The 5 Best Inflatable Fishing Kayak: For 2 persons & More

So, you’re looking for the best inflatable fishing kayak, but you have no idea where to start your search.

And it’s an all too common problem people face.

This is why I’ve come here today to clear things up for you and start pointing you in the right direction. 

Finding the right dedicated inflatable fishing kayak for you can be challenging due to the number of options you have on the market.

To make things worse:

The best inflatable fishing kayaks tend to have different fishing features that could benefit you more, so in this article, we’re going to break everything down for you.

Sound good?

Great, let’s get it started:

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Reviewing The 5 Best Inflatable Fishing Kayaks

Advanced Elements StraitEdge Angler Inflatable Fishing Kayak

The StraitEdge Angler Inflatable Fishing Kayak is one of the top fishing kayak models manufactured by Advanced Elements. Unlike other inflatable kayaks, this one was specifically designed with the needs of an angler in mind.

It has five different chambers that provide plenty of room for the angler’s gear while still providing ample space to spread out and be comfortable. This inflatable kayak is designed for a single person, and when fully inflated, it only weighs approximately 41 pounds, which makes it easy for someone to manage and carry it to get it in and out of the water.

This inflatable kayak comes with a few excellent fishing features accessories that help to make it one of the best inflatable fishing kayaks available, like rod holders, an accessory mounting rail, a repair kit, and a carrying duffel bag that makes it easy to get the kayak where they need.

This model is designed to be able to carry up to 300 pounds, and it is important to note that this is this weight limit goes for the passenger and all of their gear, as well. Finally, this inflatable kayak has a lumbar seat that is meant to help with supporting the user’s back providing them with a comfortable sitting position for hours of kayaking and fishing entertainment.

Intex Excursion Pro Fishing Kayak

The Intex Excursion Pro kayak was designed for avid fishermen that need a rugged, long-lasting tandem kayak. It’s made with a solid three-ply PVC material which is lined with a polyester core. This makes the fishing kayak extraordinarily lightweight and resistant to abrasions. 

One of the great things about this inflatable fishing kayak is how adjustable it is. Everything is designed to be removable, freeing room in the kayak and making sitting down more comfortable. They also designed the kayak with removable skegs, making paddling in shallow water so much easier.

You’ll find a removable and adjustable mounting bracket at the center of the kayaks, which is perfect for adding extra accessories such as a GPS, fishfinder, or a swivel fishing rod holder.

Overall the Intex Excursion kayak can hold 400 lbs in weight and transport, two people, very comfortably, making it the perfect kayak for a fishing couple or a fishing buddy.

Sevylor Coleman Colorado 2-Person Fishing Kayak

The Sevylor Coleman Colorado tandem fishing kayak was designed to provide space for two people comfortably while keeping them safe. This is thanks to the extra protection given to the kayak from the extremely tough material used in the design.

To make the inflatable fishing kayak safer, they built the kayak with three separate chambers. The individual chambers allow you to stay afloat even if one section has a puncture.

It also comes with a pair of Berkeley Quick Set Rod Holders, which are easily adjustable to make your fishing experience more comfortable. On top of the two-rod holders, it also comes with two pole holders.

When you’re fishing, you need a place to store your paddles, which is why the tandem inflatable kayak comes with paddle holders on either side of the kayak. And to increase your storage options, they also include mesh storage pockets.

Elkton Outdoors Cormorant 2 Person Tandem Inflatable Fishing Kayak

The Elkton Cormorant inflatable fishing kayak provides enough space for you and your friend, with plenty of room for your fishing rods. Overall it comes with six rod-holders, two of which are full motion, two are vertical, and the last two are angled.

Thanks to all of these rod holders, you can participate in various fishing styles, including trolling. And thanks to the hard bottom, you can stand up and fly fish from the kayak very easily. 

It was built with remarkably high-quality materials, which feature an 18-gauge 1000D PVC with a thick tarpaulin and nylon cover. This offers the inflatable kayak ample protection against rips and punctures, including punctures from your fishing hook.

Storage was also a massive aspect of the design of the kayak. Elkton wanted there to be enough storage space for both anglers, which is why they have six mesh storage compartments that strap to your kayak.

Elkton Outdoors Steelhead 130 Fishing Kayak

If you’re looking for a kayak from which you can easily stand up and catch fish, the Elkton Steelhead is the perfect inflatable option. It features a solid drop stitch floor that allows you to stand up and offers protection against hooks.

