Sea Fishing Clothing and Waterproofs
Sea fishing clothes can be split into two broad categories – stuff for people that really need to not get wet or cold (commercial equipment) and leisure clothing for people that want a hybrid of looking reasonably casual while still being 90% dry.
If you are looking for sea fishing clothes that will truly keep you dry, then you want to look at sailing clothing if you’ve got the budget for it, or at industrial clothing if you’re looking for something lower cost and utilitarian.
Sea fishing clothing from tackle brands is unlikely to be the best out there. They don’t specialise in clothing, they specialise in tackle – and the price likely reflects people’s desire to rep the brand perhaps moreso than keep as dry and warm as possible. This may not always be the case. There are sea fishing jackets and flotation suits from brands such as Tronix Pro, Westin and Daiwa, and perhaps one or more of these is great value. But if you want to get something that is going to be 100% no-messing waterproof, we think it’s prudent to look elsewhere.
With that in mind – and also staying aware that not everyone is looking for ‘max performance’, we will look through the different sea fishing clothing options out there by category and give you FISHMAG’s take on the matter.
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Sea fishing demands specialised clothing that can withstand harsh elements – particularly for anglers up north or in Scotland, but really anywhere in the UK if you’re fishing at night time or in windy conditions. Just as Napoleon said “an army marches on its stomach” you could say “an angler blanks with poor clothing choice”. Getting cold or wet is a common reason to pull the lines in and go home, and that’s a recipe for a blank. Having waterproofs that are… waterproof. Having clothing that actually block the wind – these things are as important as your terminal tackle.
In terms of safety, it’s also handy not to sink should you ever be so unfortunate as to find yourself plunging into the icy depths or swept up in white froth from the beach by a freak surge.
With that in mind, some will look to a flotation suit.
The best warm layer for sea fishing
Eight years ago I was travelling in New Zealand on a fishing trip with a friend – sleeping in the car and fishing the lakes and rivers with a friend.
We spent some time on a family friend’s farm in the backcountry, and they kindly gave to me an old jumper that had belonged to their grandfather. It had a few small holes and was well-used, but it had a robust feeling like it would live on for a few years.
I put that jumper on, at first a little guilty about wearing a dead man’s clothes. “Better not to waste a useful thing”, his grandkids told me. And since I never knew the man, it was convenient for the jumper to leave the farm with someone who never knew the man rather than have the family deal with the clothes.
Five years later, I was still wearing that jumper almost everyday. I wore it on fishing trips, to the pub, on boats, on dates, to music concerts – it went with me everywhere.
A fisherman’s jumper is one of the most versatile items a man can own. If you’re an angler of any kind, I guarantee you will end up wearing yours almost every day.
Check out H.G & Son 100% wool jumpers here. These are the best fisherman’s jumpers we’ve come across, and reasonably priced.
The Best Flotation Suits
The first thing to watch out for are tackle companies that sell flotation suits as a product peripheral to their main offering. E.g. Daiwa. We love Daiwa reels, but are they the best company to make your flotation suit? Possibly not. They are also not necessarily cheaper than more specialist options, because people will pay to rep the brand that they admire. We’re not saying anything with a tackle-companies brand on it won’t be good, but it’s not a great strategy for finding ‘something high quality.’the best floation suit’ which is our interest at FISHMAG.
Anything branded as a fishing waterproof needs to be considered with scepticism, because the demands of your average angler buying waterproofs are not as intense, for instance, as a sailor or commercial fisherman who needs waterproofs. For this reason, it’s generally a good idea to buy from dedicated waterproof outdoorswear companies targeting sailors or industry. If you’re looking for the best style with some performance benefits, then that’s another story.
Flotation suit sizing
Make sure when you try it on you can still sit down!
Flotation suits are a game-changer for winter fishing, offering both warmth and crucial safety features. These specialised suits:
- Provide thermal insulation
- Aid buoyancy in water
- Protect against rain, wind, and cold
- Come in one-piece or two-piece designs
Sunridge Flotation Suit – best flotation suit for sea fishing
Sunridge targets the commercial fishing market, so you know you’re getting something that is aimed at people that have high demands and also don’t typically have the kind of budget the sailing market has. This market is a sweet spot for flotation suits where lower prices meet decent quality. That said, it’s not winning any style awards – it’s rather officious, but lighting up like a Christmas tree is exactly what you want should you find yourself needing the floating-function of a floatation suit!
We have not tested how well the suit floats – it’s important to share this with you because this is kit that could ultimately save your life and further research will be needed to make sure it fits the bill for your specific needs.
Fladen Flotation Jacket
We are currently waiting to here back from Fladen if we can get one of these to test for its flotation ability. What’s clear off the bat is that these suits (available on veals) come in at a lower price than a lot of brands in the space.
I mentioned in the beginning of this guide that it’s wise to be sceptical of tackle brands selling sea fishing clothing, but Fladen has quite a good reputation for their waterproofs.
We will update you as soon as we have had a chance to test this out – email [email protected] to find out now if we’ve already tested it and just haven’t updated this section of the site yet.
