Best Fishing Shirt

by John Wren

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

Bestseller No. 1
Men's Sun Protection Fishing Shirts Long Sleeve Travel Work Shirts for Men UPF50+ Button Down Shirts with Zipper Pockets(Navy Large)
  • UPF50+ PROTECTION: Pudolla mens button-down fishing shirts built-in upf 50+ protection from the sun's harmful ray to keeps skin safe, during fishing or summer.
  • ROLL-UP SLEEVES & VENTILATION BACK: Roll up sleeves using the hidden tab holders, convert short-sleeve work shirt is super comfortable for long days of outdoor. mesh-lined cape vents at the back to...
  • COOL & QUICK DRY : Cool lightweight fabric reduces hot weather worries, moisture wicks and faster drying offers comfortable. with a water repellent are great for wet weather outdoors.
  • UTILITY POCKETS: One zipper pockets at left chest, Two chest pockets with velcro closures, and so you can store small tools while fishing. made with a glasses cleaner built into the hem, keep your...
  • MULTIPLE COLOR VERSATILE FOR: Lightweight button-down fishing shirt great for travel, fishing, working, hiking, gardening, boating summer hot weather and outdoor activities.
Bestseller No. 2
33,000ft Men's Long Sleeve Sun Protection Shirt UPF 50+ UV Quick Dry Cooling Fishing Shirts for Travel Safari Camping Hiking Khaki
  • 【UPF50+ Sun Protection】The UV protection shirt prevent you from sunburns and long-term skin damage by blocking harmful UVA and UVB, delivers a relaxed fit for all-day comfort.
  • 【Breathable & Quick Dry】 Unique high-tech air vent fabric keeps the breeze flowing in and the heat flowing out, delivers excellent moisture-wicking and quick-dry abilities to help all-day cooling.
  • 【Water-resistant & Wrinkle Free】The men’s shirt is made of water resistant fabric and stain repelling materials to keep you dry and clean for outdoor hiking, fishing and other activities....
  • 【Functional Design for Outdoors】 This hiking shirts have 2 chest utility pockets with sunglasses loop and pen holder slot for convenient storage; A built-in glasses cleaning cloth at the hem...
  • 【Roll-Up Sleeve】The Long sleeve shirts featuring with buttons and tab holders at the arms to convert long sleeves to short sleeves for hotter days. 2 Buttons at the cuffs to adjust the cuff to...
Bestseller No. 3
Columbia Men's Bahama II UPF 30 Short Sleeve PFG Fishing Shirt, Gulf Stream, Large
  • 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...
Bestseller No. 4
Roadbox UPF 50+ Fishing Shirts for Men Long Sleeve Sun Protection Lightweight Outdoor UV Hiking Shirts
  • UPF 50+ Polyester Fabric: Experience our sun protection clothing crafted from UPF 50+ polyester fabric,offering lightweight comfort,softness,and reliable UV protection. It's the perfect gift for your...
  • UV Protection: With UPF 50+ UV protection,our men's long sleeve fishing hoodie shield your skin and neck from sun rays,allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities worry-free.
  • Moisture-Wicking Technology: Designed with moisture-wicking and quick-dry technology,our mens swim shirts swiftly remove moisture from your skin,keeping you dry and comfortable. Whether...
  • Ergonomic Design: Meticulously designed,our fishing shirts seamlessly combine ergonomic flat lockstitch sewing for a natural,unrestricted feel.
  • Versatile for All Outdoor Sports: Tailored for fishing,hiking,traveling,boating,climbing,running,workout,or simply lounging at the beach,our sun protection clothing ensures optimal protection for any...
Bestseller No. 5
BASSDASH Men’s UPF 50 Performance Fishing Shirt Cooling Hoodie Camo Long Sleeve FS17M
  • Certified UPF 50+ fabric for maximum protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays
  • Innovative camo design on sleeves & hat - Attractive yet inconspicuous camouflage pattern with natural blended colors stands out from other shirts
  • The streamlined hood provides greater sun protection over your neck and ears; The built-in thumbholes are designed to keep the sleeves in place; Hidden zippered side pocket for keeping your personal...
  • Mesh panels at two sides of the body and the hat for enhanced ventilation, pulling moisture away rapidly from the skin and keeping you dry; 4-way stretch fabric and roomy raglan sleeves for a full...
  • Perfect for a day on the water and also suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, cycling, kayaking and more
Bestseller No. 6
HUK Men's Standard Pursuit Vented Long Sleeve Hoodie, Fishing Shirt with Hood, Moss, Medium
  • 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 hoodie 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
  • MOISTURE TRANSPORT: Keeping dry is critical to keeping warm on the cold water - this sweatshirt's material has hydrophobic qualities to transports water & sweat away from the skin
  • 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
Bestseller No. 7
Alimens & Gentle Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt Wicking Fabric Sun Protection Casual Button Down Shirts
  • Fabric: Soft & coolness fabric made from 100% premium polyester blend fabric. The cooling technology help moisture evaporates quickly to keep you cool and your clothing dry. The UPF 40+ fabric blocks...
  • Breathable: This short sleeve fishing shirt features hidden mesh-lined vents at back and quick dry fabric for ultimate comfort and breathability.
  • Size: Fits true to size and regular fit style make you feel good and comfortable when wearing; please follow the size chart indication in the product description.
  • Occasion: The quick dry fabric for breathable and cool, suitable for Summer Wear/ Fishing/ Hiking/ Climbing/ Camping/ Hunting/ Mountaineering/ Shooting/ Cycling/ Sport/ Outdoor/ Work.
  • Care: Dry, Laundry, Machine Washable/ Handwash in cold water. Hang dry and low iron if necessary.
Bestseller No. 8
Columbia Men's PFG Tamiami II UPF 40 Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt, Cypress, X-Large
  • OMNI-SHADE: Be safe and protected. Omni-Shade blocks UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage. The tight weave construction with UV absorbent yarns block the full spectrum...
  • OMNI-WICK: The ultimate moisture management technology for the outdoors. Omni-Wick quickly moves moisture from the skin into the fabric where it spreads across the surface to quickly...
  • PERFORMANCE FEATURES: Two self-draining pockets and a rod holder keep the essentials at the ready, while freeing up hands to secure your next lure.
  • BUTTON DOWN STYLE: When you're out over the water staying cool and dry is paramount. An adjustable button up with vented back add breathable comfort in this angler inspired short sleeve.
  • BUILT TO LAST: Columbia’s attention to detail is what sets our apparel apart from others. We use only the highest quality materials, expert craftsmanship, and durable stitching. This is a...

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.

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