Jim

I am no expert by any means. And I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to paddle different boats. Mostly recreational and touring. I found the touring boats tracked a little straighter, but they also had a narrower bottom. Which caused them to be a little tippier. Not all recreational kayaks are alike either as I'm sure you know. That's why I recommend if at all possible to try different boats.

jalama. Since you don't live close to a dealer than I would suggest visiting different manufacturers web sites. Look at their recreational kayaks. There are also some web sites that are dedicated to kayak fishing. I'm not familiar with SOT kayaks so I can't help you there. But from what I understand they are designed more for recreational use and are very popular for the salt in warmer climates.