In its infancy, kayak fishing was all about lightweight stealthy paddle crafts that provided anglers with a fairly inexpensive alternative to a flats skiff or bass boat. Many participated in the sport of kayak fishing while they saved their pennies to purchase the motorized version of the boat that best suited their style of fishing.
A funny thing happened as this niche form of fishing began to grow. More and more anglers began trading their gas-powered boats for those that are self-propelled. Many factors led to this trend; skyrocketing gas prices was the most prevalent reason, but crowded public boat ramps and ease and affordability of storage were also major factors. About a decade ago, as the paddle fishing community grew, manufacturers took notice and those basic kayaks that were originally modified by their owners began to come out of the factory as true fishing machines. This was also just about the same time that kayak anglers began to be treated to a multitude of kayak specific aftermarket accessories.
Not only did the kayak manufacturers, especially Hobie, look to add accessories to the standard sit-on-top kayak, they had the vision to build self propelled boats that actually served as replacements for their motorized counterparts.
Hobie’s Pro Angler series makes this a reality. The PA 14 and PA 12, featuring the Mirage Drive Pedal system have given anglers a self-propelled fishing machine capable of a multitude of uses in just about any fishing scenario. Whether you are targeting rockfish in Chesapeake Bay, hunting tarpon off the beaches in Florida, wrestling double digit Largemouth bass in Texas or poling the Carolina marshes searching for redfish, the Pro Angler has you covered. While you may not to be able to make a fifty mile run in a kayak, the versatility, affordability and ease of storage more than make up for the limited rage, although the Mirage Drive makes ten mile round trips a breeze. Not to mention that these boats have the flexibility of being able to launch from just about anywhere, a feature no gas powered boat possesses. With a set of the heavy duty plug in wheels, you will be able to roll your PA over almost any terrain and into a remote fishing location without that 50 mile run. Imagine no more waiting in line or worrying about getting a parking spot at the local boat ramp.
Many anglers often worried about comfort fishing from a kayak, but the new Vantage seating system provides the ultimate in comfort and lumbar support that will keep you on the water longer. The stability of the PA’s not only makes it easy to stand and sight-fish, but allows anglers to stretch their legs without having to head back towards land.
Finally, my favorite attribute of the PA is the Mirage Drive and the fact that it provides you with hands free fishing. A feature that even most of the slickest power boats cannot boast about. I always like to say that the more casts I make, the more fish I will catch and being hands free allows me to maximize the number of casts I make on every trip.
This is only one example of the major advancements in kayak fishing. It will be exciting to see what all the manufacturers have in store for the future.
Pedal on!
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