Pau Hana means “quitting time” in Hawaiian. With the Big EZ Angler standup paddleboard hanging in the garage, I couldn’t wait to get off work, run home, grab the board and hit the water.
The Big EZ Angler is a beautiful paddleboard featuring real teak in the deck and tough epoxy construction. Stylish foam padding on the deck is easy on the feet and easy on the eyes.
Turning the Big EZ Angler from after-work quickie to weekend warrior is a snap thanks to 22 Seamount attachments. These countersunk threaded fittings accept RAM Mount balls and other accessories—simply screw in the accessory and hand tighten.
Since the mounts are peppered across the board, I can move accessories around or add and remove them depending on how I plan to fish. I even used the mounts to strap down my rod and gear for a trip through the surf. For longer excursions, I also add four tie-down loops to strap in my YakAttack BlackPak, a GoPro mount in the bow, a Ram GoPro base, a crate, rod holders and cameras.
The board can also be fitted with a chair, cooler and navigation light. For the ultimate in night fishing, the Big EZ is set up to accept NOCQUA’s LED system. There is even a Wavejet version that is powered by a rechargeable jet motor.
On flat water, the Big EZ Angler tracked well with the single 10-inch center fin. The board is so steady I could move towards the bow to paddle into a headwind, and slide to the tail when cruising with a following sea. It tackled skinny water and the rough stuff equally well with enough volume to carry plenty of tackle and gear.
The hull is long and wide for rock-solid stability. I could walk from nose to stern with barely a bobble. And I was able to paddle through a hefty quartering wind and hearty current. A 32-inch-wide model is also available for more efficient, but less stable, long-distance touring. The Big EZ Angler is a board for a serious angler and serious boarder looking for the ultimate standup fishing vessel.
This article first appeared in the Early Summer 2015 issue of Kayak Angler magazine. For more great kayak fishing content, subscribe to Kayak Angler’s print editions and digital editions, download issues on your device or view this issue for free on your desktop.
