A great fishing shirt not only has some built-in good luck but also, more importantly, protects you from the sun and other elements. We get that buying fishing shirts online is hard. You want to know what it feels like when the wind is howling and saltwater blows in your face. Or, when you’re out baking in the sun, and the humidity is 90%. So, we did the work for you. We tested some of the best fishing shirts on the market to find the best of 2024.
Fishing encompasses everything from hitting up the local pond for bluegill and sunfish to high alpine lakes for beautiful trout to surf fishing in the punishing sun of Baja, Mexico. A good fishing shirt should fulfill all of these needs.
Growing up in San Diego, our lead tester, Rob Simpson, cut his teeth fishing the offshore waters of southern California and Baja, Mexico. His passion for fishing turned into a lifelong obsession that he has pursued from coast to coast and internationally.
Rob tested 10 different fishing shirts throughout the winter, spring, and summer. He took them out on Salida, Colorado’s Arkansas River, offshore in Southern California, on a 2-week trip to Baja, and to various alpine lakes. After all the action these shirts saw, we’re confident that one will fit the bill for your fishing adventures in 2024 and beyond.
Scroll through our reviews to find the best fishing shirts of 2024 based on our testing. Our comparison chart gives a visual of all the differences. If you want to learn more, we’ve included a buyer’s guide andan FAQ section.
Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on August 29, 2024, adding four new products, including our new budget choice, the Aftco Samurai Hoodie Shirt, and our favorite fishing shirt for bug protection, the NRS Silkweight Varial Hoodie.
The Best Fishing Shirts of 2024
- Best Overall Fishing Shirt: Simms Intruder Hoody
- Best Budget Fishing Shirt: Aftco Samurai Hoodie Shirt
- Best Fishing Shirt for Hot Weather: Patagonia Long-Sleeved Sun Stretch Shirt
- Best Fishing Shirt for Cooler Weather: Costa Voyager Performance Hoodie
- Best Fishing Shirt for Bug Protection: NRS Silkweight Varial Hoodie
Fishing Shirts Comparison Chart
How We Tested Fishing Shirts
No surprise here — we went fishing, a lot! In fact, this was a great excuse to get out on the water. We spent most of our time exploring our home waters in central Colorado: the Arkansas River. We also ventured to other local bodies of water, such as lakes, side streams, and ponds.
In addition, we spent some time fishing and floating the Grand Canyon, inshore fishing in Southern California and kayak fishing in Baja, Mexico. Over seven months, we tested the shirts in almost every imaginable type of weather, from high winds, snow and rain, and hot and sunny days.
While fishing, we loaded up pockets to see what could fit and how they handled carrying bulky and heavy items. We fiddled with buttons, thumb holes, and hoods to see how they stood up to activity, wind, and water.
We got each shirt wet and paid attention to how long it took to dry. We tested warmth by going out on snowy days when we might usually skip fishing. We also tested breathability by fishing and paddling in super hot weather, including a couple of weeks straight over 100 degrees on the Grand Canyon.
In addition to fishing, we put these shirts through the paces on hiking, trail running, and backcountry skiing adventures. This testing primarily allowed us to see how they scored on breathability and their ability to wick moisture. Unfortunately, we couldn’t really quantify the luck any one shirt brought.
However, coincidentally, we caught the most fish while wearing our best overall pick! We know fishing shirts are just a part of the essentials needed to make fishing a success. If you’re looking for advice on sunglasses, consult our guide to the Best Fishing Sunglasses. For info on the best waders out there, check out our guide to the Best Fishing Waders.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Fishing Shirt
No one fishing shirt will meet all of your needs. But, you can meet most of them by considering a range of factors that will guide your decision. When choosing a fishing shirt, we pay particular attention to the type of weather we’ll be experiencing. Then, we also consider pockets, hood (or not), breathability, price, and versatility. Read on to learn more about these topics so you can find your ideal fishing shirt.
Climate and Weather
Where are your home waters, and what type of fishing do you usually do? These key questions will determine the type of fishing shirt and specific features that are important to you.
