Hey there my fellow fishing enthusiasts and welcome to my post covering my 3 best beach fishing shelters to shade ourselves under this year. Now, as I have mentioned in a number of previous posts, I am a fisherman who likes to travel light so a beach fishing shelter is not something that I had often thought of as part of my ‘go kit’. However, as is often the case with me and my fishing ‘discoveries’, a fishing buddy recently came to our rescue on a particularly windy day.
You see we were in the beach with baits in the water and were getting bites. But the wind came up and it got cold. Then Steve popped out what can only be described as an umbrella on steroids and we were saved!! Wind free, we are able to stay on the beach a little longer and catch some more fish. So with this in mind, let’s see if we can find a good beach fishing shelter to protect us as we get amongst them…
My 3 recommended beach fishing shelters
I will review these in more detail below but if you just want to get moving without all the carry on, my 3 are listed here for your convenience:
What are beach fishing shelters?
Ok, so we are going to open a very large can of worms here as beach shelters definitely come in all manner of shapes, sizes and, confusingly many names such as tents, canopies, sunshades and cabanas. They all do however provide one major purpose – which is to protect us from the elements such as:
- Wind
- Rain
- Sun
- Sea spray
- Cold
Before we look at purchase options however, let’s check out some influences to consider prior to doing so…
What should you be looking for?
When it comes to a good shelter for beach fishing, consider the following:
Protection requirements – as mentioned above, there are a number of reasons that one my want to purchase a little shelter to keep themselves protected whilst out on the beach. To be honest, the main influences here are whether you are protecting from sun, wind or rain. This can determine your requirements as follows:
- Sun – Get a wide cover such as a large tent or sun shelter to provide as much sand cover as possible.
- Wind – you will want as a minimum something with some mesh walls.
- Rain – waterproofing is key here. Walls will also assist in stopping the wet coming in from underneath.
Anchoring – Regardless of the needs above, shelters are inherently light in weight so make sure they have some means to anchor them to the ground such as pegs, sandbags etc.
Terrain – We all know that beaches are sandy, but some are more so than others so if you will be sitting in really soft sand then you may want to make sure that you shelter has anchoring capability to handle soft sand – sand bags are best here.
Size – Think about how may people you will realistically need to sit under it – in my experience ‘4 man’ means two at most. Choose your size accordingly. Also consider the height if you plan to sit on the beach chair whilst under it as well.
Weight – As mentioned above, one good thing about beach shelters is that they are generally light by design however if you are going to be traveling a bit further to get to your favourite fishing spot (and you don’t have a beach fishing cart), then lugging a big, heavy piece of tarpaulin is not what you want to be doing.
Frame material – Should the shelter come with a frame, check the composition of the poles prior to purchase. Beach conditions can cause metal to rust so look for an aluminium, alloy or durable fiberglass frame.
Additions – There are a good number of additional extras that a beach fishing shelter can include such as:
- Carry bag or backpack
- Pockets in walls for wallets, phones, keys etc.
- Drink holders
- Sand pockets for extra stability
Note: Not all options that I list below will have all of these however the list above includes some of the things I have seen come with beach shelters so if they are a need, then have a look around for some with these inclusions.
FAQ
Are beach fishing shelters worth it?
Beach fishing shelters (or beach tents) are a great addition as they provide permanent shade throughout the day for yourself and your family. They assist in keeping your belongings and food cool and best of all, better quality options come with great sun protection ratings (SPF 50+) which will protect your skin from harmful rays as well.
What Do I use?
As discussed above, my introduction to beach fishing shelters was via a friend of mine on a windy beach. Steve’s was an all in one model that seemed to fold out like an umbrella. It doubles up and folds down into a carry bag that he flings over his shoulder.
I admit to forgetting to take a photo of it however it looks a little like below:
At the end of the day, as long as it protects you from the elements and can be anchored so as to not blow away, then it should work for you.
