Many anglers struggle with the choice between sit-inside and sit-on-top fishing kayaks. Both options are readily available to the modern-day kayak angler. Choosing between the two will be easier if you understand the pros and cons of each fishing kayak style.
For reference, I’d like to tell you about some of the resources I’ve used over the years as I learned about kayak fishing:
In print, Kayak Fishing Fun has been a great magazine for learning about techniques, gear, and kayaks in general.
Online, Kayak Angler Magazine has been extremely beneficial in learning firsthand from the experts’ mouths.
YouTube has a few very knowledgeable kayak anglers (Like Robert Fields & Kristine Fisher) that break down the skills and resources that you may need to develop your own proficiency.
What is a Sit-In Kayak
Sit-In Kayaks are hollowed-out kayaks with an open port that allows you to sit in a semi-enclosed compartment. They are the more traditional style kayak. The Sit-Inside kayaks offer a sleeker, more streamlined profile. Sit-in kayaks are also called open-cockpit kayaks.
What are the advantages of a Sit-Inside Fishing Kayak?
- The open-cockpit kayak provides more storage. You can pack your camping, hunting, and fishing gear for that week-long trip down the Rio Grande or other scenic fishing routes.
- Sitting inside the kayak provides protection for the lower half of your body. This helps reduce sunburns and provides warmth during colder fishing trips.
- The below deck seating position lowers the center of gravity making the overall vessel more stable when leaning, paddling, and maneuvering sharp turns.
- Sit-Inside kayaks use less material which makes them significantly lighter and easier to carry.
- Average prices tend to be lower than equivalent sit-on-top fishing kayaks which makes them more economical.
What are the disadvantages of a Sit-Inside Kayak?
- Most Sit In Fishing Kayaks have less comfortable seats than Sit On Fishing Kayaks.
- Anglers are notorious for wanting to spread out their gear as they re-rig and dispatch their catches. Sit-In Kayaks offer significantly less space for spreading out and working on your gear.
- Getting in and out of the Sit In kayak can present a significantly steeper learning curve and present some mobility limitations to that process.
- Casting, especially with baitcasters, can be difficult due to how close to the water you are sitting. The low position also makes sight casting a discouraging challenge to many newer anglers.
- A capsized Sit In Kayak can fill with more water, more quickly, than a Sit On kayak. It will be more difficult to upright. This also means it’s more difficult to get back into when ejected. Most of these users find that they have to drag their kayak to shore before they can upright their kayak and get back inside.
What is a Sit On Kayak?
Sit-On-Top kayak has a sealed cockpit and requires the user to sit on top of the vessel. They create a stable platform by using a wider base. Sit Ons are the more popular choice for anglers in warmer weather and calmer waterways.
What are the advantages of the Sit On Top Kayaks?
- The Sit On Kayaks are some of the widest kayaks on the market today which makes them very stable and easy to stand on. This position allows for sight casting or fighting those larger fish.
- They are considered self-bailing in that they have scupper holes that typically funnel the water off the kayak.
- It is relatively easy to get in and out of a sit-on-top kayak, including when you are far from shore.
- Fishing gear can be spread out across the deck allowing for more accessories as well as more working space.
- The popularity of sit-on kayaks has broadened the market to such a degree that almost any combination of desired features can be readily located.
What are the disadvantages of the Sit On Top Fishing Kayaks?
- Sit On kayaks are easier to flip when in ruff waters. The higher center of gravity leads to a more drastic pendulum effect in strong waves and currents.
- There is no shelter from the cold in winter weather.
- It is significantly harder to stay dry (water dripping off the paddle, splashes coming over the sides onto the deck, etc.)
- Water can soak the underside of the gear when it comes up through the open scupper holes.
- Sit-on-top kayaks are typically harder to track and require more effort to propel than sit-in kayaks.
Which is the best kayak for fishing?
Spend enough time on social media and you’re going to hear the standard arguments:
- No kayak is worth fishing in unless it’s a paddle kayak;
- Only a sit-on kayak should be used for fishing;
- If you spent less than $1,500 it’s not a real fishing kayak.
Well, I’m here to tell you, there are hundreds of kayaks out there and most can be sufficient or even perfect for fishing depending on your goals. Remember to check out 7 Steps to Choosing the Right Kayak for a rundown on the basics when choosing the kayak that’s right for you. If there are 3 key takeaways I’d want you to understand when being confronted by these naysayers, it’s this:
1: Almost any kayak can be set up to handle fishing as long as it’s designed for the type of water you’re in and the required weight you’ll be carrying.
When you’re on a larger boat, the minor details about weight don’t stand out as much. On a small kayak, though, every ounce matters. To determine the weight you need available you’re going to have to do a little math. How much do you weigh (dressed the way you dress for fishing including PFD, safety whistle, etc.)? Now weigh your full tackle bag? How many rods are you going to be carrying (total weight of those rods)? Are you taking a fishing net? Do you have an anchor or brush guard with you? How about water, snacks, or an ice chest? What does the kayak weigh (most manufacturers advertise weight capacity without subtracting the weight of your kayak)?
If your kayak’s weight capacity is 450 lbs and your kayak weighs 53 pounds, this means you have 397 pounds available for yourself and your “add-ons.” if the kayak’s weight has not been factored into the capacity advertised.
A lot of guys will laugh and claim you’re overthinking the process. Remember, these are the same guys that are going to be posting follow-up discussions about how they are taking on water while they’re out fishing with no explanation as to why they can’t keep the water below the level of the scupper holes. These are the same guys that will give long, drawn-out rants about how they are fighting with the manufacturer for a full refund because their kayak is unstable and dangerous after adding anchor trollies, trolling motors, fish finders, storage bins, and multiple other products to that kayak.
If you keep these factors in mind, you’re going to be the angler that coasts on by, standing to sight cast, as you drift along the current while he is sitting on the floor of his kayak, putting every bit of muscle strength into each paddle pull just to get his bathtub to move a couple of inches.
2: Choose the kayak whose specs best suit the type of water you’ll most frequently be kayaking in.
A bulky, heavy, slow-moving ocean kayak is going to be cumbersome and awkward to maneuver through narrow rivers and shallow creeks.
Likewise, a streamlined creek kayak is going to be tippy and overly sensitive in large, open bodies of water like the ocean and the Great Lakes.
You are going to want to pay close attention to the specs offered by manufacturers for this. Landon, from that fans group you joined may know a friend with a cousin whose sister-in-law always goes out on her Vibe Sea Ghost regardless of what waterway they’re fishing. And she may very well love it, but you will never know what she went through to learn to handle that one kayak in all water terrains or if she even exists.
3: Brand loyalty is a very real thing.
– Now let me remind you, as I have said in many past articles, I am not sponsored by any products being discussed in this article. –
I started kayaking with a few different brands. When comparing features with cost and performance, I became a huge fan of Pelican. In total, I’ve owned 6 different Pelican models now. I’ve also owned Bonafide, Feelfree, Perception, and others. Each kayak has been a great option for one reason or another. As an educator determined to help every new adventurer find her path into the great outdoors, I am responsible for being as impartial as possible when discussing these various brands and products. This is why I must caution you that not everyone has the same obligation. You must be cautious with the opinions you take as fact on the internet. Brand loyalty is a very real thing for most people, especially anglers. I make a concerted effort to vet every specialist I learn from and I strongly encourage you to do the same thing. Opinions are good, but should never fully replace the tested reality of specs verified by multiple reliable sources.
