re: Kayakin OB experts i call upon you..

hobie

LTFT, there goes your fishing trip Easter week...

Let me preface this by saying you need to DEMO. And you're picking the perfect time because the spring is when all the local outfits will hold demo days (Massey's in NO, The Backpacker in BR, and Pack n Paddle in Laffy). You can take all the advice in the world off of message boards, but you 1000% need to demo a few to get a feel for what you like/don't like.

Hobies will be expensive and probably a little much for what you're looking to do. Pond hopping in a hobie with a mirage drive can be cumbersome as well because of the shallow water. My neighbor has a tarpon and a hoble and prefers the tarpon in the marsh. Plus since your kids are still young, they may have trouble with reaching the peddals. But yes, hobie would be the best for long distance runs looking for specs. Hobies go from the $1200 to the $3000 range new.

Since your kids aren't full grown adults, I'd say probably an ascend/tarpon type would be perfect. They're probably small enough to stand in those boats (with practice) and those boats move pretty well. You're looking (new) in the $500-$800 range here.

I strictly marsh fish with mine so i wanted something very stable that i could stand in plus i wasn't that worried about speed because my trips are short. I went with a diablo, it's like a frickin bay boat as far as stability and paddles easy enough for 5-6 mile days. KC Kayaks and from what i hear Jackson Coosa's will fit this billing too. You're looking at $1000 (Coosa)-$1500 (diablo/KC) here.