Pescador 12.0

I rented this Pescador for a week in Florida, I did lots of inshore fishing with it and found it to track and glide very well for a 12’ kayak, this thing is fast! It’s a tiny bit tippy for me at 5”11 200 pounds but I’ve never felt like I was going to capsize. I can even sit with two legs over the side and still be plenty stable. Over all this thing is a great all around kayak and I wish perception did not discontinue this boat.

Durable, tracks well, high back seats and a cup holder... it's the perfect rental and tour kayak. http://www.paddlemarco.com - we have more than 30 of them.

I found it to be initially a little unstable(not bad but a little), But soon as it started to move even slowly (forward or backward) it was stable. Today was its maiden voyage. The wind was 15 + periods of 25 mph. I was paddling in a lake about 2 miles wide and 6 miles long. The Chop was running 12 to 20 inches. The boat did very well. I had no issues as long as I was in motion. I paddled about 4 to 5 miles.

Pro's
The boat handled the chop well, Stable I never felt I was going to get to swim, tracking this boat will hold a very nice line, actually I was amazed at how well it tracks. In the boat for several hours I found the seat to be awesome, I did not expect it to be near as good as it was. The 12 foots moved pretty fast in water. Price point was very good at 540ish "Academy Sports". Weight is acceptable mid 50's. The Dry hatches had ZERO water in them, No leaks on bulk heads.
Over all a very well built boat.

Con
It's minor, but the plugs for the fishing poles were hard to get out. No big deal. That's about the only con I could come up with.

I purchased this kayak last fall after I got tired of the uncertainty of renting them. My choice of water is the quiet reservoir near our home as well the local state park lakes-no white water for me. I love the stability of the Pescador 12 and even with the rocking from a few larger boat wakes I've never felt like I was going to end up in the water. I am 5'9 and there is plenty of leg room and I don't feel cramped even after a couple hours on the lake. The seat is better than most others I tried out but as our trips get longer I may need to add a bit more lower back support. There are scupper holes under the seat so I recommend plugs for them if you like a dry seat. I was so pleased that I purchased two Pescador 10's to have for use by friends and kids.

Probably my favorite Yak for fishing. I fully rigged mine with all the goodies I'd need for river fishing. This is the same boat as the older Tarpon 120 @ a lower cost. I give me the edge over my Tarpon 100 with the increase in speed. Very easy to paddle and stable. I'm a 64 yr old fat guy fly fishing out of these and it's suiting me just fine. I bought mine as a left over discounted and never regretted a singe min of use. Room to take your dog along

This is my second Kayak and I must say I love it. The Pescador is a confidence building machine. I am not worried about paddling this thing any place. It is at home in very choppy water, as well as smooth as glass lakes. The kayak is well built and easy to enter and exit. It is a bit heavy at 60# but I will take the weight for the safe secure feeling I have when I am an hour from shore. I have read everything I could about this kayak and understand a lot of the information is subjective, however I keep seeing this underlying theme, everyone loves this boat.

Great Kayak for the price! It is a nice go to kayak for fishing in bays, creeks, the flats and surf. I would highly recommend this to anyone beginning kayaking or that wants a well made sit on top kayak for a low cost.

The Pescador 12.0 may be the best entry level kayak on the market. Ready to fish right out of the "box" it features two rear pole holders & a front Scotty adjustable rod holder. Three storage areas make for easy access to your dry goods with two located easily within the paddler's reach and a large one up front for larger items. A generous baitwell area holds lots of extra cargo and fishing gear or your favorite pet! A very comfortable seat with a padded bottom and easily adjustable backrest give it the comfort beginners will enjoy. Complete the package with an anchor kit, lots of tie downs and adjustable footrests and all you need to do is grab a fishing pole! What you'll love most is the ride. It's wide enough to be super stable with its 28" beam but sleek enough to slice through rough waters.You'll gain confidence easily while learning it's capabilities. I have ridden the Pescador in 12' swells off the coast of Honolulu with surprising ease. It tracks beautifully, is highly maneuverable and is faster then I expected. I'm thrilled with my purchase and would recommend the Pecador 12.0 to any beginner who loves to paddle and fish!

