Making the most of your fishing trip can go beyond getting the best fishing equipment.
Fishing is usually a hobby spread out over several hours, so you will want to feel comfortable in the most well suited fishing shirt that will keep you cool when the weather is hot and warm if you’re still out as it starts to get dark.
Sounds like a tall task doesn’t it? But don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you and have hand picked our Top 5 fishing shirts to show you.
Our reviews on these shirts are coming up shortly, and after that we’ve got a buying guide for you which runs through everything you might want to think about before you buy.
Following that, we’ve also got a section where we answer some your most frequently asked questions.
Best Fishing Shirts – Reviews
- 100 percent polyester wicking fabrics allow your sweat to actually evaporate, cooling you off in the process while other materials trap sweat close to your body and make you feel hot and sticky. It...
- Skin Cancer Foundation Recommended Product; UPF 50+ Ultraviolet Protection. Roadbox UPF 50+ fishing hoodies gives you a touch of UPF protection to shield your skin and neck from the sun's rays. Let...
- The ultralight fishing shirt is cut for a great fit and a natural combine with the ergonomic flat lockstitch sewing design to give you a natural, flowing feel you love without wrapping you in...
- Built for athletic activities like fishing, hiking, traveling, boating, climbing, running, workout or simply sitting at the beach all day. Our sun protection clothing provide optimal protection for...
- We're confident this gear is some of the best you'll find, but we don't want you to get stuck with running shoes or apparel that don't work for you. That's why we offer our Happy Fit Guarantee. Our...
- OMNI-SHADE: UV protection at its best, Omni-Shade materials block UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage. The tight weave construction offers lasting sun protection...
- FISH EASY: Designed specifically for anglers, this lightweight, relaxed fit, nylon shirt dries fast, keeps you cool, and protects against harmful UV light
- BREEZY COOL: Mesh-lined back vents let in and out a cooling breeze—perfect in hot, humid weather
- PERFORMANCE DETAILS: A rod holder provides hands-free convenience, and four chest pockets with hook-and-loop closures help store your small essentials
- BUILT TO LAST: Columbia’s attention to detail is what sets our apparel apart. Specifying only the highest quality materials, expert stitching and craftsmanship. This is a long-lasting shirt you will...
- Long sleeve design and 50+ UPF protection keeps your skin healthy, so you can be active all day in the sun with confidence
- The moisture-wicking fabric manages the perspiration to keep you dry and comfortable
- The breathability enhanced with the Mesh Back / Under Sleeve keeps you cool when active in heat
- The elastic material allows for a full range of movement when casting or reeling in
- Great for fishing and hiking adventures as well as casual wear
- HUK: Uniting anglers through performance-engineered, technical gear designed to fuel your passion and pursuit no matter when, where or how you fish
- COOLING FIBERS: Cooling fibers work to remove heat from the surface of your skin, helping to dump body heat and keep you more comfortable and on the water longer
- SUN PROTECTION: This fishing shirt protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays - Huk added the most advanced sun-blocking +50 UPF materials to their apparel to block both UVA and UVB rays
- STAIN RELEASE: Because fishing can be dirty, Huk added a special stain release treatment that not only enables stains to be easily washed out but also resists oily substances from attaching to the...
- SUPERIOR BREATHABILITY: Keep your skin dry and comfortable on the water - Huk performance shirts includes special fibers that transport sweat away from the skin and synthetic materials that allow air...
- Long sleeve design and 50+ UPF protection keeps your skin healthy, so you can be active all day in the sun with confidence; Comfortable, relaxed mock turtleneck and hood for extra sun protection of...
- The moisture-wicking fabric manages the perspiration to keep you dry and comfortable
- The breathability enhanced with the Mesh Back / Under Sleeve keeps you cool when active in heat
- The elastic material allows for a full range of movement when casting or reeling in
- Great for fishing adventure as well as casual wear - well suited as a sun protection golf T shirt, UV long sleeve tennis shirt and sun blocking long sleeve gardening shirt; Also great for other...
- Long sleeve design and 50+ UPF protection keeps your skin healthy, so you can be active all day in the sun with confidence; The 4-way stretchy material allows for a full range of movement when casting...
- With a built-in hood and neck gaiter - the neck gaiter can be worn as a mask and it is soft and breathable, enhanced with mesh breathing holes to help keep your sunglasses clear without fogging up;...
- The moisture-wicking fabric manages the perspiration to keep you dry and comfortable; The breathability enhanced with mesh panels at two sides of the body and under sleeves for added venting to keep...
- Thumb loops on the cuff of the sleeves help to keep the sleeves firmly in place, for added protection of potential exposed skin between a cuff edge and glove
- Great for fishing adventure as well as casual wear - well suited as a sun protection golf T shirt, UV long sleeve tennis shirt and sun blocking long sleeve gardening shirt; Also great for other...
- HUK: Uniting anglers through performance-engineered, technical gear designed to fuel your passion and pursuit no matter when, where or how you fish
- SUN PROTECTION: This fishing shirt protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays - Huk added the most advanced sun-blocking +50 UPF materials to their apparel to block both UVA and UVB rays
- COOLING: Convection cooling allows your body to naturally cool without accelerated dehydration
- COMFORTABLE: Extremely comfortable crew top with blended fabric to provide flexibility and stretch
- KC SCOTT ARTWORK: World-class marine artist KC Scott’s art stands as an ode to the on-the-water action that anglers perpetually crave and pursue.
