Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

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Trit
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Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by Trit »

I am looking to buy a new kayak. I'm stuck between a OK trident 13 and the tarpon 120. I travel a lot so the 12-13 foot range is ideal for me. But I want a good all around kayak that I can use for bay fishing but also has the capability to go btb. Any thoughts and opinions on these two kayaks would be great. Thanks in advance.
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Ron Mc
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Re: Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by Ron Mc »

Found this buried, and TexasJim has that specific boat.
BTB is always pick a good day, but I'd be surprised if you find much difference in those two boats - they're rigged almost identical, and the hulls even look the same.
The Trident has the advantage of factory rod holders.
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Re: Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by SWFinatic »

I'd say the Trident 13 primarily due to the storage. The center hatch storage IMO is huge. Also the additional length is a big plus. More room to mount a fish bag, etc. The Trident 15 would be even better for BTB because you can fit your rods in the hull through the center hatch for surf exit/entry.
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TexasJim
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Re: Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by TexasJim »

I don't know much about a Trident 13. A friend bought a Trident 11 that was made before the "redesigned" 2017/18 version. They added lots of features, but also about 17 pounds! They say the 13 weighs 79 pounds. To me, that's heavy for a 13-foot paddle kayak. The Tarpon 120 is supposedly 63 pounds (which I don't believe). My friend's Trident 11 was kinda tubby.
Do yourself a favor and paddle both before you buy. The Tarpon will be very tippy at first, but if you can get past that, it's fast, handles well(even without a rudder), and is very well built. I think the Trident 13 will be a bit more stable, but not as fast. The extra weight really shows up after you have paddled 6+ miles and have to reload your yak onto your vehicle.
No way I would take either of those kayaks BTB. Get a T160 or Viking Profish Reload, at least. TexasJim
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rockportkayak
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Re: Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by rockportkayak »

Also look the Viking Profish 400 also. It is 13ft, light weight, and very versatile.
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TexasJim
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Re: Thoughts on a wilderness tarpon 120

Post by TexasJim »

I agree with Rockport Ryan. In the 13-foot size range, the Viking Profish 400 is a winner! Light, easily paddled and a quality-built kayak. TexasJim
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