Nostalgia and aesthetics aren’t the only reason you should buy fly fishing gear. But those two aspects do count for something. And in the history-rich, artistically inclined world of fly fishing nostalgia and aesthetics are often embraced willingly. Bamboo rods and waxed cotton packs are still made and used because they work. They are examples of equipment that tethers today to yesterday.
For anyone aware of fly fishing in the late 80s and the 90s, Costa Del Mar‘s reintroduced Grand Catalina sunglasses will immediately reel you back to yesterday. Their marketing is unashamedly capitalizing on that. And it works.
As a teenager hungry for all things fly fishing in the mid-90s, I tuned in with countless others across the nation to ESPN on Saturday mornings. Trout-centered shows were opportunities to take notes and improve on something the next time out. Bass tournaments scratched both competitive and infomercial itches. But Walker’s Cay Chronicles stood alone among programs. Flip Pallot’s exploration of Florida’s coastline was about as adventurous to a suburban teenager as summiting Everest. For thirty minutes, with commercial breaks, I was able to ride the ragged edge where the fish were big and wild.
I soaked up every detail of the show. And I was on high alert, because everything was different on Flip’s boat. The reels were enormous. The flies looked alien. His hats were floral and his shirts were pastel. He and his companions were certainly not beholden to the drab tans and olives of the men I fished alongside on my local creeks. The sunglasses were not the kind my peers wore and the mall ads pushed on me. Instead of sleek and sci-fi, Flip wore big and utilitarian frames. There were shields on the sides and a length of fly line to keep them around his neck. It wasn’t cool by high school standards. But it was cool by tarpon guide standards; because it worked.
The updated Grand Catalina is the direct successor to the frames Costa Del Mar produced nearly 40 years ago. Founded in Florida in 1983, the brand became a favorite of anglers looking for lenses and frames that helped them spot fish easier. Along with other releases that mirrored the style preferences of the day, the Grand Catalina capitalized on the pragmatic drive for more coverage and focused function.
Fast forward to 2024, and the popular model is back. The hallmarks of the Grand Catalina are still the large lenses and side shields. As is the case with virtually all Costas, the lenses are available in 580G glass. These remarkably light glass lenses are astoundingly clear, while still being impact and scratch resistant. Larger lenses mean more polarized coverage: in four directions your vision is assisted by glare resistance. The removeable side shields increase focus by blocking out ambient light from the sides. Depending upon conditions and the contours of your face, being able to pop the rubber pieces in and out provides options on the water.
As is the case with all the premiere releases from Costa, the new Grand Catalina has some other high-end features. The frames, available in four colorways, are durable with just a little bit of flex. A rubberized coating on the arms helps keep the glasses in place, even when perspiration kicks in. There is porting between the nose pads and the lenses, which helps reduce fogging. The nose pad is also adjustable to fit a wide range of face shapes.
And, in my humble opinion, they are cool. Decades after I was a closeted fan on Saturday mornings and as I flipped through fly fishing magazines, I’m man enough (or old enough) to wear them around with a smile. The funny thing is that the style has actually circled back around to be embraced by circles of society far from the Everglades. Yet that doesn’t matter as much as the ability to spot fish. And most of the time that is the benefit I get wearing the Grand Catalina. But now and again when I see them I am reminded of those angling explorers cruising and casting in far away locales. And that counts for something. Even if it is just a smile.
Take a look at all the frame and lens options for the Grand Catalina on the website of Costa Del Mar. And be sure to watch the release video below.