Perception Pescador 12
My first kayak is a Perception Pescador 12 Sport from Academy. It looks like the one pictured with the addition of 2 fishing rod holders behind the seat. It was around $549. Now don't let the Big Box store name fool you because this is one of the best kayaks you can get for the money. There is a cheaper Pescador 12 from Academy for $499. I believe it's the same kayak with only 1 fishing rod holder instead of 2. I will readily admit the only reason I chose the more expensive model was because of the color.
Why The Pescador 12 is the Best Bang for the Buck
The Pescador 12 is a rebranded 2008 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. The Tarpon 120 is a popular kayak that costs close to double the Pescador 12. My understanding is that Perception and Wilderness Systems are part of the same company and share kayak molds or Perception has purchased the old molds from Wilderness Systems. Either way you are getting a top of the line 2008 model kayak for around $500.
Big Box vs Local Resellers
Initially, I expected to find a reseller close to the beach to rent or demo a kayak before purchasing. They gave me a lot of misinformation like the Pescadors were "junky" and "Made in China". The Perception brand of kayaks have been made in South Carolina for 25 years according to their website. Also, the cost to rent a kayak for a day was 1/5 the cost of the perception. With all that in mind, I decided to take a chance and buy one from Academy without trying. So far, I do not regret that decision.
How I Made My Choice
Salt Water Fishing
My ultimate goal is to salt water fish. The bigger the kayak the better when going into the ocean. All recommendations I've seen listed 12' as the minimum kayak size for ocean fishing. I will go on lakes as well and maybe even a few river trips but that is all secondary to hitting the salt. A longer kayak may be a bit better but I will also be rolling solo and have to take into account loading and unloading. I've found the Pescador to be almost to big to handle alone and I'm glad I didn't get anything bigger.
Price
I'm a complete newbie and I'm not particularly rich. I understand that there is a minutely remote chance I end up trying kayaking and then giving it up. I also have no idea what I'm doing. With some experience I can make a better, more informed choice on my next kayak purchase. With that in mind I wanted something a little cheaper I wouldn't feel bad abandoning. I'm also in a position where none of my buddies kayak at all. That means when I upgrade to something fancy (Hobie!) I will have a spare, quality kayak to loan to friends and family.
Quality
I don't consider myself a stingy person but I do spend a little extra time trying to find the best deal for big ticket items. With that said, I don't want to rely on a cheap piece of junk when I'm in the ocean. I would gladly spend double the cost of the pescador if I thought it wasn't a quality item.
Why The Pescador 12 is the Best Bang for the Buck
The Pescador 12 is a rebranded 2008 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. The Tarpon 120 is a popular kayak that costs close to double the Pescador 12. My understanding is that Perception and Wilderness Systems are part of the same company and share kayak molds or Perception has purchased the old molds from Wilderness Systems. Either way you are getting a top of the line 2008 model kayak for around $500.
Big Box vs Local Resellers
Initially, I expected to find a reseller close to the beach to rent or demo a kayak before purchasing. They gave me a lot of misinformation like the Pescadors were "junky" and "Made in China". The Perception brand of kayaks have been made in South Carolina for 25 years according to their website. Also, the cost to rent a kayak for a day was 1/5 the cost of the perception. With all that in mind, I decided to take a chance and buy one from Academy without trying. So far, I do not regret that decision.
How I Made My Choice
Salt Water Fishing
My ultimate goal is to salt water fish. The bigger the kayak the better when going into the ocean. All recommendations I've seen listed 12' as the minimum kayak size for ocean fishing. I will go on lakes as well and maybe even a few river trips but that is all secondary to hitting the salt. A longer kayak may be a bit better but I will also be rolling solo and have to take into account loading and unloading. I've found the Pescador to be almost to big to handle alone and I'm glad I didn't get anything bigger.
Price
I'm a complete newbie and I'm not particularly rich. I understand that there is a minutely remote chance I end up trying kayaking and then giving it up. I also have no idea what I'm doing. With some experience I can make a better, more informed choice on my next kayak purchase. With that in mind I wanted something a little cheaper I wouldn't feel bad abandoning. I'm also in a position where none of my buddies kayak at all. That means when I upgrade to something fancy (Hobie!) I will have a spare, quality kayak to loan to friends and family.
Quality
I don't consider myself a stingy person but I do spend a little extra time trying to find the best deal for big ticket items. With that said, I don't want to rely on a cheap piece of junk when I'm in the ocean. I would gladly spend double the cost of the pescador if I thought it wasn't a quality item.
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