Fishing from a kayak is an incredible experience for anglers. It allows you to quietly move into the perfect spot, virtually undetected. It gives you an unprecedented vantage point over the water. The Hobie Pro Angler 12 fishing kayak is the right choice for anyone who is looking for a much more intimate fishing adventure.
“There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there’s always a new place, always a new horizon.” — Jack Nicklaus
What is the Advantage to Kayak Fishing?
From Texas to Wyoming, from North Carolina to California, there are so many places to go kayak fishing. America is a wonderful place to find pleasure in nature. Whether you live on the East Coast, West Coast, The Southwestern States, or Midwest, most likely you are within a short drive to a beautiful lake, river, or coastal bay.
There are both practical reasons and unmeasurable benefits that make kayak fishing a preferred fishing experience.
Many anglers get frustrated with even the quietest of troll motors. Your inability to move stealthily through small waterways and around obstructions can be a source of aggravation on what should be a relaxing sport. For many anglers, motorboats are just too big and clumsy.
Kayak fishing allows you unprecedented access to fishing areas that are difficult, or nearly impossible, for boaters. Moving quietly through the water at your own pace, being that close to the surface, is a huge advantage over boaters. Not only does kayak fishing allow you to enjoy being out on the open water for the sheer pleasure of it, but you can still go for large game fish such as mahi-mahi, wahoo, and tuna.
Hobie: It All Began in a Garage
Hobie has been in the business of designing and producing water products since 1950. Founder Hobie Alter has built a reputation for making quality adult toys that complement any lifestyle that is based around good times and water.
Hobie Alter’s dream was realized in his parents’ garage. At that time, Hobie wanted to apply his love of woodworking to the sport of surfing. Hobie got out his drawknife and carved out his very first surfboard in his parents’ garage. His father would move the family Buick out of the way when he was working. People took notice of his craftsmanship and style. Before long, Hobie’s business boomed, and there was no more room in the garage for his dad’s Buick.
About a decade later, Hobie turned his attention toward boats. Hobie Alter designed a lightweight, fast, and easy-to-sail playboat inspired by the Polynesian twin-hulled catamaran. It was known as the Hobie Cat. The Hobie Cat was a huge success and continues to be a success even today.
In the past four decades, more people have taken to the water on a Hobie Cat than almost any other sailboat design. Hobie Cats continue to be the top-selling catamarans around the globe.
From an idea born on the beach to a dream realized in his father’s garage, Hobie Alter stands alone as an industry influencer and standard-bearer. Hobie doesn’t just make toys, they make tools for a lifestyle that is centered around water sports and fun in the sun.
The Hobie Pro Angler 12 is a natural offspring of the Hobie’s commitment to offering the best watercraft and accessories in the marketplace.
Choosing a Fishing Kayak: Best Features
Fishing kayaks come in all shapes and sizes. It is important that you choose a fishing kayak best suited for your fishing style and conditions.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Will you be fishing small, sheltered bodies of water such as rivers and small lakes? Will you be taking the kayak out on big bodies of water that are exposed to wind and waves?
- How important is performance? Do you want a fishing kayak that is fast and responsive, or are you interested in stability?
- Do you want a pedal kayak, or do you want a paddle kayak?
- Do you prefer to sit or stand up while fishing?
Sit-inside kayaks are great for anglers who will be in cooler water. If staying dry is important to you, consider a sit-inside kayak. Sit inside kayaks are faster than their sit-on-top counterparts.
Normally, kayaks are powered by paddles. There are a number of companies that offer pedal kayaks. The benefit of a pedal kayak is that your hands are free for fishing, casting, and baiting. Pedal kayaks are somewhat less maneuverable and do not work so well in very shallow waters.
The design of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 dresses many of these concerns.
Product Features of The Hobie Pro Angler 12
Hobie products are made with the operator in mind. There is purpose and clarity to Hobie’s designs and performance. The Hobie Pro Angler 12 is no exception.
The Hobie Pro Angler is a superior kayak that easily overcomes a multitude of water conditions, freshwater or saltwater.
Hobie understands that serious anglers like to have several rods ready for any casting opportunities. With the Hobie fishing kayak, you can keep up to 6 rods ready — four stored horizontally, two can be on standby securely tucked in the upright fishing rod holders.
The elevated Vantage seat is maneuverable and comfortable.
The Hobie fishing kayak has a retractable kayak skeg to help you keep on course while chasing that record buster. Additionally, the innovative H-rail system offers you customizable and convenient accessory rising. You can organize your equipment and store it securely.
The Pro Angler 12 from Hobie will keep you fishing instead of fussing over equipment.
