In truth, this question is really about preferences. Some people prefer to wear long sleeves to help them block out the sun’s harmful rays, while others prefer to have the feel of the wind and water on their forearms. However, there are some advantages and disadvantages to both choices.
First, longer sleeves do offer you more protection from the sun, and they help to regulate your body temperature more easily, provided that the material is lightweight in nature. As you probably noted, most of the shirts presented here are made with either a lighter cotton fabric or a polyester blend, both of which are great for transferring heat away from your body. However, long sleeves can, and often do get in the way, especially if you’re rapidly casting out and reeling a line back in.
Short sleeves, while they allow for more overall movement, won’t offer you the protection that longer sleeves will. However, you’re less likely to get a hook caught in a short sleeve.