The Vibe Yellowfin 120 is a popular fishing kayak known for its stability, carrying capacity, and customization options. This 12-foot kayak of his is 34 inches wide and weighs 78 pounds, making it a great choice for anglers of all sizes. This review details Yellowfin 120’s features, performance, and practical usage.
Overview of the Vibe Yellowfin 120
Vibe Kayaks designed the Yellowfin 120 to be an affordable no-frills option for fishing. A rotomolded, one-piece polyethylene hull provides durability to deal with rough water and debris. The wide, flat hull provides excellent primary and secondary stability, even when enduring slow lines.
The Yellowfin 120 can carry up to 425 pounds, providing plenty of payload for larger anglers. The open cockpit design provides versatility for transporting gear and handling fish. Vibe also customizes this kayak with flush-mount rod holders, gear rails, and accessory mounts.
Paddlers appreciate the Yellowfin 120’s balanced performance. A moderate rocker profile and tracking fins ensure excellent tracking and reduce lateral wobble. The hull design makes the kayak fast enough to cover distances efficiently. Overall, it is a stable, adaptable and versatile fishing platform suitable for lakes, rivers, estuaries and offshore.
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Key Features of the Vibe Yellowfin 120
- 425 lb weight capacity
- Molded-in flush mount rod holders
- Side-mounted carry handles for transport
- Large rear tank well with bungees
- Two sealed hatches for gear storage
- 12V accessory plug-in for fish finders
- Two flush mount rod holders behind seat
- Replaceable skid plate protects hull
How the Yellowfin 120 Performs on the Water
The Yellowfin 120 is commendable for its stability, tracking stability and payload capacity. The wide 34-inch hull provides excellent initial stability, keeping the kayak firmly stable when stationary or drifting.
The flared bow and flat bottom also provide secondary stability when dealing with waves or standing up. Despite its width, the Yellowfin 120 has excellent tracking thanks to its track fins and sloping hull.
An adequate rocker helps maintain speed while preventing under spray in choppy water. Paddlers report kayaks traveling at an easy cruising speed of 4 to 5 miles per hour. Kayaks aren’t very fast, but they have enough speed for efficient paddling.
The Yellowfin 120 can carry an amazing amount of gear on all-day fishing trips. The 425-pound capacity accommodates larger anglers and all their gear. The rear tank bay has space for a box and cooler secured with bungee cords.
The center console and sealed hatch provide dry storage for electronics, tackle boxes, and other essentials. You can store your rods safely with the help of a flush mount holder and paddle park.
Ideal Use Cases for the Vibe Yellowfin 120
The Yellowfin 120 works well as an all-around fishing kayak in many situations:
Shallow Water Fishing: The Yellowfin 120 is ideal for lakes, ponds, slow rivers and estuaries due to its sturdy hull and excellent tracking. Anglers can fish from the comfort of a seated position or use the stability of standing when sight casting.
OFFSHORE AND SURF FISHING: The Yellowfin 120 handles ocean waves, surf and rough open water better than wider barges. A rockered hull prevents the nose from diving into waves.
Rivers and Streams: The Yellowfin 120 isn’t particularly fast, but its stability and load capacity allow it to handle Class I-II rapids. Anglers will have enough space to store their fishing gear and a day’s worth of catch.
Fish with your dog: The open deck and load capacity allow your dog to come along. Anglers can bring their pets on board for adventures.
Larger and taller anglers: Larger kayak anglers weighing up to approximately 425 pounds will find the Yellowfin 120 provides stability and payload specifically tailored to their needs.
Customizing the Yellowfin 120 Fishing Kayak
One advantage of the Yellowfin 120 is the built-in customization options:
- Equipment Rail: The kayak is equipped with an equipment rail for attaching rod holders, fish finders, anchor systems, and other accessories. Anglers can equip kayaks if desired.
- Flush Mount: The Yellowfin 120 comes with four flush mount rod holders, two behind the seat and two on the transom. Flush mounts can be added using gear rails.
