Impressions: When it comes to fishing optics the first brands that typically come to mind are Costa, Maui Jim, Bajio, and Oakley. These brands are known for their high quality and performance on and off the water. Shady Rays, a company founded in 2012 by Chris Ratterman, focuses on delivering affordable, high-quality sunglasses with a focus on customer satisfaction.

Shady Rays has been building frames for a variety of sports and these new frames feature the clean styling and lightweight design that the brand is known for

The new Cayman Elite and Capitan Elite sunglasses were designed in collaboration with Major League Fishing pro John Hunter, who has tallied 14 top-10 finishes, the Elite Fishing Collection blends clarity, color-enhancing technology, and water-ready functionality all together with polarized “Colorush” lenses and technical frame designs.

Each pair comes with a semi-hard protective case

One of the key features of both new models is that float in water, feature increased side coverage for better sun protection, and use upgraded no-slip nose pads to keep them locked in place when anglers make quick casting movements or are running the boat from one side of the lake to the other. Each component, from the hinges to the ventilated temples, is designed to perform under a range of conditions for both weekend warriors and pro anglers.

So what makes them Elite? The new Colorush polarized lenses that are designed specifically for fishing

The Cayman Elite: Shady Rays took one of their most versatile frames, the Cayman, and re-engineered it specifically for angling applications. The Cayman Elite features a matte black, floatable frame equipped with advanced ventilation channels to reduce fogging and distraction-reducing side shields that block peripheral glare. The result is a sporty, well-balanced design that blends durability with long-wear comfort, making it equally at home on the deck or the dock. While not exactly “lifestyle” or beach-inspired in appearance, the Cayman Elite strikes a nice balance between technical and casual styling - a definite plus for anglers looking for a pair that transitions seamlessly from the water to everyday wear.

Shady Rays worked with MLF Pro John Hunter to design these new frames and lenses

Capitan Elite: A fan favorite in the Shady Rays lineup, the Capitan receives a complete water-ready upgrade in the Elite version. With the same floatable and ventilated construction as the Cayman Elite, this model offers a full-wrap design and maximum coverage, ideal for long hours of fishing under open skies. Lightweight yet tough, it provides the kind of secure, all-day fit hardcore freshwater or even inshore anglers. Of the two frames this one looks wider, larger, and provides a more wrap style look to shield out the sun, wind, and spray.

Inside the case the sunglasses also are wrapped in a microfiber sleeve

Real World Tests: To evaluate both pairs of Shady Rays sunglasses, I wore them extensively over a sixty-day period, comparing performance between the two models as well as against my everyday eyewear from Costa. Most of my testing took place while targeting largemouth bass in the California Delta and nearby fisheries, where changing light and reflective conditions can quickly reveal the strengths, and weaknesses, of polarized optics. The sunglasses also logged plenty of travel time, from long hauls towing my Vexus across the state to a destination fishing trip that included air travel to some destination bass fishing.

The sleeve doubles as a cleaning cloth

Operation: Before we delve into the Shady Rays frame designs lets first dive deeper into what matters most to anglers, the lens optics. Developed with feedback from John Hunter and tested with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Elite lenses are a key element of this collection. Shady Rays introduced three brand-new, purpose-built lenses - all polarized, shatter resistant, and coated with hydrophobic and oleophobic compounds to repel water, oil, and dirt. Shady Rays lenses on these frames include:

Though the Black Emerald lens looks green on the outside inside is a bronze tint designed to cut through the glare

Black Royal (10% VLT): A polarized royal mirror lens with a bronze tint designed to enhance contrast and visibility in bright conditions.

Black Emerald (10% VLT): A polarized emerald mirror lens with a bronze tint, delivering glare-cutting clarity and natural color balance in full sunlight.

Black Slate (15% VLT): A slate mirror lens designed for dawn, dusk, and overcast conditions. With slightly higher light transmission, it is designed to excel in transitional light and shaded water.

On the water, both the Black Royal and Black Emerald lenses delivered excellent polarization and natural color enhancement without overly darkening the scene. The bronze base tint helped separate greens, browns, and blues, making it easy to identify weed lines and structure in the Delta.

Looking through the Black Emerald lenses on a very bright summer day on the California Delta

I personally favored the Black Emerald lenses on the Cayman Elite, which did an outstanding job cutting glare while dramatically boosting contrast on the water. Everything viewed through these lenses appeared more vivid, yet they remained comfortable whether driving the boat or the truck.

Though the Cayman has side shields to block out light even with a buff on they don't fog up

The Black Royal lenses on the Capitan Elite felt better suited for very bright conditions, where they similarly enhanced contrast and maintained clarity. Unlike many competing lenses, the ColorRush optics make the world around you appear more vibrant. Some anglers may initially find the heightened color a little distracting, but after extended wear, everything else feels dull in comparison.

The Capitan Elite is styled more like a full performance wrap

Next Section: Performance, Floatability, and Price...