spotted Sea Trout