Boat Review: Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128

You’ve seen the social media memes featuring an AI-generated image of a fishing kayak with outboard motor, trolling motor, 10 fish finder screens, 20 fishing rods, RADAR dome, microwave oven and mini-fridge. The caption reads: “I like kayak fishing because it is simple.”

This meme is targeting the Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128. At almost 13 feet long and 38 inches wide, and weighing 150 pounds with an 800-pound capacity, the TP128 is designed for all the bells and whistles—not including fridge and microwave. While the internet pundits poke fun at modern full-feature fishing kayaks, I celebrate a boat providing a platform for the latest trends in kayak rigging and fishing.

Boat Review: Wilderness Systems Tactical Pro 128

Backstory

In the nuclear arms race to create kayak fishing’s future, Wilderness Systems engineers have always volunteered to be the test pilot. From the earliest days of the sport, Wilderness Systems’ best ideas have transformed fishing kayaks. The Tactical Pro 128 continues Wildy’s commitment to creating the next great fishing kayak.

Full-feature, motorized kayaks are all the rage for both experienced and newbie anglers. Experienced kayak anglers want to go farther and faster than a paddle or pedal boat. And motorized kayaks attract a new class of kayak angler looking for an easy way to go fishing without the hassle and expense of a motorboat.

Wilderness Systems leaned all the way into the category with the TP128. Able to accommodate two motors, two fish finder displays, live sonar and a ton of gear, the Tactical Pro is more motorboat than kayak. Just the boat many anglers want.

Design and Layout

Every aspect of the TP128 is geared toward motors, electronics, storage and comfort. The pontoon hull provides maximum stability and capacity. To support a bow-mounted trolling motor and battery, Wilderness Systems exaggerated the bow pontoons to provide maximum volume for extra flotation.

The stern half of the hull flattens out to provide rock-solid stability and tons of capacity for angler, gear, batteries and stern power. A drop-down skeg in the stern also improves tracking while under trolling motor power.

The wide hull supports an expansive topside for storage, rigging and fishing space. The bow has a reinforced space to mount a trolling motor and a bow hatch large enough to fit a full-size battery and gear.

The front of the cockpit is occupied with a console track with space for two large fish finder. Below the console, two large hatches open to a storage space for electronics or tackle.

Horizontal rod holders are molded into the gunwales of the boat along with storage cubbies. Behind the seat, a waterproof hatch fits a second full-size battery.

The crowning achievement is the TP128’s swivel seat. I love a seat that turns 360 degrees. I can fish in any direction, reach gear in my crate and dangle my feet over the side. Best of all, I can angle the seat to easily climb in and out of the boat. The seat also slides forward and aft to balance the boat.

Rigging

Outfitting the TP128 is the fun part. As soon as I received the boat I contacted friends at Garmin who set me up with the new Force Current motor and 10-inch Echomap Ultra 2 fish finder/GPS with LiveScope live sonar.

Rigging the kit required about a day-and-a-half. Adding the Garmin Force Current motor was the easiest part. The TP128 is pre-drilled for a standard motor mount pattern. The boat has a high-impact plastic reinforcement plate under the stern. I added a Garmin Force Current Stern Mounting Plate to the topside of the transom and bolted on the Garmin motor mount.

To connect the power, I ran the Force Current power cable in the through-hull access plate with a YakAttack GridLoc Through Hull Wiring Kit to a Norsk Lithium 24-volt, 60 amp-hour battery in the compartment behind the seat. I installed the Garmin foot pedal controls using the pre-drilled holes in the cockpit. The wireless controls made rigging quicker and easier.

Adding electronics was easy. The hull has a transducer pocket with a scupper running to the cockpit. I simply bolted the transducer in the pocket and threaded the transducer cable through the corresponding access plate using a small YakAttack GridLoc.

For the LiveScope transducer, I used a Railblaza Hexx Live Pole, which is easy to install and operate. The simple setup is quick to lift and lower the transducer. When I’m not fishing, I can easily remove the pole from the mount. I routed the LiveScope transducer wire through an access plate below the seat.

I attached the Garmin Echomap Ultra 2 screen to the console gear track with a YakAttack LockNLoad Fish Finder Mount. The wires from the display pass through a YakAttack GridLoc.

To make the TP128 street legal, I added red and green Yak Power Button Lights to the bow.

I ran all the cables to the storage space at the front of the cockpit. The space is large enough to hold the Garmin Black Box, Yak Power 8-Circuit Bluetooth Switching System and Norsk Lithium 14.8-volt, 30-ah battery. The space not only provides easy access to the wiring, but also keeps the wires and components out of the elements.

How To Connect Electronics, Lights And Motors To Batteries

Performance

The TP128 is a big boat, with high sides and a long waterline. This design favors fishability over rough-water performance. Powered with the correct motor combination, the boat pushes through the water while maintaining maneuverability. It responds to slight adjustments in speed and direction and goes where I ask it.

The Garmin Force Current confidently pushed the big boat through the water. When it was time for fishing, the motor accurately maneuvered the TP128 while the anchor lock held the boat in place.

I’ve been using the Force Current for several months of hard fishing for winter speckled trout. The motor operates as advertised. My cruising speed is between 3.5 and four miles per hour at 75-percent capacity with a five to six miles per hour top speed. The handheld remote control has become second nature and the wireless foot pedals allow hands-free operation. I’ve already run the motor hard aground and crashed through wood and rocks.

The Garmin Echomap Ultra 2 ties in with the Force Current; I can control the motor through the display, my smartphone app or a Garmin watch. The 10-inch display is big enough to see across the expansive cockpit. Garmin’s LiveScope and sonar images powered by the Black Box are bright and detailed. The touchscreen made it easier to learn how to use the electronics and sonar.

Who Should Buy the Wilderness Systems TP128

The TP128 is for anglers who are looking for unlimited fishing potential. Wilderness Systems designed the boat for the current and future trends in kayak fishing. The considerable capacity and immense platform provide space to support the wildest outfitting and rigging concepts. Maybe those memes aren’t so funny.

Tactical Pro 128 Walkthrough from ICAST:

Driving into the future of kayak fishing. The Tactical Pro 128 pulls no punches. | Feature photo: Patrick Hayes