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One of the greatest appeals of kayak fishing is its affordability and accessibility. While some anglers dive headfirst into rigging their boats with motors, shallow water anchors, electronics, and more, there are still many affordable options. After some discussions with the editors, we felt that drawing the line at $1000 is a good place to start when discussing affordable fishing kayaks. The next steps were to call in boats and start testing.
I spent the entire summer paddling and fishing out of five boats, all priced under $1,000. I traveled across the Southeast to fish different lakes and rivers and put these kayaks through the wringer. After months of testing, fishing, and making notes, we handed out three different awards for the best kayaks under $1000. Plus, a couple of other great options for kayak anglers. Here are our top picks.
Best Overall: Vibe Sea Ghost 110
Best Budget: Magellan Outdoors Pro Angler Kayak
Most Stable: Old Town Sportsman 106
How We Picked The Best Fishing Kayaks Under $1000
Over the summer, we reached out to nearly a dozen kayak manufacturers to see if they’d be able to provide their best sub-$1,000 boat for consideration. We secured five boats from Vibe, Bonafide, Old Town, Feel Free, and Magellan Outdoors. I began fishing out of these boats as they arrived, but eventually got all the boats together for side-by-side comparison. I brought all five boats to a buddy’s pond and spent time in each one. I paid close attention to how hard they paddled, how they tracked, and how you could customize each boat. We also considered factors such as weight and stability.
Best Overall: Vibe Sea Ghost 110
Specs
Length: 11 feet, 6 inches
Width: 33 inches
Weight: 84 pounds
Capacity: 425 pounds
Price: $999
Pros
Attached rudder
Customizable
Lots of storage, some watertight
Tracks well
Strong handles
Front paddle tuck storage
Cons
Stability
Foot pedals are a little flimsy
The Vibe Sea Ghost 110 took home the Best of the Test award. While this boat has many great features, the key difference-maker was the rudder. Most boats that cost less than a thousand dollars don't come with a rudder. The Sea Ghost 110 does. I was able to use the rocker-style foot pedals to turn the rudder left and right, allowing me to better control the boat's drift. This allowed me to make a few casts without having to pick up the paddle. And when the wind is at your back, all you have to do is control the rudder with your feet to stay on course.
There are essentially six covered storage options scattered throughout this boat. There are also long gear tracks, a protected cavity for mounting a transducer, a comfortable seat, and a bungee up front to stow your paddle while casting. For further customization, the rear tank well bungees are adjustable, and there are two gear tracks across the console for mounting graphs, rod holders, or whatever else you like.
However, this boat was in the middle of the pack in terms of stability. And I’m a little concerned with how well the rocker foot pedals that control the rudder will hold up over time. That said, a kayak with this many features could easily be priced higher. If you’re fairly nimble and like to fish lakes, ponds, and other calm fisheries, this is a great option. Due to the boat's stability and size, this wouldn’t be the best option for rocky creeks and swift rivers.
Best Budget: Magellan Outdoors Pro Angler Kayak
Specs
Length: 10 feet, 3 inches
Width: 30 inches
Weight: 63 pounds
Capacity: 325 pounds
Price: $699
Pros
Affordable
Good layout
Comfortable seat
Lightweight
Cons
Not as stable as some of the other models
No rudder
The Magellan Outdoors Pro Angler Kayak has strong, molded handles on the front, back, and both sides. There’s front and rear storage, with a hatch covering the front and a heavy-duty screen covering the rear tank well. There’s also a dry storage compartment in the deck in front of the seat, perfect for storing phones, keys, wallets, and other valuables. Simple bungees and hooks are used throughout to hold the seat in, the tank well cover on, and the paddle onto the side of the boat.
This kayak was near the bottom of the leaderboard when it came to stability, though, which is understandable given that it’s one of the shorter boats with the least capacity at 325 pounds. But it is harder to find a bigger band for your buck in kayak fishing. At $699.99, this was the most affordable boat of the test. It’s also the lightest boat of the test, making it a great throw-and-go option. If you want to dip your toe into kayak fishing without having to offer up a whole leg to do it, the Magellan Outdoors Angler is for you. This is a great entry-level fishing kayak, especially for young anglers.
Read our full review of the Magellan Outdoors Pro Angler Kayak here.
Most Stable: Old Town Sportsman 106
Specs
Length: 10 feet, 6 inches
Width: 34.5 inches
Weight: 71 pounds without seat, 77 pounds with seat
Capacity: 440 pounds
Price: $899
Pros
Very Durable
Stable
Stand assist strap
Cons
No rudder
Less bells and whistles
The Old Town Sportsman 106 was the most stable of the five boats I tested. I could rock back and forth in a seated position, and the boat would catch well before I could get the gunwale down to the water’s surface. I could also stand up fairly easily thanks to the stand assist strap on the front deck. The boat feels durable when you pick it up. Nothing on it gives or flexes. Even the foot pedals are beefier on this kayak.
Superb durability and stability are the key takeaways from my time on the water with this one. But I was a little disappointed by the lack of frills on this boat. While there is dry storage at the bow, there’s not an easily accessible storage option for items you want to keep dry and close to hand. There are minimal gear tracks on this, too. But the seat is fantastic, and the open deck and clean look may be preferable to some. If stability or having the ability to stand and fish are most important to you, then the Sportsman 106 is your pick.
Feel Free Moken 10 V2
Specs
Length: 10 feet
Width: 33 inches
Weight: 69 pounds without seat
Capacity: 440 pounds
Price: $799
Pros
Wheel in the hull
More affordable
Covered storage
Stand assist strap
Front and rear tank well
Cons
Not as stable
No rudder
The Feel Free Moken 10 V2 was a fine boat and performed fairly well. It was one of the more stable boats and had near-industry-standard features, including a two-tiered seat system, a comfortable seat, four sturdy handles, adjustable foot braces, four gear tracks, two flush-mounted rear-facing rod holders, and easily accessible front-deck storage.
It costs $100 more than the Best Budget winner, but lacks the rudder and a few other bells and whistles that the Best Overall boat has. The one key feature of this boat that really sets it apart is a wheel built into the rear of the hull. This is super helpful for transporting the boat down to the water.
Bonafide RS 117
Specs
Length: 11 feet, 7 inches
Width: 33.5 inches
Weight: 72 pounds without seat, 77 with seat
Capacity: 425 pounds
Price: $999
Pros
Stable
Removable hull access plate
Gear tracks
Strong handles
Front paddle tuck storage
Cons
No rudder
There is no runner-up award for the best overall, but if there were, the Bonafide RS 117 would win it. I was thoroughly impressed with the stability, maneuverability, and fishability of this boat during the testing. The layout is very versatile and offers customization options. Starting from the front of the boat, there’s a covered cavity in the bow that has a sleeve to hold your paddle. As you move to the deck, there’s a dry storage box for valuables, but still enough room for standing and casting. The RS 117 comes with a great seat, standard rear tank well, and removable rear access panel.
The feature that sets this boat apart is the pre-located drill holes for rigging. There are little dimples scattered around this boat to take all the guesswork out of where to drill if you want to add shallow water anchors, rudder systems, and more. If you’re looking for a customizable platform that’s stable and durable, the RS 117 is a strong contender. This would be a great boat to buy as is, and then modify over time by adding different accessories.
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