Stats and pics from wesbite:
http://www.barracudakayaks.com/products-2/sot-fish-pro/
My Own observations.
Please note, Im only an average Angler, though I have some experience paddling prior to fishing.
This Yak ticks a lot of boxes, and if you enjoy varied sorts of fishing in one yak, this badboy is a great option.
It's enjoyable to paddle, very light to carry and load, turns on a dime, accelerates quickly due to weight, internal bulkheads, reasonable storage in hatches and console, very stable with the tri-hull in the mid section, surfs reasonable well, can store rods horizontally (outside the yak) in the surf with the railblaza mounts that are standard, and looks smick! Theres a few things that stops it being perfect for my needs but Im being picky as an offshore paddler, such as top speed and ability to cut into chop and high wind.
Construction:
Ive had 3 Roto-moulded plastic Yaks and the lightweight thermo-formed construction is the most outstanding feature of this Yak in my opinion. Being able to put the Barracuda on your shoulder, with a paddle and rod in the other hand, and walk down the beach or steps to the water is fan-bloody-tastic. Obviously if you load it up with stacks of gear this wont happen and its back to a trolley. Last week I went for an estuary bash, parked at the top of a long series of stone steps near Lilli Pilli pools, carried the yak on my shoulder with 2 rods and paddle and some gear in a backpack all the way down to the water. Even with stacks of gear for an offshore trip, its easy to pull along down the beach over sand without a trolley, and the thermoformed plastic just doesn't scratch. Ive pulled it along grass and sand and its totally scratch free. The Baracuda looks sweet ,having that shiny Glass look about it . Before I purchased the Yak the guy in the shop gave me some pieces of this thermo-formed stuff and I bent the hell out of it 180 degrees, it just would not snap or crease. Very tough, so it didn't bother me that the yak is quite thin in some parts, such as the bow that does flex when pushed. The seat area leaves the decision up to the paddler whether to go for a high backed supported seat like a GTS (which I had in initially and fits well) or foam padding and back brace, which I moved to. I found it very comfortable using both, even after hours paddling or casting. Internal bulkheads are a nice safety feature not often found in plastic kayaks.
On water:
Flared bow , with a tri-hull 70cm width around the seat area, and angles back towards rudder. Predictably very stable, even at at rest and drifting sidways in wind/chop. I paddled out to some offshore reefs at a steady 7-8Km/hr easily maintained but its no speed demon by any means, and the bow, which helps in surf, does give some hull slap in chop, though it didnt bother me. I have some thigh braces which I purchased for the surf but have ended up leaving in. They really lock you into the Yak and I could really get a good stroke going. The rudder peddles are nice, as they are fixed and you keep the balls of you feet against, and just move your toes to control rudder.I like this as you can focus on paddling and your feet stay locked and braced. I found it comfortable to paddle for extended trips, and happy with with the foam paddling support being enough offshore. It does does not track too well with the rudder up however, being rather short and having that bow shape. In light to medium surf its a lot of fun, being lightweight it accelerates rapidly between waves, the 4 scuppers drain the water quick, flared bow pushes up over waves easily. No problems getting out, but as always trick is getting back in.... Yes, the buoyant and flared bow is great coming down the face of small to medium waves, but anything big/steep and rudder at the back is out of the water and uncontrollable. I would only use this in light to medium surf, but guys better able than me to ride waves would do much better, as I expect to roll in anything but light surf. I rolled enough times to know no water got into the hull, although there was a little in the centre console area after one particular wipe-out where the yak was upside down for minutes while I swam in.
Fishing:
The Fish Pro comes with the usual two flush mounts at the back, two on the side rails and one Railblaza fitting in front of the console for a Railblaza rod holder (for rigging). I added one RAM ball behind the seat for additional light rod.Trolls well, great kayak on the drift due to primary stability, and comes with eyelets already for installing running sea anchor, which I did with a few pulleys and light rope. Actually there's no need to drill into this Yak unless you really need to. I did drill one hole for a Sounder cable into the front section which I fully sealed using grommet and silicon. The console is very user friendly with a top section for bait, lures, tools etc Underneath is a handy, but not so large, storage space. I can fit my tackle box, wet weather top, snacks, and a few other bits and pieces. I fish light though, others may need to use the front or back hatch, which can take lots more. Livebaiting was tricky as they sometimes swim under the rudder
Summary:
There's not too many bad points I can mention. Great inshore, in small/medium surf, estuaries, drift fishing, trolling lures. So dam light its a joy to load and unload. It looks sexy
Cheers
Steve

