People are geared towards outdoor activities not just to socialize and have fun but of the physical and mental health it provides. One of the most popular outdoor activities is fishing. In 2012 alone, over 47 million people enjoyed fly fishing, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, and other fishing activities. Yet, aside from getting your large bass off the hook, the endless streak of the sun is very much inevitable. If fishing is the name of your game, the dock is not your place to stay. The entirety and depth of the water is your ground, all the more perfect with the presence of the sun. This is why sun protection is a must in fishing. You won't like the stinging sensation of a sunburn. So, better read further below, discover the things needed to avoid sunburn and the worst you can get if you don't get yourself protected. But first, get informed why too much exposure to the sun is dangerous and, worst, fatal.
Too Much Sun Exposure
Doses of sunlight have good significant factors in our well-being. One of those is the Vitamin D produced in the UV rays that plays a big role in bone health. Other nutrients you can get target your blood cells and immune system. But small doses of sunlight only. Too much sun exposure is not healthy for our skin. Most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces are caused by sun exposure. The worst case is it can lead to severe skin conditions and skin cancer. 
Skin Cancer
Sunburns may be seen as just a minor irritation. However, the reality is that it shouldn't be taken for granted. Multiple studies in the UK showed that getting a sunburn once every two years alone can significantly increase your chance of getting melanoma skin cancer.
Getting a sunburn implies that the DNA in your skin cells has been harmed by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Bright A-beams (UVA) may not contribute a lot to sunburns from the sun as opposed to Ultraviolet B-beams (UVB), yet it enters further into the skin to cause aging. The two kinds of UV beams cause skin cancer growth, and the sun distributes them out thoroughly. The third type- UVC - is more deadly, yet we can thank the ozone layer for protecting us securely from it for now.
In a study in Maryland, anglers who invested a ton of energy in the water had a 2.5 times higher chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma than those who invested less time in the sun.
The Skin Cancer Society considers skin cancer as the most common around the world. Right around 10,000 Americans are diagnosed to have this illness consistently. 1 out of 5 Americans is perceived to develop skin cancer by the age of 70. It is alarming statistics. The truth is that it is greater than the sum of all the other cancers in the country. To add, the estimated costs annually for treatment are $8.1 billion.
Avoid Sunburn While Fishing
You now have basic information about how critical it is to expose to the sun longer, the possibility of sunburns is very likely, and you are increasing your chances of skin cancer. As a die-hard angler you may be, no largemouth bass is worth risking skin cancer. So while everything is still in control and fishing season is all the more at its peak, avoid sunburn while fishing at all cost! But, before anything else….
Know your UPFs
The Ultraviolet Protection Factor or UPF is a standard of UV radiation that penetrates clothing/ fabric. On the other hand, Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a time measure of how your sunscreen protection against UVB lasts.
A fabric or clothing with a UPF 50+ rating gives superb protection from UVA and UVB radiation as it blocks 98% of the sun's rays. With just 2% UV penetration, your exposure risk is incredibly lowered.
An SPF 30 sunscreen will secure your UV-exposed skin for around 10 hours whenever used accurately. In any case, note that UVB power and frequency spread differ for the day and area, so it is practical to reapply habitually.
9 out of 10 skin cancer cases might have been handily prevented by smart solutions, like applying sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and a four or 5-star rating, wearing the proper outfit (sunglasses, loose long-sleeve UPF 30-50 top, and a hat) and by avoiding the sun. However, as a fishing junkie, avoiding the sun would be a severe stunt to pull, so getting the right stuff is also important.
Protection from the sun is for everybody. That is why these protection agents ought to be applicable in our choice of gear or clothing if you are to take pleasure in the outside UV-safe.
How Not to Get Sunburn While Fishing
Having your fishing gear ready is not ready at all. You should have a mental and physical check of yourself before heading into a battle under the streaking sun. After all, you are the captain of your body, no matter how high-quality your gears are. And indeed, keeping yourself safe from the possible risk of longer sun exposure is highly important. You might be used to burnt arms, legs, and back of the neck, but skin cancer is your hated enemy if fishing is all your life. 
Wear the right hat.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, and they keep the sun off your neck and ears.
Wear a long-sleeved shirt.
It's the simplest way to keep the sun off your arms, and many alternatives are indeed cool. Choose dark or bright-colored clothes because they keep UV rays away by absorbing them rather than penetrating the garment.
Fold up your collar.
Toward the day's end, when the sun is low, your neck can get burnt. Fold your collar up for additional protection.
Button up your shirt.
That little pink "V" mark in your chest isn't cool – it's burned from the sun, so you must button up your shirt.
Wear pants.
Again there are a lot of lightweight choices. If you're wading a great deal, the sunscreen will get washed off your calves, and with pants, you don't have to stress over it.
Keep your socks on in the boat.
It would help if you didn't cast from the boat's bow wearing flat boots since you can't feel the line under your feet. However, bare feet, the highest points of your feet, can get burned. With socks on, you can feel your fly line, yet your feet are undoubtedly protected.
Wear sun sleeves.
If you genuinely lean toward casual shirts or short-sleeved shirts, sun sleeves are the perfect choice to protect your lower arms.
Wear a Buff.
You can say all flats guides use a buff, and it's just a simple, adaptable approach to keep the sun off your head and face. Many brands in the market work great.
Apply good sunscreen.
Since you're using the effort to lather it on, be sure it's the high-quality one. Sunscreen should be lathered to clean, dry skin 30 minutes before exposure to the sun, giving time to absorb properly.
Reapply sunscreen.
No sunscreen keeps going the entire day. Reapply when you're out on the water. Do it religiously every two hours. More often if you are swimming or sweating.
Stay in the shade.
Stay in the shade as much as possible, and it could be that time at the boat dock or the bar porch. Any place there's shade, stand in it. You can also cool your heels under a tree or any cover that gives enough shade.
Wear sun gloves.
They may be uncomfortable, but you'll get used to it. These can keep the sun off on one of the most vulnerable places of your body.
Wear UV-filtering sunglasses.
Your eyes need insurance as well. UV rays influence the eyes and the skin around the eyes. Sun exposure may result in cataracts, cancer of the eyelids, and even macular degeneration or blindness.
Use lip protection.
A cracked bottom lip is unpleasant. Always keep in mind protecting your lip.
Sun protection begins at the top by wearing a perfect sun hat or fishing hat with a brim of three inches and a UPF 50+ rating. This will conceal the face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper back, and every one of them has barely noticeable spots like the top points of the ears and nape. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas represent around 90% of all skin cancers and mostly appear on the head and neck. Staying hydrated also plays an important role. As a rule of thumb, drink eight 8-ounce glasses a day. Some health experts suggest that you need to sip on water constantly for the day - in any event, when you're not thirsty.
Reel In With No Worries!
Another practical and efficient way to avoid getting sunburn is to rethink your hours. Time can go rapidly while you're looking out for a bite. You probably won't see your shadow getting shorter as the sun is blazing overhead, yet that is a risky sign. You're more secure outside the long periods of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Fishing first thing in the morning or around dinnertime implies the sun will be at a greater amount of a point to you. The UV rays need to go through a greater amount of the earth's atmosphere to get to you, blocking a portion of the danger. Fortunately, experts say that fish will presumably be more active at those times as well. Nothing beats the fun in the sun if you are completely protected. The ways to avoid extreme sunburn or long-term problems like skin cancer are straightforward. It all boils down to simplifying your outdoor routine, cutting down on some items, and protecting yourself from the rays of the sun, and then it would allow you to perform the best on the hottest of days. Having the right protective mindset, and of course, gear will help you sustain your love for fishing.
