It may just be me but I prefer a canoe. I have fished from canoes for decades before kayaks became a thing. I understand that kayaks are easier to paddle and some have pedal drive but they are so confining and limited. I am going to stick with a canoe. If you caught a big fish what would you do with it in a kayak. The cooler is too hard to get too in the kayak and everyone is right you want to seal up your important stuff like wallet, phone, smokes, etc. in a kayak or a canoe and yes, a paddlers life vest is a must. I use a canoe and when alone I paddle it backward and with two or three of us we go forward. Don't imagine you could have three in a Kayak.
Tim