Product specifications:
- Crew: I person
- Length: 12’ (3.66 meters)
- Width: 36” (0.91 m)
- Height: 20” (0.51 m)
- Capacity: 500 lbs (227 kg)
- Vantage Seat Capacity: 350 lbs (159 kg)
- Fitted Hull Weight: 105 lbs (48 kg)
- Fully rigged Weight: 128.5 lbs (58.29 kg)
- Hull Construction: Roto-molded polyethylene
- Colors: Papaya Orange, Ivory Dune, and Camo
- Rod Storage: 4 horizontal rod holders. 2 molded-in rod holders
- Lawrence Ready: The Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 comes standard with a built-in transducer mount and pre-installed through-hull cable plugs.
- Maneuverability: Retractable rudder system, and New MirageDrive 180 (forward-reverse propulsion system)
Now you have a good idea of what this fishing kayak is like. Let’s break down some of our favorite features, so you can better understand what makes the Hobie Pro Angler 12 so fantastic.
Hobie Vantage Seating: Superior Support, Positioning, and Adjustability
Sitting in a kayak for several hours can be hard on even the most experienced angler. The Vantage Seating system offers you support, positioning, and adjustability. The Vantage Seating system provides you with the lower back support you need for long stretches out on the water.
The seat-back, bottom height, and lumbar-support are all adjustable.
Visibility into the water is important. For that reason, depending on how high you want to be above the water, the Hobie Vantage Seat is able to adjust to a position 5 inches higher than the standard position. Experienced kayak fisherman loves this feature.
Experienced kayak fisherman loves the adjustable seat-back with Boa technology for lumbar support. The Vantage Seat bottom folds up to make more deck space available if you want to do some stand-up fishing.
Hobie Pro Angler Performance: MirageDrive 180
Kayak fisherman familiar with paddle propulsion systems will appreciate the paddle propulsion system of the Pro Angler 12. It gets you where you need to be and allows for virtually a hands-free operation. This innovative propulsion system lets you maneuver in and out of areas with lots of obstructions. You can hold your position in wind or currents.
Your hands are free to bait and cast or sip a hot coffee and just enjoy your surroundings.
Hobie’s bioengineered MirageDrive propulsion system for pedal kayaks was a revolutionary concept in 1996. This unmatched propulsion design has been evolving ever since. The MirageDrive 180 forward-reverse propulsion system is integrated into the Hobie Pro Angler 12.
If you have never operated a MirageDrive pedal system, you are in for a treat. The MirageDrive 180 allows you full power in both directions, forward and reverse. You will truly be surprised by the maneuverability of the Pro Angler compared to other fishing kayaks. You can easily pivot the fins 180 degrees. The responsiveness is nothing short of impressive.
The dual fins allow for shallow water access and shore landings. Just pushing one pedal forward and you are set for landing or the shallows.
Hobie Pro Angler 12 is Designed For the Organized Fisherman
“The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck” — Tony Robins
Over the past 20 years of fishing, there has been a movement towards organization and preparedness. Instead of lugging a big tackle box with a hundred different lures, you bait four to six fishing rods based on what you expect to find in the water.
With that in mind, efficiency and logic pervade the design of the Hobie Pro Angler 12.
The Hobo Pro Angler 12 comes with the Pivoting Tackle Management System. A rectangular hatch just in front of the seat conceals a mesh storage pocket. Also, pivoting storage for two medium-sized Plano tackle boxes which are included.
The storage area under the tackle boxes is also accessible.
The all-new Hobie H-Rail system’s extruded aluminum dodecagon rail provides a strong and corrosion-resistant mounting platform. You can effortlessly mount more gear for your trip. Whether you want to add cupholders, extra rod holders, a live-well, or more, the heavy-duty H-Rail system will accompany your individual fishing needs.
Sometimes Fishing Isn’t About the Fish
For many reasons kayak fishing is all the rage right now, Kayaks are much more affordable than traditional motorboats. Kayaks give anglers unprecedented access to some of the most under-fished and remote areas. You can outfit your fishing kayak with just about any accessory an angler could want.
We like the Hobie Pro Angler 12 for this and many more reasons.
The Pro Angler 12 brings with it a 500-lb. capacity. It’s loaded to the gills with features that kayak anglers will appreciate. Also, the Pro Angler 12 takes full advantage of the stealth and speed that comes with the MirageDrive.
This boat comes fish-finder ready. It provides a stable platform for standing while fishing and adjust to better vantage points.
The incorporated tackle storage system — storage for six fishing rods — combined with the Hobie patented Vantage Seat with Boa lumbar support will make any trip about the fish, about the view, about the memories, or whatever you want it to be about.
“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” — Henry David Thoreau
Last update on 2023-06-05 at 12:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
