Viking Profish Reload Review – Offshore Fishing Kayak Tested Over 5+ Years

By Jason | 15-Year Kayak Industry Veteran

If you’re serious about offshore kayak fishing, the Profish Reload from Viking Kayaks is a name you’ll hear often — and for good reason. I’ve personally used the Reload as my dedicated offshore kayak for over five years, and this review shares my honest, long-term experience with it on the water.

🌊 Made for Offshore Conditions

The Profish Reload is designed and built in New Zealand — a country with a strong offshore fishing culture. At 4.5 meters long, 75 cm wide, and weighing 31 kg, it’s crafted with ocean paddling in mind. While it performs well in lakes and rivers, it truly excels offshore, where speed, stability, and smart design matter most.

With a 200 kg weight capacity, the kayak handles big paddlers, heavy gear, and large catches with ease. I’ve seen guys over 150 kg loaded up with fish in challenging surf, and the Reload remained impressively stable.

🎒 Tackle Pod System – The Game Changer

The Tackle Pod system on the Reload is hands-down one of the smartest designs I’ve seen in a kayak:

  • Fully removable pod: Prep your tackle the night before, then just drop it in and go.

  • All-in-one electronics hub: Your battery, transducer, and fish finder are all housed in the pod.

  • Quick swap system: I run two pods — one for tackle, and one configured for live baiting.

  • Twin Tackle Pod option: Available as an upgrade, perfect for bait-focused sessions.

Just pull a single pin to detach the pod. It’s efficient, secure, and keeps your setup modular and clean.

Viking Profish Reload & GT Tackle Pod

Viking Profish Reload & GT Tackle Pod

🚀 Speed, Surf, and Stability

At 4.5 meters, the Reload offers just the right amount of speed and glide to punch through surf, cover long distances, and troll effectively — without becoming unwieldy in rough launch zones.

Its 75 cm beam offers amazing stability, whether you’re a smaller paddler or fully geared up. The flared bow, responsive hull, and fast-draining scupper holes make beach launches and surf entries far more manageable.

🪑 Comfort & Ergonomics for Long Sessions

The low seat position keeps your center of gravity stable and connected. Personally, I don’t even use a backrest — just a foam pad. The built-in lower lumbar support and angled foot pedals give you a strong, ergonomic paddling position.

Add thigh braces, and you’ve got a locked-in feel that mimics a sea kayak — giving you full control, especially in rough water or surf.

🧭 Foot Pedals & Rudder System

Viking’s foot pedal steering system is one of the best I’ve used:

  • You can still brace and leg-drive while paddling.

  • Light toe pressure turns the rudder easily.

  • The angler rudder is responsive, weed-friendly, and auto-kicks up if it hits anything in shallow water.

This system is simple but effective — ideal for fishing in variable offshore conditions.

Close-up of Viking kayak rudder blade

Close-up of Viking kayak rudder blade

🎣 Fishing-Ready Out of the Box

The Profish Reload comes factory-equipped with:

  • 4 rear flush-mount rod holders

  • 2 cockpit rod holders — perfect for landing fish or changing lures

  • Side paddle holders

  • Large front oval hatch for storing a trolley, seat, or dry bags

  • Multiple 6-inch hatches for tackle, food, leaders, or wet lures

I use the front hatch to stash my C-Tug trolley and seat, while the cockpit hatches are perfect for quick access to essentials. Wet lures go in the center hatch between my legs, which I rinse out after every session.

Viking Profish Reload Premium Off-shore Fishing Kayak

Viking Profish Reload Premium Off-shore Fishing Kayak

🧊 Fish Storage Options

Depending on conditions and catch size, I switch between:

⚙️ Rigging Tips for Serious Anglers

Some key upgrades I always install:

  • Railblaza rod tubes (in front) – great for trolling and rigging baits

  • StarPort + G-Hold – secures my gaff tightly for surf landings

  • Rod tip guides & bungee toggles – keep rods low and safe in surf

  • Straps for Tackle Pod lid – secure reels and seal the pod during launches

When launching in heavy surf, I strip my rods, stash reels in a dry bag, and lay rods flat under bungees — everything stays protected and dry.

🌊 Surf-Ready Design

Coming from a sea kayak background, I appreciate the responsive hull and flared bow. It’s stable, drains quickly, and is fully surf-capable. One of the most essential upgrades for surf? Thigh braces. They keep you locked in, help lift the leading edge in side chop, and increase control — but you can still straighten your legs and exit instantly.

🎥 Camera Setup for Fishing Footage

I highly recommend the Railblaza Camera Boom 600:

  • Use one mount over your shoulder for paddle/fishing shots.

  • Add a second StarPort at the bow for front-facing footage.

  • Easily swap angles or remove it to use underwater.

This setup helps capture clean, stable content from all angles with minimal fuss.

Railblaza Camera Boom 600 R-Lock

Railblaza Camera Boom 600 R-Lock

🧭 Final Thoughts – Is the Profish Reload Worth It?

After over five years using the Viking Profish Reload almost exclusively for offshore fishing, I can confidently say it’s one of the most versatile, stable, and cleverly designed fishing kayaks on the market.

Whether you’re heading out for tuna, trolling hard bodies, or even just enjoying a paddle with the kids — the Reload delivers.

✅ Robust plastic construction
✅ 6-year hull warranty
✅ Designed for real offshore conditions
✅ Dealers in NZ, Australia, USA, UK, France & more

Thinking about getting one? I highly recommend giving it a look at kayakandsup.com.au or your local Viking dealer.

This is more than just a kayak — it’s a trusted platform for serious offshore anglers.