Hi, my name is Jason and I'm a yakaholic...

I should've known. I go through the same cycle with every new activity I find interest in. Let me rephrase that, it's the same cycle when I try a new activity and become addicted. First it was with mountain bikes, then surfing, and now kayaking/kayak fishing.

Step 1: Introduction to activity.
Step 2: Fall in love with activity - addiction begins.
Step 3: Dive head first and buy all the equipment to get me going within said activity while staying under a pre-determined budget that will only get me an entry level setup.
Step 4: Realize I should have just spent the extra money up front for the equipment that I really wanted.
Step 5: Find a great deal on the equipment upgrade.
Step 6: Sell entry level setup at a loss, thereby losing any savings gained from entry level setup and the great deal found on the upgrade.

With that said, here she is!

My new to me Ocean Kayak Trident Ultra 4.3 with upgraded seat and Lowrance Mark 4 fishfinder/gps combo.

Rigging plans were already in motion before I even picked it up and paid the man.

First thing was to clean up the yak. It had been stored outdoors for a few months and needed some TLC. Gave it a good scrub down, let it dry, then applied some 303 UV protectant. That stuff took away most of the sun fading that was present on the rotating hatch.

Next I took a small cutting board and bolted it to the center hatch utilizing the numerous threaded inserts (One of the best features of this kayak!)

Finally, I swapped the fish finders. I had a Mark 4 DSI is now on the Ultra 4.3 and the standard Mark 4 is on the Pescador 12 (which is for sale on sfbay.craigslist.org by the way).

Future plans include the install of a custom anchor trolley (parts are in the mail!) and eventually to install the rudder kit.

I can't wait to take this thing into the salt!!!

Rigging

After my maiden voyage at Quarry Lakes on March 9, 2014 I came to the realization that I needed to customize the Pescador a little to better suit my needs. The single Scotty rod holder up front was okay, but I wanted the ability to troll with two rods. The kayak does have two rear flush mounts, but I want to be able to see the rod tips and grab the poles easier when they go bend-o.

My solution:
-(2) 4" lengths of YakAttack GT90 gear trac
-(2) 4" lengths GT90 full back
-(2) Scotty 426 Side Slide Track Adapters
-(1) additional Scotty Baitcaster rod holder

I decided to cut the a small section of the foot peg rails to install the gear trac in the optimal position. The Scotty 426 side slide strack adapters allowed me to have a vertical Scotty base to mount the rod holders to. With the backing the setup feels solid.



With the two rod holders in place, next up was a depth finder. After a ton of research I decided on the Lowrance Mark 4 DSI unit. I wanted a unit with GPS and down scann imaging, for the price and features this unit cannot be beat. $150 shipped to my door! Finding a spot to mount the unit was easy. I used the existing Scotty base, used a RAM ball wedge adapter, and installed the RAM mount for Lowrance fish finders. This placed the unit at a nice height while still allowing use of the cup holder.

Trying to figure out the transducer was a little more difficult. I originally planned to do a DIY scupper mount using 3/4" aluminum flat bar. I had it rigged up, but could not get the transducer to stay in place. I then decided to fabricate an arm mount using the same 3/4" aluminum flat bar and attached it to the gear track.





I ran the cabling up the arm, laid it on top of the foot peg rails, and zip tied it in place. For cabling thru hull I used the Hobie thru hull wiring kit. I am extremely happy with the way it turned out. I can remove the transducer/mount and throw it in the yak during transport.



Other modifications:
-Velcro to attach my watertight plano box to the center console in the foot well.
-GT175 gear trac at the stern for a future GoPro mount and Scotty Sea-Light with flag and pole.

My first sit-on-top fishing kayak!

The Perception Sport Pescador 12.0 Angler. After looking at my budget and comparing all the kayaks within the price range, this was a no brainer. Using the pre-2009 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 mold, the Pescador 12 is based on a proven mold. The kayak has two flush mount rod holders, Scotty rod holder up front, a decent seat, and a 3lb. anchor. For $600 shipped from Amazon.com I would still have plenty of money to rig before I even get to the cost of similarly outfitted name brand models.

FEBRUARY 18, 2014 - DELIVERY DAY!
I hear the rumbling of the freight truck pull up in front of my house. Excitement rushes over me just like a kid on Christmas morning. I go outside to greet the delivery man. I see that the kayak is wrapped very loosely in plastic, not a good sign I thought. I have the delivery guy help me lift the kayak and place it onto my DIY PVC kayak stand to inspect the kayak and didn't let him leave until everything checked out.

-Checked the hull for any cracking or deep gouges = checks out fine
-Checked the scupper holes for any signs of cracks/damage = checks out fine
-Checked the inside for any signs of cracks/damage = checks out fine
-Tugged firmly on all handles bungees to ensure all hardware was secured tightly = checks out fine
-Checked all accessories for damage = checks out fine
-Checked to make sure all included accessories were present = DOH!

The Scotty Rod holder was missing the screw that holds the rod holder to the base!!!

It wasn't a huge deal, so I signed the paperwork and accepted the package. I immediately called Amazon and let them know the situation. The attempted to contact the kayak manufacturer, but could not get through. Amazon customer service was extremely pleasant to work with and resolved this matter beyond expectation. I received a $54 credit for the missing screw. The missing screw was a $4 item, so with the $54 credit the cost of my kayak shipped to my door was now...drum roll please...$550. Not bad considering the cheapest boutique brand 12-foot kayak was starting in the $700 + tax range.