- HUK: Uniting anglers through performance-engineered, technical gear designed to fuel your passion and pursuit no matter when, where or how you fish
- SUN PROTECTION: This fishing shirt protects your skin from the sun's harmful rays - Huk added the most advanced sun-blocking +50 UPF materials to their apparel to block both UVA and UVB rays
- QUICK DRYING: Dries quickly so that you can stay comfortable on or off the water
- MOISTURE TRANSPORT: Synthetic materials along the shirt contain a hydrophobic, or "water-hating", quality within the fibers of the material which transport sweat to drier areas away from the skin
- SUPERIOR BREATH-ABILITY: Our synthetic materials allow air to pass through and contain a hydrophobic quality which transports sweat to drier areas away from the skin to the exterior of the clothing...
Best Fishing Shirts – Buyers Guide
If you’re looking for a shirt specifically to go out fishing in, we commend you for your decision, and you’ve come to the right place. Regular shirts don’t always allow the same movement or comfort you get in a shirt that’s designed to go fishing in. We’ll walk you through everything you might want to think about before you buy.
Comfort
When you’re looking for a fishing shirt, sure you can pick something that looks good. But that should by no means be your only consideration. When you’re wearing a garment for several hours, you need it to be comfortable.
There are many different factors which can affect how comfortable your shirt is. These include the fit, the material, breathability, sun protection, splash and rain protection. Let’s go through each in turn.
Fit
When casting a line you need a wide range of motion. And there are two ways to achieve this. You can go for a really loose fitting shirt, and this is a popular option. Or you can go for something that’s super tight, so it feels like you’re not wearing a shirt at all. It’s not for us to say which is the best option for you, that comes down to personal preference.
Material
Keeping at your preferred temperature can be something of a balancing act. If the material of your shirt is too thick you may get too hot. Or if you’re wearing something loose fitting and thin, you might get cold when it starts to get windy.
The material used in the shirt also affects whether it’s machine washable which is always a plus.
Breathability
If you’re fishing from a river bank you may get some much needed shade from a nearby tree. But if you’re out on a boat on a lake, you’re going to be out in the sun for a long time. And to prevent overheating, you can get fishing shirts that are ventilated to give some breathability to them. Usually this is done by placing vents in the shirt around the armpits and the back.
Sun protection
When you’re holding a rod trying to catch a fish, you don’t want to have to stop every so often to put sunscreen on. We think this is why long sleeved shirts are so popular for wearing fishing. And we’ve deliberately included several long sleeve fishing shirts amongst our Top 5 picks.
That said, it’s not by any means compulsory, and you should definitely dress how you want to dress and we’ve included a short sleeve fishing shirt in our Top 5 picks, specifically the Number 2 pick, the Columbia Men’s PFG Tamiami II Short Sleeve Shirt.
Many fishing shirts also have a UPF rating. This means that the fabric itself has some sun protection properties within the material other than merely providing shade. For wearing whilst fishing, if possible you should aim for a fishing shirt with a UPF rating of at least 30.
Your best option for sun protection however is to go for a shirt with a UPF rating of 50+ as this will block out 98% of all the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
Splash and rain protection
Some fishing shirts feature water resistance, which is a great feature when you’re pulling your fish out, or if you get caught in a light shower.
Similarly many fishing shirts feature moisture wicking properties. What this does is to help keep you dru by absorbing moisture, like sweat or splashed water, and then allow it to quickly evaporate
PFG Shirts
PFG stands for Performance Fishing Gear, and it’s specially designed for use while fishing. PFG shirts generally provide the right mix of breathability, comfort, and sun protection.
Unfortunately though this is not a common generic thing amongst clothing manufacturers, but is an exclusive element of the Columbia brand. The good news is that we’ve included some PFG shirts in our Top 5 picks, specifically our Number 1 pick, the Columbia Men’s Bahama II Long Sleeve Shirt, and our Number 2 pick, the Columbia Men’s PFG Tamiami II Short Sleeve Shirt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fishing shirts keep you cool?
Fishing shirts are specially designed to keep you cool. More often than not a fishing shirt will feature moisture wicking properties, which means that if you start to sweat, the moisture will be absorbed into the material and quickly evaporate out. All 5 of the fishing shirts in our Top 5 picks have this capability.
But that’s not the only feature that fishing shirts use to help keep you cool. A loose fit can help allow a breeze through, and some fishing shirts are made from a breathable material and/or have mesh vents.
Some people would argue that short sleeve shirts help to keep your arms cool, while others would argue that wearing long sleeves helps to keep the sun off your arms.
What does HUK stand for in fishing?
HUK is not really a fishing term. It’s the name of a brand that makes fishing gear. It’s a very good brand, and they have a broad range of apparel for men, women and youths, that’s all designed with fishing in mind, and has all the properties you could want in a fishing shirt.
We have featured 2 fishing shirts in our Top 5 picks, and they are our Number 4 pick, the HUK Mens Double Header Vented Long Sleeve Shirt, and our Number 5 pick, the HUK Men’s Fishing UPF 50+ Lightweight Icon X Camo Fade Long Sleeve Shirt.
