How to Choose a UPF 50+ Fishing Shirt: What to Look For

How to Choose a UPF 50+ Fishing Shirt: What to Look For

Hours on the water mean hours of sun, and the sun reflects off the surface so it hits you from both directions. A good UPF 50+ fishing shirt is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin while you fish. But when you compare fishing shirt brands, the labels can all sound the same. Here is what actually matters.

1. Look for a real UPF rating

UPF measures how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric lets through. A UPF 50+ rating means the fabric blocks about 98% of UVA and UVB rays. Many shirts only say “sun protection” without a rating, so look for an actual UPF number. Better still, ask whether the shirt was tested by a lab. At 444 Sportswear, our UPF 50+ shirts are lab tested.

2. Choose long sleeves

Your forearms and the backs of your hands get the most sun on a boat or a bank. A long sleeve shirt covers that skin with fabric you can count on, instead of relying on sunscreen that wears off or gets rinsed away.

3. Pay attention to the fabric

Our shirts are made of interlock knit polyester with a soft hand feel and a pleasing texture. We have the fabric knit to our own specifications for each production run. Polyester is hydrophobic, which means it doesn’t hold water. Sweat and spray evaporate quickly, and that evaporation has a cooling effect, so a long sleeve shirt stays comfortable on a hot day.

4. Check how the design is applied

Many fishing shirts have designs printed on top of the fabric. Ours are sublimated, which means the ink becomes part of the fabric itself. The bold colors and patterns don’t sit on the surface, so they stay vivid wash after wash.

5. Wear something that says who you are

The best sun shirt is the one you put on every trip. Each 444 Sportswear shirt carries a species-specific fish logo, and the name describes you, not the fish. “Largemouth Hunter” is the angler who chases bass. “Marlin Hunter” is the one who fishes offshore. Redfish, snook, tarpon, bluefin tuna, peacock bass and more are all part of the line, in dozens of designs for men, women and youth. It’s your passion, worn on your sleeve. Or as we say, Put Your Fish On™.

6. Check that it’s actually in stock

Before you order, find out whether the shirt in the photo is available now. Some brands sell made-to-order apparel that ships weeks after you buy it. Every 444 Sportswear shirt shown on our site is in stock in the U.S., and orders ship within 1-2 business days.

Why anglers choose 444 Sportswear

444 Sportswear is the apparel sponsor of Ultimate Catch with Eric Ciocher on the World Fishing Network and Pursuit Channel, and our shirts have been sold in stores across the U.S. They’re lab tested to UPF 50+, built from fabric made to our specifications, and ready to ship.

Ready to find your shirt?