Hi all, Im relativley new to kayak fishing, I bought an ocean river "largo" (3.6m sot) a few months ago but Im disappointed with its tracking and speed. I fish both lake and sea, trolling, spinning & straylining for theo elusive big snapper...
Im now looking at a prowler 15....or maybe a scupper dive pro. Any suggestions??? Would be most welcome. (Im 5ft9 and 180lb) Cheers

Hi Alex,

The Largo is certainly not suitable to do the sort of fishing you mention. Calm water, short trips with minimal gear only. It's more a play boat with a rod holder added.

Much better choices would be the O.K.Prowler 15, O.K Prowler 13, O.K. Scupper Dive or Perception Swing.

The Swing & Scupper are moulded in N.Z. and easily available whereas I believe both Prowlers are imported into N.Z. in limited numbers at the moment.

You might like to ckeck out fishing.net.nz and go to their kayak fishing forum for a bit more local knowledge & help. You might even be able to arrange a test paddle of member's boats.

Hope this helps !

Alex, my recommendation is don't get any of the paddle only kayaks - get yourself a Hobie Outback/Outback Fisherman (if you can afford it - they are not cheap !).

These kayaks have the Hobie Pedal drive system which beats paddling hands down & they are absolutely brilliant for trolling and fishing with both hands while on the move - you won't get that with a paddleyak !

The pedal drive also allows you to go great distances without being an olympian paddler b/c your legs are so much stronger than your arms (unless you were built the other way around ?).

The Hobie forums on this site are a great place to look for info about the Outback. The boat is not without its idiosyncrasies but there are only a couple which really are a problem and all in all my opinion is that the pedal system more than makes up for any limitations in the hull. It is the best bit of kit I have bought for ages.

If you decide to go for one then let me know. If you are in Auckland you can get them from Boat Bits Takapuna.... don't know where else. If the price puts you off then there is a Hobie Mirage Classic currently for sale on Trademe - this isn't the same boat (no sail option and not set up for fishing) but it has the same pedal drive and that, believe me, is worth getting your hands (feet) on - you will be able to rig it with rod holders etc easily enough on your own.