If you spend most of your time chasing Redfish in Louisiana in hot and humid conditions, consider shirts that shine in hot weather, like the Columbia PFG Tamiami II, the NRS Silkweight Varial Hoodie, or Patagonia’s Long-Sleeve Sun Stretch. However, if you live in Alaska and spend time chasing salmon and trout in rainy and cold conditions, you might want to consider something like the Costa Voyager Performance Hoodie paired with a quality wind or rain shell jacket.
Also, consider how layering might fit into the equation (more on that below in FAQs). Our lead tester, Rob, lives in Colorado, where he can experience all four seasons in a single day. As a result, he rarely goes anywhere without a lightweight wind/rain jacket as a backup for inclement weather.
Pockets
Stuff happens when you’re fishing. Maybe you fall out of your kayak in the surf zone and lose most of your gear in the salt water. Or, you take a spill while wading on slippery rocks and go head over heels.
With that in mind, we love a fishing shirt with a few secure pockets, especially those that zip close, like the Simms Intruder Hoody or the Patagonia Long-Sleeved Sun Stretch. When you take an unexpected spill, you want to know that your car keys, fly box, cellphone, and sunglasses remain securely inside the zippered pocket (possibly a bit waterlogged) right where they started.
Breathability
Unless you are racing down the beach with a surf rod in hand trying to get to a school of fish chasing mullet in the surf, most days, fishing doesn’t involve profusely sweating. However, if you live in certain parts of the world where hot and humid are a regular part of your fishing diet for much of the year, you need to find a shirt that breathes well and won’t leave you soaked in your sweat.
Many of the shirts in this review do well in the breathability category. The Columbia PFG Tamiami II, Orvis DriCast Hoodie and the Costa Hooded Technical stand out from the rest.
Hooded or Not?
When hooded shirts first came out, they changed the game. One of our testers remembers going rock climbing in Yosemite with one of his regular climbing partners wearing one of those fancy, newfangled hooded shirts when they first arrived on the scene. A few years later, almost every company made technical hooded shirts for everything from fishing to skiing.
We love a shirt with a well-designed hood. Not having to hassle with sunscreen or just having the ability to regulate temperature quickly without having to shed a layer is awesome. Some of the shirts in this review are hooded, and we really appreciate a well-designed hooded fishing shirt.
When trying on a hooded fishing shirt, try it on with and without a hat to see how it fits. Does it feel loose and flappy without a hat, or does it fit right whether you’re wearing it or not? Paying attention to how the hood fits in both scenarios ensures optimal comfort and functionality.
This is one of the things that set the Simms Intruder Hoody above the rest. The hood fits perfectly, whether with or without a hat. Need advice on fishing hats? Our guide to the Best Fishing Hats is a great place to start!
Versatility
We get it, most of our readers don’t have an endless supply of money to spend on specialized clothing that only does one thing really well. With that in mind, we tried to put these shirts to the test with other outdoor activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, trail running, skiing, and more.
If you think you’ll be wearing this shirt for other types of non-fishing adventures, consider what outdoor activities you enjoy and factor that into your decision-making process. For instance, the Costa Voyager Performance Hoodie did double duty on a few backcountry ski adventures. The Orvis Tech Chambray Work Shirt was perhaps the most versatile shirt we tested due to its ability to move seamlessly from work to fishing to dinner out with friends.
Price & Value
Many factors should be considered when considering price. Has the shirt been made in an environmentally responsible way, including paying those who made it a fair wage for their labor? Will the shirt last for a long time? Or, do you anticipate having to replace it in two years because it’s faded? Or, because the buttons have come off, or the material is threadbare from lots of washes?
With that in mind, when considering the price of a fishing shirt, don’t simply look at the sticker price. Rather, consider some of the important factors above. Paying a little extra may be worth it if you’re still wearing the shirt in 10 years.
Patagonia is known for making quality products that last a long time, and although the Long Sleeve Sun Stretch Shirt is the most expensive piece in this review, when you consider the longevity of its lifespan over many years, it’s easy to justify the slightly higher price.
On the other end of the spectrum, our budget option, the Aftco Samurai Hoodie Shirt and other affordable but well-made shirts like the Costa Hooded Technical Shirt and the Grundens Tough Sun Hoodie are all great quality products that won’t break the bank.
