Flats fishing is very popular in Texas, since the flats are very productive fishery. The warm and shallow water are home for the most prized fish species, including redfish, seatrout, flounder, and more.
But the skinny water and tides present a challenge to local anglers who fish from boats, since they risk being stranded, or worse – damaging the motor’s propeller and even its lower unit.
Kayaks are often used for fishing the flats, but their limited range of travel and the discomfort imposed on their users has most anglers stay away from them.
The solution seems easy, and it is to fish out of a boat that’s lightweight enough to have a very shallow draft, and that can be propelled manually with paddles, since poling isn’t much of a real world solution for non athletic anglers. But such a boat would still be drafting as much as its outboard requires for proper functioning, which raises the question why not use a mud motor with it, as mud motors can operate in extremely shallow water –
The reason why mud motors are less popular than conventional outboard motors is mainly their bigger size and heavier weight, which require the boat to be more stable. Price wise, mud motors are not necessarily more expensive than conventional outboard motors of similar horsepower.
The following video shows a Wavewalk S4 kayak skiff powered by a 6.5 HP Twister from Mud Skipper
The video shows how effective the motor is for going through aquatic vegetation, and over underwater obstacles.
This kayak skiff is by no means a solo skiff, and it can carry on board up to three anglers and their gear.
Unlike most microskiff, the S4 is a seaworthy boat that can go in choppy water and waves, which makes it ideal for crossing open water, bays and estuaries even under rough conditions, and it can serve fishermen who fish in deep water.