I’m a considerably big guy, 6’4” and 235 pounds. When I’m looking at a fishing kayak, there are two things I need to know. Does it have the capacity and stability to float me and my gear? And, easy to overlook, does it have space for me to stretch out? Every year I see incredibly cool new fishing kayaks roll out from my favorite brands, and these are the boats that stand out to me as the best for big and tall anglers.
Best fishing kayaks for big and tall anglers: Our top picks
- Bonafide PWR 129
- NuCanoe Unlimited
- Native TitanX Propel 12.5
- Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14
- Bonafide XTR130
- Crescent CK2 Venture
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Best big and tall kayak for cruising
Bonafide PWR 129
Bonafide PWR 129 Specs
Length: 12’9″
Width: 35″
Fitted rigged weight: 102 lbs
Capacity: 500 lbs
MSRP: $2,049.00
bonafidefishing.com
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Why I love it
The Bonafide PWR 129 was built to move efficiently and remain stable when rigged up with motors and electronics. Anyone who spends time watching fishing videos on YouTube will recognize the PWR 129 as Chad Hoover’s chosen boat. And you can see he has it loaded up with graphs, a motor on the bow and the stern. It’s got a high capacity, and it also has a stable hybrid-catamaran hull. You can see Chad standing up to bass fish in it.
Bonafide also has the PWR 129 rigging ready, meaning minimal drilling when you do go to add on a motor, fish finders, and any other electronics you plan to run.
Bottom line
The PWR 129 will keep you cruising no matter how much elaborate you plan to build it out.
Best for rigging on a budget
NuCanoe Unlimited
NuCanoe Unlimited Specs
Length: 12’6”
Width: 41”
Hull weight: 84 lbs
Capacity: 650 lbs
MSRP: $1,899.00
nucanoe.com
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NUCANOE AMAZON ECO FISHING SHOP
Why I love it
The advantage of the NuCanoe is not only 650 pounds of capacity, but also that it is really a blank canvas with a ton of track options. You really have more open deck space with the Unlimited than just about any other kayak, and you can basically walk the thing from bow to stern. And you literally could because the Unlimited is crazy stable even when loaded onto an edge. I’ve seen Brian Connolly who runs the NuCanoe shop in Bellingham stand on the gunnel of that boat and you’ll not fall on one side and not capsize it. You can do anything you want to with this boat, and it costs less than $2000.
Bottom line
The NuCanoe Unlimited provides usable deck space to fish from and rig up to your heart’s content.
Best pedal-drive fishing kayaks for big and tall anglers
Native Watercraft TitanX Propel 12.5
Native TitanX Propel 12.5 Specs
Length: 12’8”
Width: 40”
Fully rigged weight: 172 lbs
Capacity: 500 lbs
MSRP: $3,549.00
nativewatercraft.com
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NATIVE WATERCRAFT ECO FISHING SHOP
Why I love it
The Native TitanX provides a massive and incredibly stable fishing platform. The cockpit and standing area are confined centrally around the angler, similar to a Hobie. The TitanX also comes includes Native’s Propel Drive. This is a kayak for the angler who needs high capacity, and also knows they plan to build out their kayak extensively. Native has this kayak ready to rig, and integrated with quick access wiring, wiring hatches, battery storage and motor mounting plates.
Bottom line
The Native TitanX Propel 12.5 is ready for anything you want to rig to it, and here to put up a fight with the big dogs.
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 Specs
Length: 13’8”
Width: 38”
Fitted hull weight: 145 lbs
Capacity: 600 lbs
MSRP: $4,799.00
hobie.com
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Why I love it
The Hobie Pro Angler 14 has set the standard for years as the most stable big guy fishing kayak. Hobie was one of the first brands to make high-performance fishing kayaks, and they’ve really set the tone. Their high-end lineup hasn’t even changed much, and that is really saying something for the boats they’ve produced. The Mirage Pro Angler 14 is their flagship tournament boat, and the boat most big tournament anglers are fishing from. Not to mention it’s coming standard with MirageDrive 180 kick-up turbo fins.
Bottom line
Hobie has been holding down the high-capacity fishing kayak scene longer than anyone else and the Pro Angler is the boat tournament pros have been turning to for years.
For big and tall anglers seeking a monstrous boat
Bonafide XTR130
Bonafide XTR130 Specs
Length: 12’7”
Width: 40.5”
Full rigged weight: 45 lbs
Capacity: 750 lbs
MSRP: $2,949.00
bonafidefishing.com
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Why I love it
The XTR130 has a huge casting deck, which measures in at 24″ x 65”. This is a massive amount of space, that will have you wondering if you are on a kayak or a bass boat—the swiveling seat helps blur the distinction. Of course, it has the capacity to back it up its footprint, accommodating up to 750 pounds on it. Can you paddle the XTR 130? Sure. But this is a kayak not hiding its intention to be motorized.
Bottom line
The Bonafide XTR130 has monstrous deck space that will have you wondering whether you are standing on a kayak or a bass boat.
Best for the adventurous
Crescent CK2 Venture
Crescent CK2 Venture Specs
Length: 13′
Width: 35”
Weight: 85 lbs
Capacity: 600 lbs
MSRP: $1,749.00
crescentkayaks.com
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Why I Love It
The CK2 Venture is different than any other kayak you’ll find on this list. Why? Because Crescent has made it with the clear goal of adventurous fishing. It’s a 13-foot kayak, and it has a heavy capacity, but it’s a long-tripping boat. You aren’t necessarily going to go into a tournament with it, it’s the boat you are going to load up with camping gear. It can be motorized, but it is also narrower, so it’s an efficient hull to cover ground by paddling.
Bottom line
The Crescent CK2 Venture is the fishing kayak you load up for the weekend.
Education: Get Some!
Big and tall fishing kayak buying advice
Like I mentioned at the start of this article, there are two main points to consider when picking a fishing kayak that is going to work for big and tall anglers. First is whether it has the capacity to float you, your tackle, motor, and electronics with confident stability. The second is whether it has the interior space to stretch out and be comfortable for an entire day of fishing.
These baseline conditions also need to be considered alongside what you plan to do with the kayak, whether that is fish bass lakes, head out into big coastal water, or pack up the kayak for adventurous fishing.
Best brands for big and tall fishing kayaks
Why trust us
As part of the Kayak Angler team, it can be said my life revolves around kayak fishing. I’ve spent time in more kayaks than I can keep track of. I also keep up regular conversations with dedicated anglers across North America to hear their feedback on the capability of boats, including the kayaks shared in this article.