Imax Two Piece Thermo Suit – a low cost option that’s warm but perhaps not the driest
The Imax Thermo Suit is a favourite for a reasonably priced warm wind-block. It’s a great option if you want to block 95% of the wind and most of the rain from getting to you. If you’re fishing in Scotland in winter, you may want something even more rain proof, but for the majority of anglers fishing in light rain, wind and cold it’s a fantastic option. There are numerous reports of these not being fully water proof, which for some will be a deal breaker, despite the overall glowing reviews online. Available here at amazon.
- Heavy nylon shell fabric
- Detachable hood
- Outer and inner pockets
- Waterproof and warm design
- Ideal for those preferring two-piece suits
What if you are a former rock star, banker or you recently won the lottery – what then? Then you need this £2000 flotation suit, of course. I have a feeling you might be slightly too dry, and start to miss the feeling of moisture on your skin and wind through your balls, though.
Sea Fishing Smocks and Waterproof Clothing
Musto Body Suits & Jackets – the best high-end option
A Musto jacket is an expensive option, particularly if you want one that provides padding in addition to a waterproof layer. It is however also an extremely reliable option, because their products are aimed at sailors who have serious requirements for performance.
A full-body suit (note: not a flotation suit) like this from Musto is a perfection solution if money is not a limiting factor, and anglers in the community have said it’s pretty much a purchase for life, so could work out being quite good value if you’re looking at spending a few hundred quid to get kitted out.
A padded coat like this can be had for around £300 from Musto.
Another sailing brand to check out is Gill.
Guy Cotten Smocks – the most stylish sea fishing clothing
Guy Cotten offers several excellent smock options for sea fishing:
- Surf Comfort Smock
- Efficient C130 Smock
- Chinook Sport Smock
These are the most stylish sea fishing clothes in our opinion. Unlike a lot of brands that specialise in selling fishing kit and then sell some sea fishing clothes on the side, Guy Cotten just sell specialist outdoor clothing. You can view these smocks at Veals here.
Team Vass Jackets – the best value sea fishing waterproofs
Team Vass provides reliable winter fishing wear – much like Guy Cotten these guys specialise in practical waterproofs, selling to industry such as the fishing and construction industries directly. Perhaps less stylish than Guy Cotten, but much more reasonably priced and still just as practical. Check out Vass here.
- Check out the Team Vass 175 Winter Jacket for general winter sea fishing.
Mullion Aquafloat Jacket – marine-grade flotation jacket for under £200
- “Maritime PPE Standards: EN 393 / EN ISO 12402-5: 50N BUOYANCY AIDS:”Have a buoyancy of no less than 50 Newton for the average adult. This level is intended for use by those who are competent swimmers and who are near to bank or shore, or who have help and a means of rescue close at hand. These garments have minimal bulk, but they are of limited use in disturbed water, and cannot be expected to keep the user safe for a long period of time. They do not have sufficient buoyancy to protect people who are unable to help themselves. They require active participation by the user.”
Mullion flotation jackets are another high end option from the sailing world. Check them out here.
Waterproof trousers for fishing
Seasafe , based on ther Isle of Wright, makes waterproofing for the industry.
Sea Safe Over Trousers
Seasafe Over Trousers come in at a much more reasonable price, and from a company based in the Isle of Wight that has a long history of making high-performance sea fishing waterproofs for the industry. This is a brand that harbour masters around the world wear.
Their jackets are pricey items, really aimed at people that will be wearing them for work everyday. They do however have these trousers at a much lower price point, which look like a good option for sea anglers. Check them out here.
Gill waterproof trousers like these are a great option if you want the option to be able to take your coat off, and have a waterproof option for summer night fishing when the temperature is too warm for a one-piece.
Check these out over on the Gill website.
The best sea fishing t-shirts
Columbia Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) – the best for travel fishing & UV protection
Columbia’s fishing line offers innovative features:
- Omni-Wick⢠technology
- Quick-dry fabrics
- Sun protection
- Lightweight, breathable designs
- Really good for not getting skin cancer!
Everyone wears something like this when fishing in countries like Mexico for sun protection. It’s only Brits that don’t think about UV when boat fishing! I went on a boat once in Mexico and they laughed at me for not having full UV protection – they thought I was a complete idiot. These guys had dark skin, and were still covered head to toe in UV protected clothing, literally not even their eyes were in the sun – everything was covered. They told me that Brits just have no idea of the risk. Check out Columbia’s PFG range here.
Anglers Only – the best reasonably priced t shirts for UV protection
Anglers Only have made a cool fishing jacket that can store a tackle box full of lures in an inside pocket. This is a fantastic design for those that like to travel light while lure fishing. They also sell UV proof long sleeve fishing t-shirts at a very low price compared to Columbia. It’s great to see a UK sea fishing clothing brand. You can check them out here – there is a tremendous amount of excitement about this brand in the lure fishing community, and for good reason.
- Sun protection clothing
- British brand
- Affordable options
Other brands for sea fishing clothing
- Penn Fierce – not recommended
- Daiwa – not recommended
- Savage Gear – not recommended
- Titan Fishing – great looking water proofs