2020 Hobie Mirage Passport 12 Unboxing & First Impressions

[@kimcottle473]

I'm picking mine up this weekend. Thanks for the review! You really got me geeked up to pick mine up!! Appreciate your time and efforts with giving us a first look. I feel much more confident after watching your video!! Keep on doing you!!

[@EternalAngler]

Yeah this was just kind of an unboxing, I have yet to get out on it due to using my main boat so much out on Lake St. Clair and with the musky bite being good, it's hard to pass on such adrenaline pumping action. I'll be getting out on the Hobie shortly though... Let me know how ya like it, I'm excited to get out on mine!

[@bigpatakalilpat]

Congrats man! I’m really looking forward to your future videos on this thing!!

[@EternalAngler]

Hell yeah, the scenery I've seen from other anglers on KZbin is amazing!

[@sunnybhai1904]

I love your excitement! I’d love one of these for next year (or maybe the outback) but this looks to be everything you need!

[@EternalAngler]

A lot of fun to use, can cover a lot ground(water) with the mirage drive, with little effort too.

[@sunnybhai1904]

Eternal Angler yeah I definitely think this is a perfect entry! The season is nearing an end so it will be next year for me. It would be gorgeous to be out on the water with the trees turning during fall. Hope you continue to have good experiences this year. Btw I love your videos, subscribed!

[@EternalAngler]

@@sunnybhai1904 it's a great investment if you love to fish, that's for sure, sadly took me this long. Yeah I want to get back out on the Hobie soon, the colors on the trees would make for a beautiful video. Thanks, I subbed back, hope to see some expeditions up on your channel too one day.

[@GeneBussler]

I’m picking one up Saturday. I’m here in Michigan also. I live down in Rockwood. This video helped with my decision to do so.

[@EternalAngler]

Can't go wrong with this base model hobie, I love it, paid it off earlier this year! Just wish I had more time to use it from my job... I also think after being on the hobie forums, the 360 drive is more prone to breaking, so mirage drive is still better to me.

[@GeneBussler]

@@EternalAngler This will be my first kayak. I’m 6’2” and I weigh around 260. Were you ever able to get comfortable standing in this kayak?

[@EternalAngler]

@@GeneBussler not so much even though its a 12 footer, you'd have to go with a more expensive and longer hobie for that. You can stand up, but its bit wobbly.

[@GeneBussler]

@@EternalAngler I was also looking at a Jackson Liska and the Perception Outlaw 11.5. Both of those have good reviews for standing and fishing stability. I think I’ll just give this one to my wife and buy the Outback for myself.

[@EternalAngler]

@@GeneBussler yeah if you're looking primarily for standing, ive heard some of those you mentioned might be a better option. I didn't need to stand, so the hobie mirage passport worked great for my expectations. Although there are extensions you can supposedly add to the sides that make it more stable www.hobie.com/accessories/sidekick-ama-kit/

[@FishinTheMittinTV]

Awesome looking kayak!! I’ll have to keep an eye out for ya on the water this year.

[@EternalAngler]

Yes sir Fishin The Mittin, give me a hollar if you see me!

[@bassmatazzfishing]

Enjoy your new tool, they are much more rugged than you may think.

[@AlexODO]

Awesome work Erik ! Love it

[@EternalAngler]

Got one life to live on this planet, gotta make most of it Al. You ever get one, we all can go out, I know Northern Mike has a yak!

[@BillsCatch22]

Congrats on the new boat! When you do hook into to a nice musky, strap in! We call those sleigh rides lol Let me know when you take that baby out

[@EternalAngler]

Hahaha, yeah going to be interesting when I hook into a ski! For sure Bill...

[@railroadtrash09]

Love mine! I'm going to get the bigger rudder.

[@EternalAngler]

Ahhh, good idea, prolly better for making tighter turns. I think I'll stick with stock though, the rudder picks up some weeds in back at times, I tend to shake them loose by wiggling the turning lever back and forth. I do love the fact that the Hobie Mirage drive goes through the weeds better than most kayaks with a propeller system. Wish I got out more with my Passport 12 in 2020, wanted to get out this fall musky fishing, but had to put it in storage due to moving... Can't wait to get back out on some lakes this spring!

[@railroadtrash09]

@@EternalAngler You are correct, it is excellent! My reason is because I made a sail from bamboo, feather flag pole and some painters plastic. It turns windy days, that would otherwise ruin my trip, into some sailing fun. The bigger rudder would allow me to steer better. Also making some outriggers.

[@stephaniebuzzella1]

I just ordered mine & I'm DYING 😂😍

[@EternalAngler]

Awesome, let me know how it goes, I'm still out on my main boat fishing Lake St. Clair for musky and smallmouth, I hope to get out soon on an inland lake with the Passport, can't wait!

[@NorthernMike]

That boat should open up a lot of adventures man. So this particular model is suppose to allow you to stand up? What a huge advantage for a yak.