Pescador 120 is the exact mold of the WS Tarpon 120. Some have considered it to be one of the best kayaks ever produced. The ride quality is second to none for a conventional kayak. Good in any environment, tracks well, has plenty of storage space and 350 lbs capacity. I bought two and continue to look for good deals on used ones.

After reading other good reviews of the Perception Pescador (match mold of the prior Tarpon) and finding it at Academy for $499-529 depending on the model, I had to give it a try. Very pleased with the boat. I also have a Perception Kingfish which is a flatter bottomed boat and thus more stable, however the Pescador is faster and coasts better.

Initial stability is less, but secondary stability as you get further over is fine. I weigh 240-250 depending on the day and without any extra gear, I have water gushing up thru the floor scupper holes rather than draining out. Scupper plugs with an easy pull handle or cord are required to have a dry foot well. Same goes for the storage area behind the seat. The position of the drain holes allows you to drain the boat well though before dragging it to shore and having water all over the seat in the process.

Hull thickness is very sturdy as compared to the Kingfish, though I have a sail rig for the Kingfish and its hull handles that easily, therefore so should the Pescador. Pescador tracks far better and thus is a bit harder to turn sharply. I was able to trim a foam stadium butt pad and permanently insert it under the seat for a bit more cushion. Good boat at a great price.

This may not be the best kayak out there but it is definitely the best for the money. It tracks well, glides nice and paddles fast. I can get up to 5 mph with a moderate pace on flat water. It is very stable as long as your bum stays in the seat. You can sit sideways and soak your feet on a hot day.

Plenty of storage with 2 compartments within reach while paddling. It even came with a rod holder for us fisherman and space to add more and a milk crate fits perfect right behind your seat. It handles chop well and stays dry if you have the scuppers plugged but I keep them unplugged near my feet and a little water comes in but it does not change the performance and if a big wave or boat wake hits, you will not get swamped. Even if swamped you will still float.

If you are a beginner on a budget, do not hesitate to buy this.

I purchased this kayak by using reviews from various sites. The cost was reasonable at $499 + Tax at Academy in Selma, TX outside San Antonio TX. Took it for a paddle in Canyon Lake and was not disappointed in the handling or ease to propel. Would have loved more features, but after looking at more expensive kayaks and researching add-ons, I can see why it only has what it has. The wells do collect water so scupper plugs will be a future buy but I had planned for the wet seat and did not get uncomfortable.

Initially unstable but quickly found the stability and did not have a problem. The seat was comfortable and was easy to adjust which made the paddling much easier. At 50lbs it was not too heavy to lift onto the J cradles on the roof rack of my Escape, but the weight distribution did make it awkward trying to seat it in the racks.

I still need a few more excursions to get use to it but feel it was a good buy for an initial entry level kayak.

Have had this kayak for a year. Very stable, easy to get in and out of. Enjoy fishing from this kayak. Have never tipped, and it is easy to maneuver and turn. There is plenty of dry storage room and the open storage in the rear is perfect for a medium sized cooler. I have spent many hours on the lake and river, This kayak performs just as well as one that is twice as much money. I believe I got more than my monies worth with this kayak.

The Perception Sport is a stable platform for fishing. It is compact enough for small rivers and is tracks well on large lakes. It can be set up for trolling with a compact downrigger or used as is for fly fishing.

My Pescador 12 was my first ever kayak and I've had it for 1 year and 3 months at the time of writing this.

PROS:
• Low price
• Very comfortable seat compared to other kayak seats I've used
• Light weight: it is very easy to load and unload compared to other fishing kayaks I have experience with (Tarpon 140, Native Slayer 14.5)
• Came with a Scotty mount and rod holder and one flush mount rod holder behind the seat. There's also another spot behind the seat that is obviously meant for you to add another flush mount.
• My kayak came with lots of nice little convenient things that saved me the trouble of having to add the myself such as: the stretchy cord in the back and around the center hatch (the one in between your legs), little rings on the side for attaching stuff for easy access while you're out, an anchor cleat, and it is ready to rig up a rudder system.
• Fast for a 12' kayak

  CONS:

