A man in a light blue Columbia Sportshirt
FISHING

The All-Time Best Columbia PFG Fishing Shirts

Columbia Sportswear is known worldwide for making some of the best fishing shirts—here’s a list of our favorites
BY RACHEL CAVANAUGH
Take a peek at any body of water during sports fishing season and you’ll spot a wide range of gear, including spincasts, fly rods, and baitcast reels. But one thing that unites the scenery, especially in the southern U.S., are ever-present Columbia Sportswear fishing shirts. From the Louisiana Bayou to the Florida Keys, the iconic performance fishing shirts have been cult favorites among anglers since the collection launched in 1995.

The unique shirts have a long history in the fishing community—and they’re popular for a reason. After all, you don’t become Luke Combs’ favorite shirt by doing just anything. The PFG line, which stands for Performance Fishing Gear, offers anglers advanced technology, along with a cool, laid-back style. Bill Ferreira, Columbia’s PFG-PHG director of global merchandising, calls it the “boat to bar” look.

“We built these shirts for the angler, but now it’s their everyday wear,” Ferreira says.
A man wearing an aqua-blue Columbia Sportswear fishing shirt and navy-colored shorts reels a fish into his boat from the ocean.
The shirts are stylish, but they also have technical features like UPF sun protection and special cooling fabrics. “A big part of what makes our shirts stand out from others is the innovation that goes into them,” Ferreira explains. “The fabric technology. The design aesthetic. We’re led by performance.”

To pay tribute to the popular line of fishing shirts and to kick off an amazing season ahead, we’ve gathered the all-time best Columbia PFG shirts. Check out the winners below.

Columbia's All-Time Best PFG Fishing Shirts

Men wearing Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve PFG Shirt

The Best PFG Fishing Shirt For Sun Protection

Name: Terminal Tackle PFG Shirts
Women’s version: Tidal Tee Shirts

Equipped with Omni-Shade UPF 50, this long-sleeve tee is one of the all-time best fishing shirts for sun protection. It features lightweight moisture-wicking fabric you can sweat in and still be stylish enough for the bar.

Women wearing Tidal Deflector Ice Long Sleeve PFG Hoodie

The Best PFG Fishing Shirt For Cooling

Name: Tidal Deflector PFG Shirts
Men’s version: Terminal Deflector Shirts

If you get hot and sweaty when you’re on the water, this is one of the best fishing shirts for cooling. Made with Omni-Freeze™ ZERO Ice technology, the Tidal Deflector Ice uses touch-activated cooling fabric to prevent you from overheating. Not only that, it features UPF 50 fabric that helps block UV rays.
Women wearing Bahama II Short Sleeve PFG Shirt

The Best Short Sleeve PFG Fishing Shirt

Name: PFG Bahama Shirts
Women’s version: PFG Bahama Shirts

For anglers who prefer open arms, this breathable short sleeve fishing shirt is just the ticket. It’s constructed with quick-drying material that offers UPF 50 sun protection and a breezy, lightweight feel. Plus, the mesh-lined vents on the back provide extra ventilation to keep you cool.
Men wearing Tamiami II Long Sleeve PFG Shirt

The Best Long Sleeve PFG Fishing Shirt

Name: Tamiami Long Sleeve PFG Shirts
Women’s version: Tamiami Long Sleeve
This long-sleeve fishing shirt, which features a casual fit and an easy snap-up design, offers cool moisture-wicking fabric. It has UPF 50 sun protection and hidden mesh-lined vents in the back. Not only that, it showcases an antimicrobial treatment that helps reduce odor.

If you are interested in PFG fishing shirts, check out the riveting story of how one angler from Alabama used his PFG fishing shirt to help him survive nearly 10 hours in open water.

Anglers of all skill levels and styles can also check out our experts list of the best PFG fishing shoes.
Need more fishing gear? Check out the full PFG collection
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