Florida is known as the “Sunshine State” and anglers, especially those who sight fish, depend on the sun to see their quarry. Local anglers who appreciate the promise and the power of the sun take advantage of sunscreens, caps and clothing to protect themselves. Unfortunately, those new to the power of the sun can experience some very negative results if they’re not properly protected.
The harmful effects of sun exposure can cause the uninitiated a painful experience, and even spoil a vacation. Sunlight is primarily composed of infrared, visible and ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light (UV) is potentially harmful and is the wavelength that causes sunburn. Sunburn is a form of radiation burn that results from exposure to this property of light. Symptoms of overexposure in humans consist of red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch and can include general fatigue and mild dizziness. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.
Maximizing your protection from UV light rays is important because the harmful effects of the sun are cumulative over your lifetime. While potentially harmful, the sun is primarily an angler’s friend. If the sun is shining, there’s a good chance the weather will allow you to be on the water. If you sight fish, it assures you’ll have a better chance of seeing your quarry and increases your odds of hooking up.
Many part-time fishermen and visitors from the north don’t fully appreciate the potentially harmful effects of the sun, especially in Florida and the southern regions of the northern hemisphere. The most intense exposure to the sun occurs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. – prime time for fishing Florida’s fertile waters. Cloudy and windy days can be particularly deceiving because the harmful rays of the sun can do damage even though the sun is seemingly hidden.
Modern sunscreens are rated according to their SPF or sun protection factor. The theory is that if you can stay out in the sun for 15 minutes without getting burned, a sunscreen with SPF 10 will help you resist sunburn for 10 times that amount of time, which calculates to about 150 minutes.
Our skin has natural SPF depending on the amount of melanin (pigment) it contains. Generally, the darker your complexion, the more melanin you have. No matter what your skin color, the best solution is to avoid the sun as much as possible by applying a high SPF sunscreen and covering the skin, vital protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays.
Another important factor to consider, especially in Florida, is if the sunscreen is reef safe, and if it’s not waterproof, make sure you reapply after a swim or shower. There is also a plethora of high-tech clothing available to anglers that is cool, breathable and contains a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) as well. Companies like Patagonia, Simms and TACS offer clothing with UPF ranging from 30-50, with 50 being the highest rating. A rating of 50 translates to approximately 97% protection. These same companies also offer gloves to protect the hands, and buffs that protect the ears, face and neck.
There are new innovations announced yearly that make moisture-wicking fabrics even more functional for anglers. An example is face protection buffs that protected the face, but caused moisture from the breath to fog sunglasses. Now they are designed with breathing openings that virtually eliminate that problem.
Get the most out of your time on or around the water by applying some common sense. The sun can be an angler’s friend but it can also ruin a vacation.