• This is not a very stable kayak, which is probably the Pescador's biggest downfall.
• I can't stand up and fish because it is too unstable (I'm 6'0 215lbs). I can stand up in it, but it is very unstable and impractical. I have fallen out of this kayak while standing up in it once and nearly fallen out of it while standing/trying to stand in it many times.
• It's difficult to reach the rear storage area and impossible to reach the front hatch storage while still in your kayak. I see that some people here recommend sitting side saddle to access these, but this kayak is not stable enough for me to do that.
• My Pescador 12 always gets water inside of it. My front hatch does not completely seal and it wiggles around some when closed, I believe that this is how water gets inside of it. I'm not sure if this is a problem all Pescadors have or if it is exclusive to my kayak, but it is a pretty big problem. I don't take on enough water to sink my kayak, but it is unsettling and just a pain. I can't put anything in there that I don't want to get wet, but I don't really use it anyways because I can't access it while I'm in my kayak. I'm looking in to putting some sort of a gasket inside of it for this right now.
• The tracking isn't amazing and you will get spun around in a fast moving current very easily. The kayak comes ready to install a rudder system, I haven't added one yet but it would make life a lot easier.

Overall this is a nice kayak and I do like mine a lot, but it is not perfect and I will eventually be getting a new kayak and keeping my Pescador as a loaner. I would at least look in to a Heritage Redfish or Perception Caster before getting a Pescador, I haven't used either of them but they are similarly priced ($500ish) and don't seem to have some of the problems that Pescadors have (from the minimal research that I have done- look in to them yourself and draw your own conclusions).

I have had mine for about 4 months now and I love it. I use it for both bay fishing and btb fishing and it handles like a dream. tracking and comfort excellent. I weigh about 175 and it is perfect. Slide up to reach front hatch and side saddle to get to the back as mentioned previously. Your money goes a long way with this one. Highly recommend it!

I just purchased the Pescador Sport 12, I love it. I've been using my Old Town Dirigo Angler for the past 4 years and I'm telling ya it's the best kayak out there for the money. It tracks great, it's comfortable; in my old kayak I'd get sore and restless in in it. I spent 4 hours on the lake and didn't get sore one time. It maneuvers great and handles a Cadillac on water. Plus I get to sit sideways. Now we're gonna get one for my girlfriend in a couple weeks . Best thing I've spent my money on in awhile

After doing a fair amount of research and trying out a couple of demos, I decided that the Pescador 12 was the yak I wanted. Now comes the good part, I found a red one with an anchor and Scotty rod holder at a local Sports Authority store on clearance for $409, the sales guy told me that the low price was due to it being a 2011 model. At the same store they had a camo model that also included a paddle and cheap foam car top kit priced at $749. It was explained to me that the higher price was due to it being a 2012 model. Needless to say I was more than happy to take the 2011 model. Whats more I was able to apply a 20% off coupon to the purchase price which resulted in a final price of $327 b4 tax. One of the best deals I ever had on anything.

I've had it out on a local lake twice and couldn't be more pleased, very stable, tracks great and pretty fast for a SOT. Looking forward to years of enjoyment with this yak.

Bought this boat back in December and floated it down a flooded creek and through a swamp, jump shooting ducks. Very stable, even swinging a 28" barreled duck gun blazing away with 3.5" magnum shells. Loaded decoys, gun, lunch, etc... and paddled out on a lake to set up on an island. All of this while wearing chest waders, heavy winter gear, and yes, a life jacket. Very pleased with this boat, although I might get a 12' next time around.

I picked up a Pescador angler version on clearance at Dick's sporting goods. I've owned several OK (Scrambler XT & Scupper Pro) as well as the Perception Caster 12.5. This boat (to me) is the best all round. Good balance of speed, tracking and stability. This boat just "feels right" from the start.

I rate this a 10. The Caster an 8 (could track better), the Scrambler a 6 (no room and very uncomfortable) Scupper Pro a 7 (lacks stability). I recommend the Pescador highly. Great value/performance.

Picked up my Pescador 12 two weeks ago got it in tan brand new was 499.99 from my local dealer. It seem's they have added scupper holes beneath the seat on my model so no more soggy bottom. Tracks well and rides nice I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm 6'1" and 190 lbs.

I just bought a perception Pescador 12' and am writing a "first impression" review, which I'll amend with more time. I am writing for those of you, who like me, who have spent a lot of time considering a first time purchase and haven't spent much time with one. I have been on a kayak maybe a half dozen times before this so I am very green.

