Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
What does summer in Ocean City and winter in Florida have in common? A lot of sunburned vacationers! Whether we migrate south for a winter vacation or just wander over to a Delmarva beach for a few days of summertime R&R, it’s easy to get too much sun and with all we know about skin cancer and other harmful effects from solar exposure there’s no reason why anyone should spend any moment of their life looking like a crustacean in need of a good whacking with a wooden hammer.
Too much sun can be bad, real bad, like “death” kind of bad, yet soaking up rays is still one of those things that so many people still want to do these days. I understand the desire – that warm sun sure feels good, particularly after a long cold winter, but like so much in life, the short-term pleasure isn’t worth the long-term suffering when things go awry.
We fishermen know about the sun. It kind of comes with the territory because we tend to do most of our fishing in either the summer season or in hot tropical locations in the winter. But unlike other sports or activities that sometimes allow enthusiasts to participate indoors or at least in the shade, fishing, particularly saltwater fishing, seldom allows any relief from the sun. So, unless anglers wish to do all their fishing at night, the only option they have is to protect themselves. Fortunately, over the last couple of decades as the public has become increasingly aware and concerned over the risks of even short-term overexposure to the sun, countless products have been developed to help those who find themselves under the sun for long periods of time.
As a charter captain and fishing guide, dealing with the sun is yet another line in my job description. Sun block and protective clothing are tools of the trade that are just as important as any lever drag reel or spool of leader material. But someone doesn’t have to fish a lot to need protection from the sun. For some people, just one good dose of sunburn has been enough to cause life-threatening ailments. Anglers should also keep in mind that sun protection is always needed, not just in the early season before they’ve managed to work up a “base” tan.
Of course, the use of sunscreen is one of the most popular ways to protect oneself from the sun. It’s easy to find, inexpensive, simple to use, and comes in sprays, lotions and sticks. Despite all this, some folks are reluctant to properly use sunscreen. Some don’t like the hassle of smearing gook all over themselves or the feel of it afterwards. Some don’t like to have it running in their eyes when they sweat and some anglers don’t want to run the risk of having the smell of sunscreen transfer from their hands to their baits or lures and possibly spook the fish. All of these are legitimate arguments, but none are good enough to override the need for sun protection. Are you willing to put up with the hassle of using sun protection or are you willing to risk dying from skin cancer? Two choices – pick one. By the way, if you haven’t checked, sunscreen products have come a long way over the years and there are plenty out there that offer the protection without the goopyness.
Besides using sunscreen, another way to protect oneself from the sun is just to cover-up. Down in the Florida Keys where many anglers and guides spend 12-months of the year fishing from open boats that offer no shade whatsoever, they’ve learned how to “wear their shade” by donning clothing that both keeps them cool and protects them from being burnt to a crisp by the relentless tropical sun. Sunscreen is not so critical when you’re literally covered from head to toe in high-tech soft breathable fabrics that allow the air to flow through, but keeps the suns rays out.
Vented, long pants and long sleeve shirts have been popular for some time and are now quite commonly used in the north. Fishing hats have also evolved from baseball caps that were only good for covering bald spots and advertising products into devices that can keep the head cool as well as shading your neck, ears and face. Fishermen should consider a quality hat that protects their eyes from glare and their head from the sun every bit as important a piece of equipment as any rod or reel they own.
Most good fishing hats have long bills for extra eye protection and fold down or removable “capes” that cover the back of the neck and ears. In some cases the cape is wide enough that it can be wrapped around and fastened in front to offer protection to the nose and rest of the face. While these capes offer great protection, on breezy days they tend to get pushed around and are not as effective, so many fishermen who are really serious about avoiding sun damage have recently started to wear “buffs” to ensure full-time solar protection for their face, neck and ears.
Buffs are nothing more than a tube of very light and breathable material, about 10-inches wide by 20-inches long, that are pulled down and worn over the face and neck. Buffs can be adjusted such that they cover everything above the collar that’s missed by the hat and sunglasses, which translates to “total” coverage and great protection. Because buffs are made of such light and stretchy material they hug the head and don’t get blown out of place by the wind or while riding in a fast boat. Someone wearing a buff up over their face might look as though they’re better prepared to rob a bank than catch a fish, but the garment is extremely comfortable to wear, doesn’t affect breathing or hearing, and offers superb protection not only from sun, but also insects that like to bite your neck, splat on your face or fly into your ears.
To complete their “solar ensemble”, anglers can protect the back of their hands by donning a pair of “sun-gloves”, which are very light and stretchy spandex-like gloves that have the ends of the fingers removed to allow the dexterity needed to tie knots, use tackle and handle fish. These gloves are so shear that you hardly notice you’re wearing them and they offer great protection for a part of the body that is often neglected.
Although some folks will allow their own vanity to sway them away from wearing sunscreen or the right clothing, the dangers from the sun are real and something fishermen of all ages need to take very seriously and always safeguard against.
Capt. Mark Sampson is an outdoor writer and captain of the charter boat, “Fish Finder”, docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center. During the winter months, Capt. Mark runs charters in the Lower Keys.
