What to wear deep sea fishing: clothes, shoes and layers

A deep sea fishing trip means hours in the sun and wind, spray over the bow and a deck that’s wet and sometimes slippery. Dressing right keeps you comfortable all day — and keeps the crew happy too.

Layers, not cotton

It’s cooler offshore than on land, especially early in the morning and when the boat is running. Wear light layers you can take off as the day warms up, and choose quick-dry synthetics over cotton, which stays wet and cold once it’s soaked.

• A long-sleeve sun shirt (UPF 30–50) — the best single item you can wear
• Quick-dry shorts or light fishing pants
• A light fleece or long-sleeve layer for the morning run
• A thin waterproof rain jacket — for spray as much as rain

Shoes

Wear closed-toe shoes with non-marking soles: boat shoes, deck boots or sneakers with light-colored soles. Black soles leave marks that crews hate, and flip-flops are unsafe on a wet deck with hooks around. Rubber deck boots are ideal on rough days or when you’ll be handling lots of fish.

Sun protection

• A hat with a brim and a strap or clip — the wind takes hats offshore
• Polarized sunglasses on a retainer: they cut glare and help you see fish
• A neck gaiter or buff for face and neck
• Sunscreen you can reapply with wet hands

Cold-weather trips

In winter, or on early-morning trips in the north, dress like you’re going to a cold football game: a warm base layer, a fleece and a windproof, waterproof outer layer. Waterproof bibs and boots make a huge difference if it’s wet. You can always take layers off.

What not to wear

• Your favorite clothes — fish blood, slime and squid ink don’t wash out easily
• Dangling jewelry and rings that can catch on line
• Heels, flip-flops and black-soled shoes
• Heavy jeans — once wet, they stay wet

Tip: pack a dry change of clothes and a towel in a bag for the ride home. See our checklist of what to bring for everything else.