As a female (5'2", 112lb) and a newbie to kayaking. I have paddled an Ocean Kayak rental, a Necky Spike (12ft) and Necky Elaho (17ft). We picked up the Neckys off Craig's List. Great kayaks at a great price, especially since they are our first kayaks.
Personally, I love the Necky Elaho. My boyfriend is a stronger paddler than I and the Necky Elaho allows me to keep up with him, and at times, he has to keep up with me (don't let him see this post - LOL).
The Elaho has an optional rudder system so it is easier to maneuver and keep on the straight and narrow. Due to the length of the Elaho, it is a bit more difficult (for me) to make tight turns.
I also find the Elaho to be much more stable than the Spike and I have paddled it in lakes, rivers, lagoons, and open water. Even with some heavy chop, I was able to maintain direction, speed, and stability.
Good luck and happy kayaking!!!
As my esteemed girlfriend (Who's new to Blade Forums and knives in general...give her a warm welcome!) has said, I love the Necky Spike. An absolutely amazing jack of all trades kayak that is great in surf, lagoons, rivers, pretty much anywhere but offshore. It's deck is flat, which allows for tons of attachments and cargo carriage, and the entire body is hollow, allowing for even more internal storage. It is not designed for heavy yakkers, but it is a fantastic yak that receives glowing reviews from most all who paddle it. Check around, and I'm sure you'll find this to be true.
Good yak companies are Wilderness Systems, Necky, and Current, among others, but I find these to be the three most consistent good performers in the rotomolded (and often composite) categories. I suggest hoping on a paddling forum and asking around to see popular options.
If I were to give a piece of advice, it would be to stay away from yaks like Ocean Kayak and most Pelican Kayaks and the like. They are typically of lower quality and don't paddle very well unless you're really on a tight budget. The problem with Ocean Kayaks and others similarly shaped, is that they are very slow, and suffer from a strange stability situation. They have a very high primary stability, i.e. you can practically stand up in it, but suffers from a severe lack of secondary stability. This (without too thorough an explanation) means that if a large wave comes along, and lifts you up, you will be tossed over, due to the shape of your yak's bottom. A kayak, such as the Necky, who appears unstable when you first sit on it, shines incredibly in the waves, as, when a wave comes, and you ride sideways up it's face, your kayak tilts to match the wave's contour, with the chines on its side catching you at the last second, and keeping you from rolling. This also allows a longer kayak to become much more maneuverable. Interestingly, these principles make Ocean Kayaks not very useful in the ocean unless you are in relatively still water. If you're still confused as to what I'm talking about, google the terms primary and secondary kayak stability and you'll find a clearer explanation with diagrams.
http://www.topkayaker.net/Articles/Instruction/HullDesign.htm
The above site will invariably help a ton.
Many outdoor shops have kayak testing days, where they take out several brands and several models in each brand, of their kayaks, and allow people to test them for free. This is highly advantageous, as it allows you to find something comfortable, and get advice from people who know significantly more than you do, in order to find yourself a good fit. A kayak that isn't fun to paddle collects dust, and does not a good investment make.
For Kayak fishing, definitely check out the Wilderness Systems Tarpon line. Great yaks that are beautiful for fishing in the areas you specified.
Whatever you do, enjoy yourself! Yakking rocks, and is an awesome workout, and often encourages you to buy new knives (which of course is awesome too).
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
-Ape
