The Best Fishing Kayak for Saltwater

The Hobie Outback is, in my opinion, the best saltwater fishing kayak. This fishing kayak has everything you need and only a few things you don’t. It strikes a perfect balance of speed, stability, and capacity, making it a top choice for anglers.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned angler, the Hobie Outback is designed to grow with your skills. It’s made of durable rotomolded plastic, which means it’s virtually maintenance-free.

After 5 years of heavy use and hundreds of fishing trips, my Hobie Outback continues to perform flawlessly. It’s completely transformed my fishing game, allowing me to catch more fish and enjoy the experience even more.

How Long Is a Hobie Outback?

Hobie Outback is 12 feet, 9 inches (3.89 meters) long. This length strikes an ideal balance between performance, stability, and storage capacity, making it perfect for a wide range of water conditions.

Why the Length Matters

The 12′ 9″ length provides excellent speed and tracking, whether you’re pedaling with the MirageDrive 180 or paddling manually. It’s long enough to handle calm lakes, inshore bays, and even moderate offshore conditions while maintaining stability and efficiency.

Storage Benefits

The Hobie Outback’s length allows for an expansive rear-deck area, ideal for securing gear like tackle boxes, coolers, and dry bags. Its impressive 425-pound weight capacity ensures you can carry everything you need for extended fishing trips.

Transport and Storage

Despite its length, the Hobie Outback is relatively easy to transport. At a fitted hull weight of 85 pounds, it’s manageable for solo loading onto a car roof rack or trailer. I transport my Hobie Outback in the bed of my Honda Ridgeline with a Bed Extender.

A Hobie Outback and Hobie Revolution stacked on top of each other in my Honda Ridgeline.

Is the Hobie Outback Stable?

The Hobie Outback is exceptionally stable, even in challenging conditions. I’ve fished from it in 2-foot seas and 10+ mph winds, and I have never once flipped it. The wide standing deck allows me to stand and cast comfortably all day, even in less-than-calm water.

If I ever lost my balance standing, I’m confident that the kayak would stay upright even after I fell into the water. The Outback really is that stable.

Is the Hobie Outback Expensive?

With an MSRP of $3,300, the Hobie Outback offers incredible value for anglers. It’s a “buy once, cry once” investment that outperforms many boats in back bays and inshore waters. Its stealth and casting freedom have allowed me to outfish boats on multiple occasions.

The price includes the MirageDrive 180 with Turbo Fins, which is a $900 value. While the drive requires occasional maintenance, it’s a small trade-off for the performance and versatility it provides. Once you have a mirage drive, you can switch it between different Hobie hulls. Meaning that if you ever plan on selling your Outback or buying a different Hobie hull, you won’t have to buy an additional drive and can save up to $900.

How to Store a Hobie Outback

Always store your Hobie Outback upside down.

The Hobie Outback is built to last, even in extreme weather conditions. I store mine outside on kayak stands wrapped in a tarp to protect it from UV rays. My Hobie Outback’s hull has held up to single-digit winters and 90-degree summers.

For proper storage:

• Keep the kayak upside down, resting on the gunwales.
• Clean and dry the kayak before long-term storage.
• Open the drain plug to allow airflow inside the hull.

The reason for storing your kayak upside down is to both allow water inside it to drain, and prevent rainwater from collecting inside. It also is to prevent the hull from warping. In the rare case of dents or deformities due to storing your kayak upright, you can fix them using compressed air and heat. Here’s a helpful video on how to repair kayak hulls.

Hobie Outback Fishing Kayak Key Features

Specifications:

• Length: 12′ 9″ (3.89 m)
• Width: 34″ (0.86 m)
• Capacity: 425 lbs (192.78 kg)
• Fitted Hull Weight: 85 lbs (38.56 kg)
• Fully Rigged Weight: 103 lbs (46.72 kg)
• Drive System: MirageDrive 180 with Kick-Up Turbo Fins
• Seat: Vantage mesh seat
• Hull Material: Rotomolded Polyethylene

Top Features I Love:

• Kick-Up Fin Technology: Automatically retracts fins when hitting obstacles, letting you navigate logs, rocks, and shallow water with ease.
• Wide Standing Deck: Perfect for standing while fishing and for carrying extra gear for camping or a long day of fishing.
• Guardian Transducer Shield: Protects the fishfinder’s transducer and makes installing a Lowrance fish finder quick and easy.
• H-Rail System: The H-Rails make standing up easier b providing a sturdy hand-hold. You can also fit a tackle box between them, and attach accessories to the integrated rails.
• Dual-steering Rudder: Having two rudder dials means I can switch-off from right-handed to left-handed, which is very useful when trolling with a fishing rod in my hand or making quick steering adjustments while fighting a fish.

A fluke I caught from my Hobie Outback. I love this kayak..

Conclusion

The Hobie Outback is a top-tier fishing kayak that offers the ideal combination of speed, stability, and comfort for saltwater anglers. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Outback’s innovative design, durable construction, and impressive features make it a standout choice. Over the past 5 years, my Hobie Outback has helped me catch more fish on countless fishing trips, during marathon days of up to 12 hours and covering distances as long as 8 miles.

Its 12′ 9″ length provides exceptional tracking and maneuverability, while its 34″ width provides stability and ample storage making it perfect for long days on the water. With features like the MirageDrive 180 with Kick-Up Turbo Fins, H-rails, and internal storage, its fully-loaded with all the features you need to have an enjoyable kayak fishing trip.