The difference between quality polarised sunglasses and cheap ones is not just price — it is the difference between seeing fish and not seeing fish. Here is what matters.
Why Polarised for Fishing
Polarised lenses filter horizontally-polarised reflected light — the glare that bounces off the water surface and prevents you from seeing into the water. With quality polarisation, you can see fish, structure, and current breaks at depth. Without it, you are effectively fishing blind in bright conditions.
Lens Colour
Amber/copper: The best all-around fishing lens. Enhances contrast in low to moderate light. Good for early morning and cloudy conditions. Australian recommendation for most fishing applications.
Grey: True colour rendering in bright light. Best for offshore and tropical fishing where light intensity is extreme and colour accuracy matters for reading the water.
Green/yellow: Best penetration in murky, stained, or turbid water. Useful for estuary and river fishing in lower clarity conditions.
Lens Material
Glass: Best optical clarity, most scratch-resistant, heaviest. The preference of serious sight fishers.
Polycarbonate: Lightweight, impact resistant, adequate optical quality for most applications. The most common mid-range lens material.
Polarised plastic: Cheap. Poor optical quality that distorts vision at angles — actually counterproductive for reading water.
Frame Fit for Fishing
Wrap-around frames prevent light entry from the sides — important when the sun is low and at angles to your field of view. Floating frames are worth considering for boat fishing. A retainer cord is essential — polarised sunglasses lost overboard are expensive.
Browse our fishing accessories range including polarised sunglasses tested by our team on Australian water.