Dotted around the kayak, you’ll find five hard mounting points, which you can use to hold your rods, fish finders, bait trays, and much more.

The Elkton Steelhead kayak can seat one person inside and hold 400 lbs in weight which is more than enough for all your gear and much more.

To ensure your kayak doesn’t suffer from abrasions or punctures, they used extremely strong materials. It’s made with a 1000D reinforced layered PVC, so it bounces off any obstacles that get in its way.

Our Top Choices

Best inflatable fishing kayak for 2 persons

Best inflatable fishing kayak for 1 person

How To Choose The Best Inflatable Fishing Kayak

Kayaks have been used for fishing for hundreds of years as a means of survival, but in today’s world, fishing kayaks are used for recreation.

And with tandem inflatable fishing kayaks taking the world by storm, I felt it would be a great idea to talk you through a few of the options available on the market.

But…

You’re probably wondering how I came up with my list of the best inflatable fishing kayaks?

Well, in this section, I’m going to be talking you through exactly how I made my decision to place the five inflatable fishing kayaks above on my list.

Let’s take a look:

Budget

One of the great things about inflatable fishing kayaks is you can find something to suit any budget. The problem is… you get what you pay for.

Most inflatable kayaks can cost anywhere between $300 to $1000. One thing you need to think about in regards to price is what features come with it.

The more money you spend on the inflatable kayak, the better its quality and the more fishing features it will have. 

For this reason, you need to find a balance between your budget and the features you need to fish successfully. 

Construction Materials

PVC kayak material

When it comes to inflatable kayaks, there are different types of materials that the industry has come to rely on to manufacture quality kayaks. Each one has its own unique set of properties that can work well in different situations.

Here are the three top materials that are used for making inflatable kayaks and some of their individual pros and cons:

Weight and Size Capacity

One of your key considerations when buying an inflatable fishing kayak is how much weight you can carry without the inflatable boat sinking.

You have to remember that fishing gear can be extremely heavy, and only the best inflatable kayaks will handle it.

Before buying an inflatable fishing kayak, try to estimate how heavy you and all your fishing equipment are. Once you work that out, you’ll know how much weight the kayak will need to carry.

That being said, I always like to overestimate how heavy my fishing equipment is, which is why I look for kayaks that can hold 400+ Lbs.

Self-Bailing System

There comes a time when you have to paddle through some rough waters where waves splash into your kayak.

And as you can imagine, this isn’t great for staying afloat or staying dry, which is why some people like to go for kayaks with a self-bailing system.

Self-bailing boats have small holes usually on the floor of the boat, which helps prevent the water from building up in the kayak.

But, there is a problem with a self-bailing system:

If you’re paddling on calm water or lakes, you might find that water starts coming through the holes. If you’re paddling on calm waters, you should make sure you have scupper plugs to ensure no water can enter your kayak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71EL2pNjTYM

Air Chambers

Let’s face it, one of the significant problems with inflatable kayaks is the thought of popping while you’re out on the water.

No one wants all their fishing gear sinking to the bottom of the river while you try to swim back to the shore. And this is why you should be looking for kayaks that have multiple air chambers inside the kayak.

The more air chambers your inflatable kayaks process, the more buoyant it will be. Not only will it be more buoyant, but if one of the chambers punctures, you’ll still be able to stay afloat.

So, if you’re not a strong swimmer or you have the expensive gear you don’t want to lose, then you should look for a kayak with a minimum of three air chambers.

Having the extra chambers will save you from swimming if a rock punctures your kayak while you’re paddling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILgf6w0KNr4

Transportation & Strorage 

One of the best things about inflatable fishing kayaks is how easy they are to transport and store. But the thing is:

They all come in different weights and sizes, which is something you have to consider before you make a purchase.

Make sure the kayak isn’t too heavy to lift in and out of the car without straining yourself.

And finally, make sure you have enough room in your car/garage to store the kayak

Extra Fishing Accessories

The last thing I want you to consider when buying your inflatable kayak is what fishing accessories come with it. But what type of accessories should we be looking out for?

For me, you should be looking for a variation of rod holders so you can take part in different styles of fishing. Another great thing to look out for is paddle holders, which keep your paddle secure while you’re fishing.

But…

The most important thing you should be looking for when buying an inflatable fishing kayak is, does it come with a quality air pump?

With a quality foot pump, you’ll have no problems pumping up your kayak on the side of the river so you can get on the water quickly.

The last thing you should note is that not all quality kayaks come with quality accessories, so it’s worth doing some research before purchasing.

Frequently Asked Questions