Tested: Extreme kayaks fish bandit
Fishing specific ‘yaks are becoming more and more common place. Ben Caddaye reviews a locally manufactured and affordable boat that’s gaining popularity.
UNLESS you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that kayak fishing is sweeping the nation. It’s not a fad either. You only have to glance at your local lake or river, especially in the warmer months, to realise that kayak fishing is seriously big and here to stay.
I am a late-comer on the kayak fishing scene. Some of my mates have been scooting around on purpose-built fishing ’yaks for years. I, on the other hand, have only recently jumped on the bandwagon. Now that I have, I’m wondering why it took me so long.
My search for a fishing ’yak began a few months ago. And it was far from simple.
The author has found the Fish Bandit perfect for poking around the upper reaches of NSW South Coast estuaries for bream, bass, estuary perch and flathead.
Five years ago, when some of my mates were getting into kayak fishing, there was a limited range of purpose-built craft available. These days, kayaks made specifically for anglers are everywhere. If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, the choices can be mind-boggling.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) I was limited by a number of factors, which helped narrow down the options.
Firstly, it had to fit within my budget, which was around the $1000 mark. Secondly, it had to be portable – I wanted a craft that I could easily load on and off my Nissan X-Trail, and one that could be comfortably carried by one person. Finally, it had to be purpose-built for fishing.
Enter the Fish Bandit. Produced by Brisbane-based Extreme Kayaks, the Fish Bandit is a plucky little craft that punches well above its weight in the fish-catching stakes. Measuring 2.7m and weighing in at under 20kg, the Fish Bandit is at the small end of the scale when it comes to purpose-built fishing ’yaks. But its size makes it extremely portable and I’m able to handle it with ease on my own.
It’s also very affordable, retailing at $699. I added a paddle, paddle leash and deluxe seat and it still came in under my $1000 budget.
It comes equipped with four rod holders and two watertight storage wells. Webbing at the front and rear also allows for storage of dry bags, back-backs and so on.
The Fish Bandit is perfect for poking around the upper reaches of the far South Coast estuaries for bream, bass, estuary perch and flathead.
As I’m Canberra-based, the Fish Bandit also sees a fair bit of the capital’s local lakes, where it’s an ideal platform for lure-casting for small natives and redfin. It has already accounted for a couple of thumping golden perch to 3.5kg and a cod is certainly on the agenda in the near future.
Its manoeuvrability in tight situations is superb and it can glide through water just centimetres deep with ease.
You won’t win any sprints in this little craft – it’s designed for stability and portability rather than speed, but even a novice paddler like me is still able to cover reasonable distances with relative ease.
Being somewhat “short and stumpy” (a bit like me) it’s also a wonderful ’yak for weaving in and out of the snags, which is where I’m doing most of my fishing these days.
Capable of carrying 130kg, the Fish Bandit’s quite stable, too. In saying that, at this stage of my kayaking career I’d be loathe to take the Fish Bandit out on a large expanse of open water in very windy conditions. At the end of the day, a ’yak’s ability on rough water is only as good as the person piloting it – and I’m still on my L-plates to an extent.
Its strength definitely lies in its versatility and portability. It really is a breeze to transport and carry on your own – and you definitely can’t say that about all fishing kayaks.
It’s smart-looking, too, coming in five different colour schemes, including Arctic Camo, Jungle Camo, Desert Camo (pictured) and Sheila Camo (pink).
The after-market deluxe seat/backrest has been a godsend. I chose a GTS Pro ($248) which features ultra-thick padding in the seat and a contoured back-rest. As someone who suffers at times from lower back pain, the support it has offered has been invaluable, in both short and long stints on the water.
Extreme Kayaks has just recently created a big brother (or sister) for the Fish Bandit. The Outlaw is a four-metre model weighing 30kg and capable of carrying 230kg – it will even accommodate a second person. The Outlaw is aimed at the growing market of anglers who want a large ’yak capable of carrying a heap of gear and handling open water. It comes in a range of seven colours and prices start from $1299.
Length: 2.7m
Width: 0.70m
Weight: 19kgs
Load Capacity: 130kgs
Price: from $699
More information: www.extremewatersports.com.au
