COOL SHADES FOR HOT FISHING


COSTA DEL MAR: TUNA ALLEY


Glass or polycarbonate 580 lenses block out yellow light. Stainless steel hardware and bendable hinges on vented frame.


$179 to $259 www.costadelmar.com


HOBIE SUNGLASSES: SEGUNDO


Glass lenses coated with Hydro Clean Plus to resist water and dust. Frame features adjustable


nose pad and anti-fog brow bar. $190 www.hobiepolarized.com


SHADY CHARACTERS


“There they are!” I shouted as I pointed out a school of redfish that were scooting over the sandy bottom 30 yards ahead of my kayak. “Where?” asked my fishing buddy, Sa-


sha. “Right there!” I answered, jabbing my


pointer finger in the direction of the herd of little reds. “I don’t see them,” Sasha panicked,


“where are they?” “Twenty yards out—moving left to


right!” I was now slashing my rod tip like a fencing foil at the school of fish. Sasha launched a cast in the direction


I was pointing, but his lure landed disap- pointingly short of the disappearing school of fish. With Sasha out of the game, I hurled a Hail Mary at the red ghosts just before they escaped into the glare. Work- ing on a prayer, I jigged the rod tip once to bounce my lure off the bottom. The line came tight and the rod bent double. I was hooked up. After I released the spunky little red, I


paddled over to Sasha and demanded he hand over his sunglasses. Upon inspec- tion, I found he was wearing a cheap pair


34 PADDLING MAGAZINE


MAUI JIM: BAMBOO FOREST CATCH MORE FISH WITH THE RIGHT PAIR OF SUNGLASSES


of plastic sunglasses that he bought at a box store. “But the sticker said they are polarized,” he protested. Not all polarized sunglasses are cre-


ated equal. While a pair of bargain shades may employ a polarizing filter that blocks horizontal light waves from entering the wearer’s eye, technologically advanced sunglasses use the highest quality lenses that eliminate glare, absorb harmful rays, improve visual acuity, resist scratching and even shed water and dust. Top quality lenses are made of glass or


polycarbonate. Glass lenses provide the clearest view, but they are heavier and eas- ier to crack than polycarbonate. Polycar- bonate lenses are lighter and impact resis- tant, but they can also be easier to scratch. The best lenses, whether glass or plastic, will block out harmful yellow light and ul- traviolet rays while providing the highest level of visual response. Top-quality lenses are coated with layers


of film that reduce glare, shed water and resist scratching and cracking. The best manufacturers use high-tech processes to apply the coatings so that the lenses resist delaminating for the life of the shades.


PureAir frames are light and flexible. MauiPure polycarbonate lenses coated with rare earth elements for correct color representation.


$219 www.mauijim.com


Choosing the right pair of sunglasses


depends on the type of fishing you do. In- shore and freshwater anglers are looking for shades with a copper tint that makes it easier to pick out a dark fish against dark, stained water and muddy or sandy bot- toms. Offshore anglers seek gray lenses that darken the whole scene for hours of staring into bright blue water. True pros will even keep a pair of yellow-tinted lenses to cut out glare on cloudy days and in low-light condi- tions. A mirrored coating on the lens will further reduce light transmission, but it can also sizzle your nose with a nasty sunburn. Not only does a good pair of sunglasses


help an angler spot fish, but cutting out the glare and improving color interpretation will also help him spot structure and water conditions that could hold fish. While this technology doesn’t come cheap (expect to pay over $150 for the best), after one day on the water the difference between cheap sunglasses and high-quality fishing optics will be crystal clear. —Ric Burnley


PHOTO: COURTESY RIC BURNLEY


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