Looking for a way to brighten up your night fishing trips? Check out our ultimate guide on the best night fishing lights on the market so you can find the right one for your style of fishing.
Fishing at night is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Not only is it a whole new experience, but it opens up an entirely new area to your fishing game.
Before you head out night fishing, though, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got your lighting covered. As it will be pitch black, or almost pitch black, out there, you’ll want to grab a couple of different lights before you start casting into the darkness.
Not only does proper lighting help you stay efficient and safe while you’re night fishing, but lights can also help increase your chances of catching fish. As you’ll see, lights impact the entire local food chain and can increase the likelihood of catching a big one.
Check out this list of night fishing lights that I’ve drawn together. I’ll go into more detail about the different types of lights you can get, plus I’ll give you my recommendations for some of the best night fishing lights on the market today.
Fishing at night
There are plenty of reasons why people go fishing at night. If you’re not restricted by the setting sun, you can open up a whole new section of your game. Here are some of the top reasons why you should try out fishing at night.
More active fish
Fish tend to be most active at around sundown and sunup. Being able to stay longer after the sun sets or get there before the sun rises increases your chances hugely when it comes to actually catching fish.
Fish are also affected by the phase of the moon, as are some of the insects that fish like to eat. Fishing by moonlight is one of the greatest experiences you’ll ever have, and staying out after dark is the only way to experience it.
There tends to be more fish activity at night as well because of the lower water temperature.
Especially in the summer with long hot days, most big fish tend to stay in the deep, shaded, or muddy spots. Once the sun sets, though, and the temperature falls, they come out and start to hunt.
Less competition
You’ll have fewer people competing for casts if you stay out after dark. If you have the right set up and correct lights for night fishing, you can often have the water to yourself, which is pretty rare when the sun is up, and it’s light out.
No sunburns
Sunburn is a serious problem when it comes to fishing. There has been more than one occasion when chasing the big one led to getting nasty sunburn, and now I take it much more seriously.
One of the nicest aspects of night fishing is you don’t have to worry about covering up or layering yourself in sun cream.
Experience a new side of nature
Night fishing is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. You get to see a whole other side of the water and its inhabitants. Everything sounds closer when it’s dark, and you get to hear a lot more. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see some bioluminescent algae!
Types of Fishing Lights
There are plenty of different ways to light up your night fishing escapades. From headlamps to glow sticks to lure lights, I’ve got together a list of the essential lights you’re going to need to be successful at night fishing.
Headlight
Headlights are pretty much the first piece of lighting equipment you’ll want to pick up for your night fishing adventures.
Having a hands-free light is invaluable while you’re tying on lures, untangling line, landing fish, pretty much anything other than waiting for a bite.
When you’re buying a headlight, sometimes called headlamp or headtorch, for fishing, the main criteria is that it’s waterproof.
I’ve introduced my headlamp to the water on numerous occasions while night fishing, and, if it weren’t waterproof, I would have had to buy a new one every time.
Other features I look for in a night fishing headlight are rechargeable batteries, USB charging, multiple light levels or modes, and more than one LED bulb. Once you introduce a headlamp into your game, you’ll see you don’t have to stop fishing when the sun goes down.
Rod Tip Light
By attaching a light to the tip of your rod, you’ll know immediately when you’ve had a strike. Getting a rod tip light is a good idea if you’re going night fishing, especially if you’re using more than one rod at once.
Some rod tip lights are single-use glow sticks. They are usually cheaper and come in packs of 50 or 100.
You can also get LED rod tip lights, which are a little more expensive but have the advantage of being multi-use. Some tip lights come with bells so you can hear when the fish are biting.
Underwater Light
Underwater fishing lights work by activating the food chain in the surrounding water.
The light attracts zooplankton and insects. As they swim towards the light, baitfish like shrimp, squid, minnows, and shad arrive to eat the zooplankton and insects. Predatory game fish will follow. These are the fish you’re targeting.
Lure Lights
Attaching an LED light to your lure is a popular way of increasing your chances of catching fish after dark. With a flashing LED on your lure, it will look like a blood trail to predators.
This makes lure lights perfect additions yo your arsenal if you’re going after big game like tuna or swordfish.
LED lure lights tend to be water-activated, so you don’t have to worry about turning them on and off again. Just cast normally, and the light will do the rest. The main difference between models of lure lights tends to be the quality of material and battery life.
Top 8 Night Fishing Lights
1.Totobay LED Headlamp
Totobay’s headlight is perfect for lighting up your boat, dock, or surroundings while you’re fishing at night. The main feature that makes it ideal for fishing is the fact that it’s IP65 waterproof. I’ve dropped mine in the water a few times, and it’s fine.
Another great feature is the rechargeable battery. It’s easy to charge with a USB cable charger, and you can even use it as an emergency power bank to charge your phone if you need to.
