Skip to main content

Ready for the Long Haul: Gearing Up for a Chartered Saltwater Fishing Adventure in Florida

Trophy fishing in Florida’s beautiful blue water under its warm, bright sun is a dream come true for countless anglers across the country. It’s also hard to imagine a fishing experience that can match the adrenaline rush when that line starts whining out of the reel, following the run of a monster sailfish or tarpon. Even on the chartered trip of your dreams, however, being unprepared can make that bright warm sun and crystal turquoise water seem much less friendly. So pick up some new fishing shirts, pack the sunscreen, and ensure that your chartered trophy hunt is everything it should be. Here’s what you need to be prepared from head to toe.

Fishing Shirts

What to Bring and What to Ask

The first step when you’ve booked a charter is to learn the details. Different packages may or may not include amenities such as tackle, food, and other supplies. It’s good to find out whether these things are provided, and whether they’re included in the price or cost extra. Find out if you should buy a license beforehand or if you’ll buy one at the landing. You’ll likely need to bring along a cooler full of ice to transport your catches. Bring cash along on any charter for gratuities, galley purchases, a fish-cleaning service, and other services. Always pack sunscreen, and apply it early and often. Bring over-the-counter seasickness or motion sickness medication if it’s your first time on the ocean, or you know that you get seasick.

High-Performance Fishing Masks to Protect Your Face

Out on the ocean, the elements can be harsh on your face. The sun and the spray of the water can make for an uncomfortable time for an unprepared angler. A high-performance fishing mask should protect you from the elements, while featuring a cooling design that keeps you from overheating. The GillzMask™ from Gillz® is a perfect example of the right professional-quality fishing mask to keep your face protected.

Fishing Shirts to Protect Your Upper Half

Being on the open water under Florida’s sun is invigorating, but it does mean a good deal of sun exposure. For optimal coverage, you’ll need professional-grade performance fishing shirts. The right shirts will be made with high-performance polyester that offers UPF 50+ UV protection, while being light and breathable enough to keep you cool. They should also be moisture-wicking and stain-resistant, which are required features for top-performance fishing gear.

Fishing Pants to Protect Your Lower Half

Some anglers prefer shorts, which can work with the liberal application of sunscreen. However, a pair of performance polyester fishing pants offers the same benefits as the fishing shirt. The pants’ UV protection keeps direct sunlight off your skin but the fabric is sufficiently lightweight and breathable to provide cool, comfortable coverage.

Non-Slip Footwear to Prevent Falls

The best footwear for being on a boat is a pair of non-slip, rubber-soled ankle deck boots or deck shoes. On a wet deck, sturdy shoes with non-slip features are vital for your safety, especially if the water is choppy, and after you start pulling fish up onto the deck. Never wear sandals, flip-flops, or anything open-toed, and don’t wear anything you don’t want to get wet.

About Gillz®


When Kent Hickman was still just a boy growing up in his home state of Florida, he would take any chance he could to get out and fish. Kent eventually went on to fish professionally and join the tournament circuit. While fishing professionally, he had trouble finding fishing gear that stood up to the demands of professional anglers. He needed apparel that kept him protected from the elements, comfortable, and cool while out fishing in the blazing Florida sun. In 2009, he founded Gillz® to provide his fellow anglers with stylish shirts for fishing, performance fishing gear, fishing masks, accessories, and other high-quality fishing apparel. Now it’s your turn to join the growing fishing community that loves to wear Gillz® apparel.

Upgrade your fishing apparel to keep yourself protected, comfortable, and cool with Gillz® gear at Gillz.com

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Small Details That Can Make the Difference Between Getting Skunked and Landing a Trophy on the Water

It’s easy to forget the little details. Even experienced, professional anglers forget to bring everything they need or update their clothing every once in a while. It certainly makes sense to do research on your fishing territory, study seasonal feeding and spawning habits, and invest in specialized gear. As often as not, however, it’s the little details determining whether or not you’re getting fish in the boat. Never forget the basics. Sometimes that process is as simple as picking up a hook file and some performance fishing shirts . Performance Fishing Shirts Trade Out Your Line Many anglers put a lot of thought into the line they use. A lot of thought and time goes into deciding what pound test you should be using, whether to go with mono or braided, and whether to use a blue, green, or clear line. Switching out your line when it’s getting old is a step that’s easy to forget and overlook. That’s particularly true for anglers with a dozen different rigs in the...

Pitting Yourself Against the Supreme Gamefish Adversary: Winter Fishing for Florida Billfish

In Florida, winter delivers an opportunity that most of the country’s anglers experience only in daydreams. It opens the season for stalking the ultimate adversaries, the world’s most sought-after gamefish—the legendary sailfish and marlin. Billfish are legendary for a reason, and fishing for them is no joke. You’ll need to be prepared, so pick up some performance fishing shirts , do some stretches, take a deep breath, and strap in for the ultimate fishing experience. Performance Fishing Shirts Preparing Yourself for a True Angling Test Pitting yourself against billfish is a whole different animal than hitting the edges of weed beds for largemouth or pulling flounder from a pier. If spending 8 hours under the unrelenting Florida sun stalking a massive, powerful fish with a sword for a nose and fighting it to exhaustion sounds like a good time, you’re in the right mindset. The physical preparation should include having more food and water than you think you’ll need, sunscreen, and the...

Tips for Keeping Warm and Staying Cool While Fall Fishing

Despite the likelihood of more moderate temperatures, achieving and maintaining comfort when fall fishing can actually be tougher than it is at other times of the year. It’s easy to prepare for the extreme but reliable heat and cold of summer and winter. In the fall, however, you could be watching your breath and shivering in the morning, pouring sweat by noon, and soaked by a downpour (or even a snowstorm, depending on where you live) by the afternoon. While the conditions can be tricky, successfully gearing up for fall fishing is no problem with a little foresight. Access to a reliable thermos and quality fishing shirts doesn’t hurt either. Fishing Shirts Pack Temperature-Appropriate Clothing, Food, and Drink Wearing a breathable long sleeve fishing shirt and a performance hat or fishing mask is a vital step. Make sure the gear you choose is breathable and moisture wicking with sun protection. Antimicrobial and cooling technology are signs of a superior, quality...