InTheBite Summer Apparel Preview

When you’re spending hours and even days on end at sea, it’s important to have clothing that dries quickly, protects you from the sun, wind and rain and yet still looks good. What you wear can make the difference from being comfortable to being miserable. With that in mind, InTheBite went to the market and found a series of new items that are either on sale now or are coming soon from some great lines—gear that looks as good as it performs. Here’s a preview.

Hook & Tackle

The Hook & Tackle’s Siesta Key plaid fishing shirt is a true classic. It’s made of a soft 100 percent microfiber fabric with a secured front pocket, fly rod loop and moisture-wicking mesh. It’s not only lightweight and refreshing but it also blocks 97 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays. It’s guaranteed to keep you cool; its rear air vents keep the breeze flowing in and the heat flowing out. The Siesta Key shirt retails for $50.00 See it today at www.hookandtackle.com

New for fall 2015 is the Soft Shell Crab Jacket. Perfect for those cool mornings on the water, it’s made of 96 percent micro-poly and four percent Spandex for a little stretch, with a micro brushed lining. The Soft Shell Crab features Velcro adjustable cuffs, Hook & Tackle inscribed zipper pulls, secure pockets, a phone pocket and a fly tab/sunglasses loop. The jacket is windproof, waterproof and breathable. It’s lightweight yet very durable, technical and comfortable. It’s available in black and porpoise grey (shown) in sizes Small through XXL; MSRP is $80.00. For more information, please visit www.hookandtackle.com

Huk Performance Fishing

Huk recently launched their new line of foul weather gear, a great looking bib and jacket combination. It’s made to be leakproof and breathable with waterproof technology coupled with non-binding stretch materials for comfort in any conditions. The jacket starts with a single layer that’s a breathable, waterproof shell with taped seams and welded zippers and a removable visor bill hood and internal neoprene storm cuffs that sit beneath Velcro closure shell cuffs. It’s non-binding and high stretch for comfort. The bibs have a welded chest pocket, dual side waist pockets and zip fly. The articulated knees are reinforced for better durability, with Velcro side tabs at belt level and boot hem zippers to customize the fit.

Huk has also introduced a line of ultra comfortable shorts that are perfect for any watersports activity. The Huk Hybrid Lite Short, KC Hybrid and Board Short use a quick drying stretch woven fabric to withstand all necessary duties on land and water, with dual front diagonal pockets and a secure articulated zip cargo and rear pocket. There’s SPF protection, stain release to keep the blood and grime from sticking and an anti-microbial to keep you from smelling like your catch. These shorts will take care of you from sunrise to sunset.

One final new item is their t-shirt, designed right from the start with the angler in mind. Using state-of-the-art fabrics, t-shirts from Huk are engineered to keep you comfortable, cool, and dry for hours. One of the biggest advantages is the use of Supima Micro Modal fabrics. Modal fabrics have been called “artificial silk,” as they are cool to the touch and have a smooth, silky texture. Unlike regular cotton, modal fabrics resist shrinkage and are less likely to fade over long periods of exposure to the sun, which is perfect for any active angler. They also incorporate a little Spandex for freedom of movement. With Spandex-infused shirts, you will be free to move your entire body including your shoulders and arms for the perfect casting motion. And finally they utilize Cool Touch Technology to keep you in total comfort all day long. Head over to www.hukgear.com for more information on all these great products.

Mojo Sportwear
They’re the fastest growing brand on the water today and now Mojo Sportswear has expanded their lines of great-looking (and hardworking) fishing shirts. First up is the Mr. Cool, designed right from the start to be the coolest shirt on the water. It’s made with four-way feather-light stretch fabric for ease of movement with vented side panels for increased airflow, with a sun protection factor of UPF 30. There’s a vented western-style back yoke and it’s also resistant to blood, stains, odors and snags, with corrosion free buttons and sleeve stays and a hidden button-down collar that stays put even on the windiest boat rides. Even better, it’s made with 50 percent recycled fabric so it’s even good for the environment. The MSRP is $69.00.

The Back Country is the perfect combination of style and comfort, it’s a “get out and explore” shirt. Construction starts with Mojo’s 100 percent technical poly fabric that’s moisture-wicking, resistant to blood, stains, odors and snags and has a little stretch for ease of movement. The button down collar and inset pockets make it classy enough for drinks at sunset while the sun protection factor of 30 keeps you cool even on the hottest flats. And at an MSRP of $63.00 it won’t break the bank either.

