Gear Up for Summer Angling

Pro anglers and fishing guides willingly endure some crazy weather conditions in their pursuit of gamefish, whether it’s in the glaring white heat of the Florida bonefish flats, the sudden afternoon downpours of the Glades and Okeechobee or the sometimes chilly dawn runs to catch bait on Tampa Bay or Charlotte Harbor.

One theme rings true—staying comfortable on the water keeps you in the game. And the right gear can make all the difference in putting all you’ve got into finding and catching fish successfully, despite the conditions.

Fortunately, new technology in outdoors wear now makes it possible to stay comfortable all season long. And as a bonus, some of the new tech-wear eliminates sunburn and greatly reduces the risk of skin cancer while keeping anglers cooler than ever before in hot weather.

Huk Fishing has been at the forefront of delivering advanced materials and designs in sun protective clothing. Huk began in 2014 when four fishing buddies in Charleston, SC, decided there had to be something better to wear on the water than t-shirts and cutoffs. Huk (pronounced “hook” in Old Europe, they tell us) was born.

The concept of high-efficiency, purpose-built fishing wear is a natural fit for hard-core anglers whether they chase tarpon at Boca Grande, yellowfin around the Louisiana oil rigs, stripers on Chesapeake Bay or jumbo redfish in the Carolina marshes.

And for all-day bass and panfish anglers inland, Huk’s carefully engineered and crafted lineup provide what it takes to stay comfortable from a chilly run at dawn to a scorching dead-air afternoon returning to the ramp.

It doesn’t hurt that they look good when you head to a dockside lunch, either.

For those who have not tried the new fabrics, it can be a real eye-opener to put on one of these shirts or hoodies and step out into full sun—somehow, the material actually makes you feel cooler wearing it, unlike natural fabrics that inevitable hold in heat and humidity and give you that sticky feeling minutes after sunrise.

Stain-Resistant and Anti-Microbial

Stuff we wear to fish gets dirty—sometimes permanently if it’s not made of the right stuff. Huk apparel is treated to keep them odor free longer, even in extreme heat. This not only prevents odor, but also often makes it possible to wear them for multiple days between washings, increasing the time they’ll remain in like-new condition.

Huk also uses stain-releasers built into the cloth to reduce blood stains from bait and fish.

Sun Protection/Wind Protection

Huk’s shirts are just warm enough for that fast run to a distant fishing spot at dawn on summer mornings—and they keep you cool once the sun gets high and bright.

And, with Ultraviolet Protection Factors (UPF) as high as 50+, they assure you full protection for arms and neck. Choose the hoodie models and your face and the top of your head are protected as well—and add a Huk Gaiter to protect your face when you feel it’s needed.

All Huk clothing is super comfortable from the time you slip into them in the morning until you take them off at night.

New Products Designed for Florida Summers
 

Hoodies like the new A1A Performance Hoodie from Huk are rapidly becoming a standard part of boaters’ and anglers’ wear as we become more alert to the damage long exposure to the Florida sun can do, not only in terms of burns and the risk of skin cancer, but also in protecting against pre-mature aging.

The high UPF factors of Huk shirts and hoodies assure full protection while at the same time keeping you cooler than if you wore no shirt at all.

Among the fans of the new A1A Performance Hoodie is Tom Rowland, noted Florida Keys guide and host of the popular Saltwater Experience podcast.

“Spending as much time as I do fishing down in the Keys I’ve learned the only way to get through long days in that hot, muggy exposure is with a truly breathable kit,” says Rowland. “The Huk A1A Hoodie and Shorts deliver full sun protection but more importantly the vented mesh material allows me to stay cool with even the slightest breeze.” 

With a UPF of 50+, the light-weight stretch fabric of Huk’s A1A Performance Hoodie delivers all-day protection for pro-anglers, guides and anyone who starts early and stays late.

It even offers protection against the legendary no-see-ums of the Everglades, covering the sensitive skin around your ears and the back of your neck.

The all-over mesh material provides maximum ventilation and cooling, while the thin but strong weave stretches and moves with you whether you’re poling, casting or putting the lip-grip on a lunker. Available in 4 colors, our favorite is the new and aptly named Ocean Blue.

The new A1A series also includes purpose-built shorts. Huk’s A1A shorts are ready for boat, beach and bar, and have multiple pockets for everything an angler wants to carry with him during a day on the water.

They’re woven of 89% polyester, 11% elastane for lightweight, cool, all-day comfort. The fabric is treated with an anti-microbial for odor and stain resistance. They’re available in sizes from small (29-31) to XXXL (46-48), and in Harbor Mist gray or Naval Academy blue solid colors.




Huk also offers its Icon shorts which deliver exceptional durability through the tough stretch nylon fabric. The Icon shorts come with multiple pockets including both a zip front pocket and a snap-shut wallet pocket on the hip in three colors, and sizes from 28 to 42. Zippers and snaps help keep out water, and assure you won’t lose your important “stuff” including your keys and wallet, during a day on the water. And like all Huk products, they’re built to fit right, keep you comfortable and deliver many years of service.

Major League Fishing pro bass angler Drew Gill is a big fan of the Icon style.

“I consider myself a very technical angler so I’m always looking for what’s new and going to give me an edge,” says Gill. “The new Huk Icon Shorts have a ton of stretch which makes them comfortable with all the up and down I do fishing a tournament. And they dry lightning fast. I loved the Icon pants when they launched last fall and love the shorts now that the weather is heating up.”

The Right Stuff for Your Feet

Huk’s footwear rounds out its comprehensive lineup of performance apparel. With select Huk gear, anglers can be covered literally from head to toe with the best technology in the industry.

The new Rogue Wave Shoe provides proven traction through the Grip X outsole with better traction, wet or dry, than many deck boots. Durable neoprene and rubber uppers deliver a soft, comfortable feel, and comfortable insole make standing on deck all day long no problem. Mesh interior lining keeps feet comfortable and dry during long days on the boat.

And if you prefer, you can also get the same technology in the Rogue Wave Deck Boot, which provides ankle-high protection from splash and spray. As summer turns into fall and the water chills, keeping your feet dry can be a big part of staying productive on the water, and the added protection of the boot style comes into its own.

Joel Levine, owner of Redfin Charters likes the durability of Rogue Wave footwear.

“My guides run more than 1,000 charter trips a year. They’re on the water every single day - good weather and bad - and they abuse gear. Every guy wears the Huk Rogue Wave boots because they deliver more comfort and more durability than any other waterproof boot we’ve used.” 

Huk’s GRIP-X / 360 traction featured on their boots is a non-slip outsole tread pattern that gives a lock-down grip on wet and slippery surfaces. Each lug is engineered to grab in all directions while the micro-channel openings allow water to escape from any angle.

Tech features don’t matter if a boot or shoe is not totally comfortable for standing on a deck or casting platform hour after hour. So Huk’s uppers use a soft neoprene cuff to form to anglers’ and outdoorsmen’s feet.

The Huk Deck Boot is available in sizes from 7 to 14 and in eight colors.

Gear up with Huk and be ready for whatever Florida fishing throws at you this summer, from chasing mahi in the Gulf Stream to redfish on the flats or largemouths at Lake Okeechobee.

• See all of the Huk line at huk.com