Fishing Shirts: 35 Funny and Personalized Ideas for Bass, Trout, Dads and Boat Trips

Fishing shirts split into two: the technical long-sleeve you wear on the water, and the printed tee or hoodie you wear to the bait shop, the boat ramp and the pub afterwards. This is a guide to the second kind. Here are 35 ideas by species and by fisherman, the small-print format that looks like a real fishing brand, and sizing.

Two formats that look like a fishing brand

Format	Example
Small chest badge, big back print	Lure on the chest, a large vintage fish illustration and lake name on the back
Vintage bait-shop logo	"Miller's Bait and Tackle, Lake Travis, Est. 1998" with a cartoon fish

35 fishing shirt ideas

By species

1. Bass: a vintage illustration of a largemouth with the lake name
2. Trout: a watercolour-style rainbow trout with the river
3. Catfish: "Noodling is a lifestyle"
4. Walleye: "Walleye weekend" with the year
5. Crappie: "Crappie fisherman, happy fisherman"
6. Salmon: a line drawing of the river's run with the season
7. Carp (UK): "Carp diem"
8. Pike: "Fear the pike" with a toothy cartoon
9. Barramundi (AU): "Barra season" with a Top End map
10. Saltwater: a marlin in retro poster style with the charter boat's name

Funny

11. "I fish so I don't choke people"
12. "The tug is the drug"
13. "Fishing: the art of doing nothing, patiently"
14. "Reel men fish"
15. "I'd rather be fishing (I'm always saying this)"
16. "Catch and release. Mostly release."
17. "Master baiter" for the friend group only
18. "Fish tremble at the sound of my name" on the person who never catches anything
19. "Sorry, I'm booked: fishing"
20. "Hooked on fishing, hooked on naps"

Dad and grandpa

21. "Fishing dad" with the kids' names as lures
22. "Grandpa's fishing buddy" on the grandchild, "Grandpa" on him; see funny dad shirts
23. "Teaching my kids to fish, and to lie about it"
24. "Retired: gone fishing, back never"; see retirement shirts

Trips and boats

25. The annual trip as a tour shirt: lake name, dates, everyone's name on the back
26. Your boat's name as a vintage badge
27. "Cabin crew" with the cabin's lake
28. Charter trip: species, date and "Survived"
29. Ice fishing: "Ice fishing: the cold never bothered me anyway"

Fishing women

30. "Fishing girl" in vintage script with a lure
31. "Reel women fish"
32. "Out-fished my husband again"

Caps

33. A single lure on the front panel
34. "Gone fishing" in embroidered-look lettering
35. A small cartoon of your favourite fish; see custom hats

Fabric

A printed cotton tee is right for the bait shop and the boat ramp. For a long day in the sun, wear a proper technical long-sleeve on the water and change into the printed shirt after. See cotton vs polyester.

Sizing as a gift

Fishing shirts get worn loose. Go one size up on a tee. Measure a shirt he wears often, flat, armpit to armpit, and use the size chart.

Making it

One sentence: "a vintage bait-shop logo that says Miller's Bait and Tackle, Lake Travis, Est. 1998, with a cartoon largemouth bass, olive and cream, no background". The Wearlie designer makes it; order on a tee, hoodie or cap.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a custom fishing shirt?

About $36 for a tee, $48 for a hoodie and $29 for a cap, shipping included, no minimum.

Can I put our boat's name on it?

Yes; a boat name in your own design is fine.

Can I order for the whole fishing trip?

Yes, in mixed sizes at the same price per shirt.