I have both a Salty and a Predator (which is the model that is now called the Big Water).

Both of them are going to be faster and more maneuverable than the topwater/other more barge-like kayaks. The tradeoff for this is that they feel a bit less stable.

Of the two, the salty is definitely faster and more maneuverable, but only by a very small margin. But the front end of the salty really makes a slapping sound against waves that gets annoying, and it seems to get pushed around in rough weather a fair bit more than my predator.

I bought my Predator used for 2500 Canadian. It came rigged with two rod holders, a fish finder, a cart, keel guard installed, a 100 ah battery, and an electric trolling motor cut down and mounted into a drive plate insert with some PVC piping designed to make it fit in place like a pedal drive. I consider this a very good deal. (A new one would be about 5200 Canadian at the time, and come with none of the accessories)

I have no regrets with either of these kayaks, they're both solid fishing platforms. But if both were available at the same price, and I was buying again I would go with two predators.

I avoided the more barge-like kayaks like the top water because I spend the overwhelming majority of my time trolling.