To address one comment, I think they addressed the wet seat issue, as there are scuppers hidden underneath the seat. This led to a slightly wet bottom, but I air-dried by the time I got back. I launched into a lake, but intend on using it in coastal waters.

The kayak was easy to paddle and very maneuverable paddling forward or backward, even to someone unversed in proper technique. The kayak was very stable when facing forward or sideways. I twisted and faced backward several times, and wobbled a bit on my first attempt, but got comfortable afterward. I purchased the kayak to fish from, but am going to take it out one more time, this time into Tampa Bay, before I try casting anything.

Its a great yak; its very stable, fast, and dirt cheap. bought mine at dicks sporting good for 375. Great for the cost. It compares to the 1000 model

This is by and far the best boat you can buy for the money. I own a fleet of Tarpon 140's and 120's, but lost my arrangement to get them below retail. So I switched to these boats. I pay the same retail as I did for the Tarpon 120's and these now come with two rod holders, anchor cleat and anchor! I use them for fishing charters and rentals. I've had hundreds of people use them with little to complain about. I can sell my used Tarpons for more than these run new!

Pescador 12, I got mine last summer, I was looking for a bigger version of the Tarpon 100 I had and this fit the bill well. All the reviews were good, and a call to the company verified it was a old version of the tarpon model, very stable, med fast, tracks well. How DW fell off his twice in one day on a lake I have no idea, I can all but stand up on mine.

Saw some yaks at Pensacola Beach and fell in love. Researched online for a couple of weeks and thought I wanted the Tarpon 140, but it was pricey. Looked around some more and found the 12' Pescador by Perception with is a copy of the 2008 version of the Tarpon 120. Bought it at Academy Sports on sale for $439 after they knocked off $30 for a broken eye (minor fix, DIY for $2.00).

I am 5'11" and weight 265 lbs. I get a couple inches of water in the scupper holes, but it tracks well and is easy to paddle. Great copy of the 2008 Tarpon 120 for half the price.

Awesome yak! After nearly a year of shopping and almost settling with the Pelican Castaway I saw and bought Perception Pescador at Academy for a steal at $499. This kanyak is everything I wanted and more. The seat is incredibly comfortable, it tracks well, handles in the right spots, lots of DRY storage and a built in pole holder. I rented a wide variety of expensive kayaks last summer but am still the most satisfied with the perception. My only complaint is that the cup holder is too far forward. You will not be disappointing if you get this kayak.

Just bought this kayak last week and so far I love it. Academy Sports had them on sale for $449. At first I was a little skeptical as this looked like a great kayak but the price actually seemed a little low. I wondered if this was a bad model they were trying to get rid of but after a few trips on the water I can say with confidence that this is no "bad" model. Sturdy, fast, very maneuverable and a joy to paddle.

I purchased my Pescador about 4 months ago and have had it on lake conroe, lake woodlands, even 2 miles offshore in the gulf of Mexico at a gas rig. I have caught 5 foot bullsharks, spanish mackeral, Gafftop, blacktip sharks, black bass, blue cats etc. out of her and I have no complaints about this boat. For the price you just cant beat it.
Tight lines!

A great deal of homework over many months pointed towards this 12' kayak, which I'll use for local saltmarsh and inshore fly-fishing.

The boat is very sturdy and feels quite fast through the water. I bought scupper plugs immediately as a lot of water came into the boat at my feet and right behind the seat.

I spoke with Perception and they confirmed the Pescador is exactly the same boat as the 2008 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 (Perception and WS are the same company), so I feel I got quite a good deal on a 12' sit on top kayak well suited for fishing, all for under $500. The seat is very comfortable and feels durable. I also wanted a boat without graded foot wells, so this fit the bill. At 60lbs the boat feels quite heavy, but I can lift it on and off the car quite easily. Storage in the boat is very good.

Overall this seems like exactly the boat I was looking for for calm water fly fishing. Sturdy, fast, and durable. Not sure what modifications have been made to the new Tarpon, but if you're on a tight budget and want to save a few hundred dollars (actually i think it's nearly half the cost), I'd recommend a close look at the Pescador.