My 3 recommendations broken down
As we now know, there are a few different fishing shelter options available online so I have chosen the following three in an attempt to give you some choices taking into consideration the information above. Based on this, I recommend the following options:
1. Sport-Brella Premiere Umbrella Shelter
The first shelter I have chosen is for those of you who are looking for a simple option that will fold up for simple transportation to and from the beach. Like Steve’s above, it is effectively an umbrella with some side walls to protect from the wind, rain and sun. Its specifications include:
- Construction – Aluminum and heavy-duty polyester
- Foldable – Yes – like an umbrella
- Size – 9ft wide
- Sun proof – UPF 50+
- Water proof – Yes – when windows zipped down
- Anchors – 1.25′ centre pole with twist handle
- Floor – No
Other inclusions:
- Internal pockets for wallets, phones etc.
- Zippered windows
- Extra stakes and tie downs
- Carry bag with straps
Why have I chosen it?
This is a great one for those looking for a decent shelter that will handle beach fishing with ease as well as any other need you may have for it. It is easy to setup and fold down with extra anchors for wind protection. Perhaps the only issue with this one is that once it folds down, like a normal umbrella it is still quite long although the carry bag will assist here.
2. Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent
This next one is for those who want just a bit more comfort and protection whilst fishing or need some extra wind resistance. The frame is made of extremely strong fiberglass and alloy steel the folds up and down for easy setup with sand pockets for extra stability. As with the first option above, it also folds down to a carry bag with specs as follows:
- Construction – Aluminum and breathable 210T polyester
- Foldable – Yes – in under 30 seconds
- Size – 92″ x 45″ x 45″ (2 adults and 2 kids)
- Sun proof – 99% protection against harmful UV rays
- Water proof – Yes, when windows zipped down
- Anchors – 6 sand pockets, 8 steel stakes, 4 guy lines
- Floor – Yes – 150D PE
Other inclusions:
- 2 x Internal mesh pockets for wallets, phones etc.
- Zippered windows
- Carry bag with straps
Why have I chosen it?
I like this one as it offers all round protection for two adults and is anchorable in all sand types. It is made of strong materials with a floor for extra comfort – especially in the rain or stronger winds. All in all, for those who like to travel light but still be able to sit in a nice strong shelter, this one may just be the ticket.
3. Neso Tents Grande Beach Tent
My final option here is for those whose main need is sun protection – especially if you have the family with you. It doesn’t provide for as much wind and sideways water protection as the options above however if it is sunny, or raining just a little, then this one will work very well. And best of all it is extremely simple to setup with an anchoring system that will hold up against most conditions. Its specification include:
- Construction – Rust-proof Aluminum Poles and Nylon/Lycra blend main tent fabric
- Foldable – Yes – fits down to 19.5″ carry bag
- Size –110.24 x 110.24 x 82.68 inches
- Sun proof – UPF 50+
- Water proof – Water repellent
- Anchors – Poles, 4 guy lines, pegs, sand anchors
- Floor – No
Other inclusions:
- Cooler Pocket for drinks and snacks
- Carry bag with straps
- Reinforced corners with pole eyelets
Why have I chosen it?
I have chosen this last option as even though it doesn’t provide the all round protection of the others, it is certainly the most versatile for sun protection on the beach as it can be set up in so many ways with or without the poles. We had one of these growing up and it could be tied to trees, cars, rocks and anything else the beach can throw at you for simple and immediate protection.
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Primary Rating:
4.5
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Primary Rating:
4.5
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Primary Rating:
4.4
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$67.93
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$139.99
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Do you want some more sand anchors with that?
For those of you who have a shelter but would love it if it would hold a bit better in the wind, we used to grab some shopping bags, fill them with sand and tie them to the shelter. Boom! Sand anchors!
Conclusion
And there they are – my 3 best beach fishing shelters to shade ourselves under this year. I hope it has been helpful and as usual, please let me know of your experiences with them.
Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections or would like me to check anything else out for you.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