- Electronics: The center console has a recess for mounting a fish finder. A 12V plug allows for easy power connection.
- Seat: The padded seat is comfortable for long hours, but you can upgrade to a higher seat for better throwing height.
- Pedal Drive: Anglers can add a pedal drive system to turn the Yellowfin 120 into a hands-free pedal-powered kayak.
- Trolling Motor: A universal transducer mount is suitable for most trolling motors to power and operate your kayak.
Vibe Yellowfin 120 vs. Competition
The Yellowfin 120 compares well to other popular fishing kayaks:
- Vibe Sea Ghost 110: The Sea Ghost 110 is faster and more agile, but lacks Yellowfin’s open deck and customization options.
- Vibe Shearwater 125: The Shearwater 125 is wider and offers more storage space, but is slower and more cumbersome than the Yellowfin 120.
- Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120: The Tarpon 120 is lightweight and fast, but not as stable as the Yellowfin. The capacity is also small.
- Perception Pescador Pro 120: The Pescador Pro 120 is similar but lacks Yellowfin’s molded rod holders, gear rails, and accessory mounts.
- Feelfree Moken 12.5: The Moken 12.5 is comparable but slightly more expensive than the Yellowfin 120.
The Yellowfin 120 rivals high-end fishing kayaks while offering more features and customization options than budget options. Overall, it offers a variety of features and performance at an affordable price.
Vibe Yellowfin 120 Kayak: Verdict
The Vibe Yellowfin 120 lives up to its reputation as a versatile, stable, and customizable fishing kayak. What it lacks in speed, it makes up for in cargo space, stability, and plenty of accessory options. Durable polyethylene construction is designed to withstand countless fishing adventures.
For anglers who value stability, capacity, and customization, the Yellowfin 120 is the perfect solution. It functions as an all-around fishing kayak in a wide range of water conditions. Even larger kayak anglers will appreciate the generous weight capacity. It’s not the fastest kayak, but it strikes a good balance between fishability, features, and affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How stable is the Yellowfin 120?
With a 34-inch beam, the Yellowfin 120 offers great stability for a 12-foot kayak. It has excellent primary stability to stay upright when stationary and very good secondary stability to withstand waves while driving. Most anglers can safely stand and fish.
How much weight can the Yellowfin 120 support?
The Yellowfin a hundred and twenty has a beneficial weight ability of 425 pounds, making it a top-notch choice for large anglers.
What kinds of water is it suitable for?
Yellowfin 120 is ideal for lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries, bays and offshore waters. It can handle waves, swells, and gentle rapids. The curved hull prevents you from diving into choppy waves.
Can a trolling motor be mounted?
Yes, Yellowfin 120 can accommodate most trolling motors on the market with universal transducer mounts. This allows anglers to add electric propulsion.
Can it be transported on car roof racks?
The Yellowfin 120 weighs 78 pounds, which can exceed the weight limit of some factory roof racks, especially when loaded with gear. We recommend an aftermarket J-bar or saddle designed specifically for heavier kayaks.
Does it need to be registered?
You should check your state laws, but generally kayaks under 13 feet in length do not need to be registered. Yellowfin 120 is exempt from registration in most regions.
What rods can the flush mount holders accommodate?
Molded flush mount holder is suitable for most casting, spin and baitcaster rods. It will accommodate rods up to about 7 feet in length, depending on the reel size.
Can a fish finder be mounted?
Yes, there is a special cutout for installing a fish finder. The Yellowfin 120 has an integrated 12V power connector plug in the console for easy installation.
Conclusion
Vibe Kayaks’ Yellowfin 120 lives up to its reputation as a versatile and customizable fishing kayak. It offers excellent stability and load-carrying capacity, as well as numerous rigging and accessory options.
For anglers who value ease of fishing over speed, the Yellowfin 120 is an excellent value. Although the hull is not the fastest, the balanced design makes it suitable for fishing in lakes, rivers, coastal waters, and deep sea.
