Review Detail

After meeting with the good folks at Pelican Kayaks at an event earlier this year, I was excited to test out the Elie Gulf 120XE fishing kayak. Initially, you see right off the bat; this kayak has a ton of features for the kayak angler. Several hatches allowing inside access, rod holders, and a rudder come with this kayak right out of the box! Designed with the kayak angler in mind, this kayak offers the kayak angler an affordable means to target their favorite species of fish.

First Glance

The deck layout of this kayak was very appealing to me as I favor an open cockpit on my fishing kayaks. This gives the angler a feeling of not being cluttered while sitting in the kayak. First feature I noticed is the rudder which comes standard on the kayak. A rudder helps with steering the kayak on those rough and unfavorable days, and also assists the angler when drifting.

Hatches

There are 3 hatches on the kayak, allowing for easy access to the “guts” of the kayak. The bow has a Quick Lock hatch which gives inside access in the front of the kayak for storing gear. In the center of the cockpit is another Quick Lock hatch. The last hatch is behind the seat and contains a day bag for dry storage. Each hatch was extremely easy to operate and provided the necessary access to the inside of the kayak for attaching such accessories as anchor trolleys, etc.

Cockpit

Easily one of my favorite features of this kayak, the cockpit of the kayak is clean and free of obstructions. It comes with a molded bottle holder and a Scotty swivel rod holder. Adjustable foot pegs allow for easy maneuvering of the rests to the angler’s desired position. The Elie Gulf 120XE Angler kayak also comes standard with eyelet attach points for additional accessories. The kayak also comes with two flush mount rod holders for the angler.

Seat

Elie uses the ErgoFlex Seating System, designed to provide all day comfort for the kayak angler. The cushion of the seat offered adequate padding to prevent fatigue, and the backrest is adjustable to fit just about everyone. I liked the seat cushion area, and the ability to adjust the seat height to fit my taller frame, but did not like how flexible it was while out on the water. I understand we’re all different in our preferences, but I prefer a stiffer backrest for support. Overall, the seat was comfortable.

Rear Storage

The rear storage area on the Gulf 120XE angler is enormous, with plenty of room to store an excess of gear. I was easily able to carry my milkcrate and cooler in the rear storage area with some room to spare. Bungee cords are there to assist in securing of any extra gear that the angler may wish to bring.
Stability and Performance

With a beam of 30”, this kayak does provide the stability for a smooth ride out on the water. I was impressed with how easily the kayak paddled without even using the rudder. Very receptive to paddle strokes and turning, and I was able to rock the kayak profusely from side to side with relative ease and negate the fear of tipping or turtling the kayak. The kayak paddles extremely well and with relative ease, and offers plenty of speed without an increased amount of exertion.

Overall

I was very impressed with the overall performance of the Elie Gulf 120XE Angler kayak. The kayak paddled very smoothly without the rudder, and even more so with the rudder deployed. The cockpit layout of the kayak is very clean and open allowing the angler plenty of room while sitting in the kayak. The features that come standard with the kayak allow the angler the ability to go straight to the water without the need to purchase and install additional accessories The performance of this kayak and accessories fit the newcomer to the sport as well as a seasoned veteran.