5 Best Fishing Kayaks in 2024

Any fisherman knows how expensive it can be to go out fishing on a boat. Often, you need a few thousand dollars to be able to purchase a decent boat in the first place. After that, keeping up with registration, gas, and engine and hull maintenance can add up as well. Boat fishing is certainly no cheap endeavor, but if you’re willing to go in something much smaller that can hold only a single person, you might be able to get with boat fishing on the cheap. If you haven’t guessed already, we’re talking about fishing kayaks. Spend a couple hundred dollars on a fishing kayak, and you can hit the lake in peace for your morning or afternoon of fishing. There’s no registration needed, and definitely no engine maintenance, as kayak’s are manually operated.

---

At A Glance: 5 Best Fishing Kayaks in 2022

• Lifetime Muskie Angler Sit-On-Top Kayak with Paddle, Tan, 120"
  Our Top Pick
• BKC UH-TK181 12-foot 5-inch Sit On Top Tandem 2 Person Fishing Kayak with Paddles
• SUNDOLPHIN Sun Dolphin Journey Sit-on-top Fishing Kayak (Olive, 10-Feet)

---

We recommend fishing apps, such as Fishbrain, to complement your fishing experience. It will help you find the next big catch faster.

So, if you’re looking to get started with a fishing kayak, be sure to follow along below. We’ll show you the best available right now!

Best Fishing Kayaks

1. Tamarack Angler 100

First on the list, we have the Tamarack Angler 100 by Lifetime. This kayak was designed to house one person, as it only has one adjustable padded seat. There are three fishing rod holders, two that are side-mounted, and then another one that is top-mounted. There’s actually two 6-inch cargo compartments in the Tamarack Angler 100 — one front, and one rear. There’s side-mounted handles for easy transportation from your car to water. The Angler 100 actually comes with its own paddle, so you won’t have to buy that separately as you have to do with many kayaks. 

Buy on Amazon

2. BKC UH-TK181

If you’re going on a big fishing trip, you’ll want to check out what the Brooklyn Kayak Company is offering in the UH-TK181. This Kayak can seat up to two people, and can hold up to seven fishing rods. If you’re trying to catch a bunch of fish or one specific fish, these fishing rod holders will help you out. This is a sit-on top kayak, which is arguable much safer than the sit-in kayaks in the event that you topple over. The UH-TK181 comes in at 12-feet, has a secure cargo area, and even comes with the paddles, whereas many kayaks require you to purchase separately.

Buy on Amazon

3. Sun Dolphin 10ft Sit On Kayak

Sun Dolphin’s 10ft Sit On Top Kayak might be for one person, but it’s still a great kayak for going solo fishing. This kayak was truly designed for one person, as it’s lightweight and easy to carry due to retractable handles. That said, it shouldn’t be difficult to handle by yourself until you get it into some water. There’s three fishing holders on this kayak — two that are stationary, and one that is on a swivel mount. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a paddle, but it does have a secure cargo area for putting lunch, your phone or other belongings in.

Buy on Amazon

4. Sun Dolphin Excursion

The Sun Dolphin Excursion might be the last fishing kayak on our list, but it’s one of our favorite options. The Excursion is different than the rest on this list because it is a 10-foot Sit In kayak, not a Sit On kayak. There’s three fishing rod holders on this kayak, two that are flush mounted and one that is on a swivel mount. This kayak is super lightweight, so you shouldn’t have a problem carrying it from the car to the water solo. It has an adjustable padded seat and a storage compartment for your belongings while fishing.

5. BKC UH-TK219

The Brooklyn Kayak Company makes a three-person kayak as well. Dubbed the UH-2TK219 kayak, you can fit two people comfortably in this kayak, but it will hold a third. It only has five fishing rod holders in comparison to the UH-TK181’s seven. The kayak is rated for 440lbs, so if you choose to take more than two people with you, you’ll want to make sure you’re not exceeding that weight limit by too much. You get two large aluminum paddles with your kayak purchase, and there’s actually two secure cargo areas built into this one.

Best Fishing Kayaks Verdict

If you’re looking to go boat fishing, it doesn’t get any cheaper and lower maintenance than using a fishing kayak. With no engines to keep up with or gas to worry about, once you buy your kayak, you’re ready to hit the lake without any additional fees. What’s your favorite fishing kayak? Let us know in the comments section below.