Cuda 12

3.5 stars.
It should be 5, considering the beautiful build quality, fit and finish and well thought out features.
The reason is simple.
A primary goals was to stand and fish. It hasn't worked out. This is one tippy rig. Especially considering my size - 6'4" 245lbs.
I read the reviews billing the boat as pretty stable and standable. Looking back, those comments all came from Jackson.
This is my first real boat. Importantly, it had to be car-top (via my Thule Hullivator - fantastic thing). Anything heavier would threaten that goal. Just don't want to trailer anything. Limits mobility and over-complicates.
Maybe being this tall excludes me from the stand and fish club. I'm still fighting it.
And I've also turtled the thing twice now. The tippiness is aggravating as hell. And lowering the seat (lower center of gravity) fatally lessens leg room and does very little.

I have owned several Kayaks of different Mfg. They have all been a sit in. I used them mostly in Tennessee, Missouri NC and SC Rivers. I'm 60 and after a couple hours on the water my lower back and right leg start to stiffen up and have pain. So I thought of trying a sit-on. I looked and researched for my needs and likes. I ended up buying the Cuda 12.

I went out yesterday with my Grandson on the Duck River for a 9 mile trip. It was Great!!!! I was not as comfortable standing as I thought I would be, But I think it was more me and not the boat. The seat was awesome! we went the hole trip and only stopped twice. I still have pain in my lower back But it is not due to the kayak I need to get into shape.

I love this boat. I almost bought the 14 but worried about the size and putting it on top of my truck alone. I would like to have a little more feet room like you get with the 14, But this is still an great Kayak for me. Fishing off of this was the best I have experienced. You can't go wrong with a Jackson. I'm finding the older I get the more I want to buy American. Heck it's even made in Tennessee.

Use my Cuda quite often and enjoy the fact I can get it into the back of my Tundra by myself. Don't feel it stable enough for me to stand up and fish; unless I'm shallow and it's warm outside. Sitting in low position is my comfort level. Get a lot of nice comments on rig, but seeing more kayak fisherman these days too. Nice features but the center compartment deformed pretty soon after purchase--still useable so not a big deal. Trolling is a blast and glad it comes with rocket tube and pole holder plus ball for track.

Very stable, rigged well for rod storage and safety, comfortable seating, able to stand to fish, accessible dry hatch, tracks fairly well for its size. Purchased a year ago for inland lake fishing, have paddled in some wind and waves safely and surprisingly capably.

I bought 2 Jacksons a while back and love them, I like the fact that they are stable enough to push pole out of which helps for sight casting reds. They come set up with 2 rocket launcher style rod holders along with a ram mount rod holder, the seat is the best I have experienced and the high low option is good for my wife who has scoliosis and can't be down inside a kayak for too long.

I have used these kayaks from everything to open water in the bay to tight quarters in the creeks, they are fast for the size keeping up with Tarpon 120's and Ocean Prowler 13's.

One thing I can say is they are great for those who have little experience to those who are seasoned paddlers.
Jackson has won a customer for life, I am very pleased with my purchase.

Being a proud owner of several different Native Watercraft Kayaks, I was surprised by how much I liked the Jackson Cuda 12. It is a stable boat with excellent tracking and speed. I love the center hatch that they added to the center console cover, it makes it much easier to access items in the hatch on the water. The seat is as comfortable as the Native Kayaks and also has the high low seating, so that you can sit lower for greater stability or higher for fishing. All the fishing accessories are included, so no need to purchase rod holders or mounts. This Yak comes ready to fish. I am definitely going to add one of these to my stable.

I had the pleasure to go on a docent led nature tour at Lodi Lake with Headwater in early June 2014. This was my second time kayaking, and it was very easy. The padded seat more comfortable than expected and I did not think we were in the water for two hours, time went by so quickly. Very stable when a motor boat went zipping by. I am itching to go back out, again!

To start out with I'm 6'4 235 and this Cuda 12 fits and carries me well. Before purchasing this boat I demo'd it along with the Native Slayer 12. Both seats were equally comfortable to me, also they were about the same in the stability department. But after that the Cuda 12 stood out in all other areas.

This boat tracks very well, glides nicely and has good speed. It turns and maneuvers good with my 240 cm (Bending Branches Angler Classic) paddle in which I highly recommend. It is very stable in the low seat position and moving it up to the high seat is less stable but could be got used to in little time. I stood up without the assist strap with seat in the low position the first time I tried and I'm no tight rope walker. I can see how standing and fishing would be easy once you got used to doing it.

I love the design of the boat. Tons of storage for rods and gear under the deck and in the dry, with multiple entry points. The tankwell is good sized and can fit a decent sized cooler with plenty of built on bungees to strap stuff down. There are molded out places to hold your rods and a rod tip protector area on the stern. There are places on each side of the seat made just right for the clear plano tackle boxes. The SEAT I will say is amazing and built well for years of use.

Comes with lots of accessories included on the 2014 model: ram rod holder for up front and 2 Ram rocket launcher rod holders for the rear, water bottle, air up lumbar support for the seat (very nice), red flag for use in larger waters where you can be more visible, mesh storage bag that mounts on rear of seat and a GoPro base mount.

I have owned and paddles several kayaks over the years and I have to say this is by far my favorite to date. Great for fishing, camping, lazy floats, you name it. Jackson is a great company that makes a fine product with strict attention to detail. I highly recommend the Jackson Cuda 12!

The Cuda 12 is a great fishing kayak. It tracks extremely well which makes it great for most bodies of water. The hi low seat is very comfortable for all day trips on the water.The seat is made of a breathable material that helps keep you cool. The stability of the Kayak makes it great for standing and sight fishing. I also really like the added GoPro mounts and the Ram rocket launcher that are included with the kayak. Overall this is a great kayak and I look to many successful fishing trips.