What to Wear on a Fishing Charter
The Base Layer: Sun Protection
The single biggest clothing mistake on a charter is underdressing for sun. Water reflects UV, you’ll get twice the exposure of the same time spent on land.
- Long-sleeve fishing shirt (UPF 30+ rated if possible), lightweight, breathable, and far better than sunscreen alone for a 4 to 8 hour day on the water
- Hat with a brim, a baseball cap is fine for short trips; a wide-brim sun hat is better for full days
- Polarized sunglasses, cut glare, protect your eyes, and help you spot fish. Non-polarized sunglasses leave you squinting for 5 hours.
Footwear
Inshore/nearshore trips (skiff or flats boat): Rubber-soled water shoes or boat shoes. The deck is often wet. Flip flops are manageable on calm water but can come off. Bare feet are what most regulars do on flats boats, but first-timers are better off with a grip sole.
Offshore/reef trips (larger boat, open water): Closed-toe shoes with a non-slip sole. Offshore boats take water over the bow, and the deck stays wet for the whole trip. A flip flop on a rolling offshore boat in a slippery fish slick is a real fall hazard. Running shoes, boat shoes, or rubber-soled water shoes all work.
Bottoms
Quick-dry shorts or pants. Cotton holds moisture and takes forever to dry in humid Florida heat. Anything marketed as “fishing” or “athletic” fabric is usually fine. Avoid heavy denim.
Tops
A light long-sleeve shirt is the right call for most trips. In summer (June to September in Florida), the heat will make you want short sleeves, but the burn you get without protection lasts longer than the heat discomfort.
A short-sleeve shirt plus a good sunscreen application is fine for half-day inshore trips in mild weather. For full-day offshore trips, long sleeves are the smarter choice.
Wind and Spray: Offshore Trips
Even in Florida summer, offshore trips have two cold moments:
- The run out. The boat moves fast to reach fishing grounds, 45-minute runs at speed in early morning are cold even in August.
- Rain squalls. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in Florida summer. A light rain jacket or windbreaker packs flat and matters a lot when a squall hits.
Bring a packable layer for any offshore or full-day trip. You can always leave it in a seat bag if you don’t need it.
Half-Day Inshore vs Full-Day Offshore: Clothing Difference
| Inshore half-day | Offshore full-day | |
|---|---|---|
| Sun protection | Short or long sleeve OK | Long sleeve strongly recommended |
| Footwear | Water shoes or barefoot | Closed-toe non-slip required |
| Layers | Rarely needed | Light jacket for the run |
| Rain gear | Usually not needed | Worth having |
What Not to Wear
- Flip flops on offshore or rough-water trips
- Loose jewelry, earrings, necklaces, rings can snag on tackle and are easy to lose overboard
- White clothing, fish slime, bait, and bloodstains are real. Wear something you can wash.
- Heavy jeans, uncomfortable, slow to dry, restrict movement
- Browse Beginner Charters Opens booking platform
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I buy fishing-specific clothing?
- Not for a first trip. Any lightweight athletic or quick-dry shirt works. Fishing-specific UPF shirts (Simms, Columbia, Huk, Pelagic) are better for full days in the sun but aren’t required for a half-day inshore trip.
- What about kids, anything different?
- Same principles apply but more important. Kids burn faster and complain less about it until it’s serious. A rash guard or long-sleeve UPF shirt for kids on any charter longer than 3 hours is worth it.
- Is there anywhere to store extra clothes on the boat?
- Small cubbies under bench seats or dry storage compartments, on most boats. Bring a small dry bag or ziplock for your phone and wallet.
- Can I wear sandals on an inshore trip?
- On a calm bay trip on a stable center-console, sandals are manageable. On a flats skiff or any trip with rough conditions, no. When in doubt, bring closed-toe shoes.