Mojo also stays on top of the hardcore tournament wear for which they’ve become famous. They have a full line of gear to keep you protected from the sun, including long sleeve vented microfiber shirts, quick-drying boardshorts and comfortable face guards like these (shown). Mix and match designs, go with contrasting hats and visors—the choices and combinations are endless. Visit www.mojo-gear.com for more information.

Pelagic
Hit the docks just about anywhere in the world and you’ll probably spot Pelagic gear on the backs and butts of the captains and crews. Next up are the Pelagic Pro-Form men’s sandals, which they tout as the ultimate boat sandal. With a Pro-Form outsole, the ergonomic footbed flexes with your every movement creating a natural environment for your feet, as if you’re going barefoot. The non-skid, non-mark rubber outsole offers strategic water channels to promote maximum drainage and performance in wet conditions on deck while multiple shock absorbent foam-cushion layers and reinforced padding offer increased comfort in areas of added stress. These sandals will keep you moving through those high-impact moments instead of begging for mercy when your dogs are barking. Sizes range from men’s 8 to 13 in brown, black or blue camo; MSRP is $55.00.

Celebrate the red, white, and blue, Pelagic style, with their new Americamo boardshort. Spinning an offshore twist on our country’s flag, the design features an all-“star” line-up of gamefish silhouettes cascading into a custom red and white “stripes” digital camo pattern. Built with Pelagic’s proprietary Sharkskin Boardshort Technology with four-way super-stretch fabric, these shorts are complete with side Velcro pocket, back zipper pocket and reinforced utility/pliers and cell phone pockets, making them the ultimate waterman’s boardshort. They’re available starting in June at your favorite marine retailer or online at www.PelagicGear.com, and the retail price is $69.00.

Sporty Girl
And now something for the ladies—this one from Sporty Girl, one of the hottest and fastest growing lines of ladies wear and jewelry. One of their most popular summertime items is this great bikini that features a map of the Bahamas with hogfish and lobster designs. It’s just one of their swimwear styles but it’s a winner for sure.

For those hours off the water down island, all you need is a simple little black dress. This one comes with a vibrant dolphin print offset to the side for a splash of color. Again, there are lots of styles, designs and colors but at just $33 this one’s also a bargain.

Another must-have for summer is a long-sleeve coverup. The ultra-popular mermaid design from Sporty Girl now shows up on a moisture-wicking long-sleeve sun shirt. The same design is also found on other styles including dresses and tops.

And to top off the look, add this silver fishhook pendant. It’s sparkly thanks to a covering of clear crystals. It’s one-inch long and dangles from a chain that’s adjustable to 18 inches in length and is very reasonably priced at just $18.95. Check out this and all the great clothing styles at www.sportygirlapparel.com.

Under Armour

Under Armour’s expansion into the fishing community continues with their new Ridge Reaper series of foul weather gear. This jacket and bib set is completely waterproof and windproof, featuring the company’s signature HydroArmour technology. The bibs offer an attachment for a kill switch, high leg zips for easy on and off, reflective branding for safety, a removable belt and lots of pockets (two chest, two hands and one waterproof zip secure cargo pocket). Sizes are from Small through XXXL and MSRP is $349.00.

The jacket matches the high quality construction and materials with articulated arms to minimize the raise of the jacket when casting or throwing a net. There’s a standing collar with integrated mesh for breathability and a drop down hood that’s designed to accommodate your peripheral vision for boating safety. It’s got the same matching reflective branding for nighttime visibility as well, a great safety feature especially in a man-overboard situation. There are pockets in the chest and two waterproof zippered hand pockets too. The Ridge Reaper Hydro Jacket retails for $399.99 and is available in sizes from Small through XXXL. Visit www. www.underarmour.com for more information.

For those days when the weather is sunny and hot, reach for the Under Armour Iso-Chill Element vented long sleeve shirt. It’s 100 percent polyester with the company’s proprietary ISO-CHILL cooling technology plus moisture-wicking mesh under the arms for increased breathability. The fabric itself is also designed to release stains and comes in four great color combinations in sizes from Small through XXXL at an MSRP of $49.99. The same design is also available in a quarter-zip neck style for $59.99.