[@EternalAngler]

Hell yeah, lugging around the Bass Raider was a bit too much, along with the trolling motor and battery, I just didn't get anywhere with that setup like I wanted to. Not necessarily, it's just that the 12 footers are more stable in general than the 10 footers, that's the impression I got from the more experienced bass fishermen that kayak fish on BassResource.com www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/207267-10ft-vs-12ft-kayak/ Jim Mac - "Before I bought my Frontier 12', I demoed the Frontier 10' and it tipped completely over, with me with it, of course. And at that point, I had been kayaking for about 5 years. It is the most tippy kayak I ever tried. " J Francho - "I've never really found a 10' that I enjoyed. There was just no room for anything, and they seemed like a toy. There's a TON of options once you step into that 12' realm." B-Dozer - "Yeah I didn't want to knock those with 10', but I never was comfortable in one either. " haggard - "Assuming you're looking at the exact same boat in 10 vs 12, the main difference will be the 10 may be slightly more nimble/agile but will require more input from you, while the 12 will be slightly faster and more controllable (better tracking)." Bass_Fishing_Socal - "If youe budget around (consider accessories like wheel cart and extensions/roof rack), including your health to be able to lift, and your storage, I would go for 12' or bigger. It is more stable and of course more storage." I did a good amount of research and came to the conclusion I'd rather buy a 12 footer be safe than sorry, especially if I ever plan to take it out in the bays of Lake St. Clair. Even smarter thing to do is probably go to a kayak shop where they allow you to test each kayak. I remember watching this Bill Catch 22's video a couple years back, which was awesome. It really gets into pretty good detail how each model and make is different for stability, speed, agility, along with other things kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZyQl6V3lNifo9k Sadly due to Corona, no kayak shops were open so I just said fuck it and bought one... But going with an extra size up for a bit more safety and security, hopefully I made the right choice! I also definitely watched a few KZbin videos standing up as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKW9nGStgNRqq9k

[@NorthernMike]

@@EternalAngler Honestly, do what I did. Wait a little for the water to warm up, then take it to a place like kent on a 80°+ day and get used to it. They say to actually tip it over in shallow water so you can practice what to do. I was SO surprised that my 8.5' yak was as stable as it was, but I did sacrifice tracking going that small. I outfitted it with a lot to keep everything attached to the kayak if it tips (except for the rod I'm using).

[@markschwieterman2296]

You live in Michigan or Indiana you should take that thing out on the Kalamazoo river or the St Joe river or some of the rivers here in Indiana

[@EternalAngler]

Southeastern Michigan right next to Lake St. Clair. Thanks for the tip, I may have to try that, always enjoy trying new locations.

[@chynue]

Picking mine up in slate next Wednesday

[@EternalAngler]

Awesome Chynue, I can't wait to get out mine, I plan on launching my underwater drone from it as well, not just fish from it. Checkout the Gladius Mini and Chasing M2... Pretty neat!

[@TheBeatloaf69]

This is a good review I'm looking into getting one myself.

[@EternalAngler]

Thanks, hopefully get a more lengthy review once I get some time with it!

[@aaronkarns3589]

I’m so jealous that you got a hobie. Let me know when we are going out! I might have a little trouble keeping up with you though lol

[@EternalAngler]

I figured it definitely be worth it, looking forward to some topwater fishing from the Hobie, hopefully sone fly fishing in the future...

[@ethankarls7906]

Did you order this off of Amazon? I am looking to get one and Amazon says that they are in unavailable

[@EternalAngler]

I ordered mine off ebay through kayak city, I heard a lot of companies are sold out www.ebay.com/usr/kayak.city

[@Corkfish1]

I'm looking at the 10.5. Is there a difference between 2019 and 2020?

[@EternalAngler]

Not sure if there's anything different, but I went with the 2020 anyways... I was looking at the 10.5 mainly at first, but then read what a lot of bass fishermen were saying on BassResource.com about stability, I thought the 12 would look big on my Dodge Dart, not at all, worked quite well and looked great with the Yakima EasyTop Car Rack! Plus if I ever take this out on Lake St. Clair, I wanted those extra feet. I've seen a few others kayakars still say on youtube that the 10.5 is pretty nice! instagram.com/p/CAMegUsgBH-/ bit.ly/3cYjHCF Jim Mac - "Before I bought my Frontier 12', I demoed the Frontier 10' and it tipped completely over, with me with it, of course. And at that point, I had been kayaking for about 5 years. It is the most tippy kayak I ever tried. " J Francho - "I've never really found a 10' that I enjoyed. There was just no room for anything, and they seemed like a toy. There's a TON of options once you step into that 12' realm." B-Dozer - "Yeah I didn't want to knock those with 10', but I never was comfortable in one either. " haggard - "Assuming you're looking at the exact same boat in 10 vs 12, the main difference will be the 10 may be slightly more nimble/agile but will require more input from you, while the 12 will be slightly faster and more controllable (better tracking)." Bass_Fishing_Socal - "If youe budget around (consider accessories like wheel cart and extensions/roof rack), including your health to be able to lift, and your storage, I would go for 12' or bigger. It is more stable and of course more storage."

[@chynue]

I went with the 12ft because you get better stability

[@EternalAngler]

@@chynue awesome, you made the right choice!

[@aflattire]

After a month how's it holding up?

[@EternalAngler]

Hahaha, I haven't it used it yet, been out on my Crestliner Superhawk mostly due to the smallies biting like crazy on Lake St. Clair with the Megabass, but as the fish flies hatch, I will be getting out shortly with it to some inland lakes...

[@jamiekarner141]

220?

[@EternalAngler]

About my average weight since senior year high school, graduated weighing 230. Keto took a few pounds off though ; )

[@viniciusbainy2494]

what's your height ?

[@EternalAngler]

6' 1"