The 3 Super Bright LED bulbs provide over 6000 lumens and have a lifetime of over 100,000 hours. It has four modes – low, medium, high, and strobe.
I love using my Totobay LED headlamp when I’m night fishing, not only when I’m tying on lures and setting up, but it’s great if I’m hiking in or paddling onto a lake in the darkness.
It’s hard-wearing and totally waterproof and would make a great addition to your night fishing toolkit.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of the Totobay LED Headlamp.
2.Eoto Light Headlamp
Eoto Light has come out with a nice rechargeable LED headlamp that’s perfect for night fishing.
Its simple design makes it easy to use and easy to toggle between the four different modes. 3 Super Bright LED lights are powered by two rechargeable AA batteries and have a 100,000-hour lifespan.
A nice feature on the Eoto Headlamp is the ability to swivel the head, rotating it 90 degrees and giving you a better field of view. Eoto also offers a tremendous 12-month warranty and has a reputation for being really customer-friendly.
If you’re looking for a simple, affordable rechargeable headlamp for night fishing, you can’t go wrong with the Eoto LED Headlamp.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of the Eoto LED Headlamp.
3.thkfish Rod Tip Glow Sticks
With 8 hours of light time, the thkfish glow sticks will keep you fishing all night long. With 177-meter visibility, you won’t lose sight of your rod tip and will notice immediately as soon as something strikes.
The thkfish glow sticks will fit pretty much all rods and are easy to attach and secure. Their design means they don’t hamper your casting or reeling at all. I’ve used them a ton, and I’ve never lost one in a cast.
Each box comes with 100 lights, and you can store them for years. They’re some of the best inexpensive rod tip lights you can get and would make an invaluable asset when it comes to night fishing, especially if you’re using more than one pole. The only downside is they’re single-use only.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of the thkfish Rod Tip Glow Sticks.
4.YYGift Rod Tip LED
The YYGift Rod Tip LED is a great little alarm indicator for night fishing. The combination of lights and bells double its effectiveness. The design makes it super easy to use and clip onto your rod. Then, all you have to do is wait for the bells to start ringing.
The design makes it suitable for pretty much every fishing rod out there. It’s powered by two button batteries, and, unlike glow sticks, you can turn them on and off again. Each pack comes with 20 indicators.
For a cheap, simple, and effective night fishing indicator, the YYGift bell and LED is a perfect addition to any night fisher’s arsenal.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of the YYGift Rod Tip LED.
5.Goture LED Fishing Light
There’s a reason Goture’s LED fishing light is often rated as one of the best underwater lights on the market. Its high-quality design and build make it one of the top players when it comes to fish finder lights.
With a double-layer design, it reaches the highest international waterproof levels. Its high-grade parts improve its compressive strength, and it’s suitable up to 16 feet. The high-power Super Bright LEDs give over 5000 lumens brightness, and it has a 40sided LED design to bring a 360-degree view.
The Goture LED Fishing Light is a premium underwater fishing light and, if you’re willing to pay for it, will substantially up your night fishing game.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of Goture LED Fishing Light.
6.Linkstyle 12V LED Underwater Light
The 8-sided LED fishing light from Linkstyle comes with Super Bright LED lights with 1000 lumens brightness.
They’re super highly rated by customers, and I know plenty of people who use them. They are suitable for freshwater and saltwater fishing and are tested up to 50,000 hours of continuous use.
They come in a few different color options. Green LEDs tend to be better for squid, whereas krill and phytoplankton are more attracted to blue LEDs. If you don’t want to get too specific, the white LEDs are great for all-round fishing.
The Linkstyle Underwater Lights are super popular, affordable underwater lights.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of the Linkstyle 12V LED Underwater Light.
7.kilofly Lure Light
Each pack comes with 4 LED lure lights. They come in blue, green, white, or a combination of LED colors. Each lure holds 3 LEDs with a 360-degree view. They are designed to attract redfish, catfish, crappies, and predators, though they are super versatile.
The kilofly lure lights run off three button batteries, which will give you around 72 hours of use.
They have silicone rings to ensure they’re watertight and are designed to work up to 2,100 feet. Each lure light weighs only 1.5 ounces and is easy to attach and remove from your set up.
I’ve used the kilofly lure lights a bunch of times, and they rarely let me down. For their low price, they make a great addition to any night fisher’s arsenal.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of kilofly Lure Light.
8.Shaddock Fishing Deep Drop Lure Light
Shaddock Fishing has come out with a sweet little LED lure light with their Deep Drop. Its bombproof design keeps it watertight up to 2,100 feet, and it has a reputation of being almost indestructible.
The LED light runs off 2 AA batteries, giving it a longer light time than its competitors. The dome design gives the LED a super-efficient, 360-degree view.
The flashing LED comes in green, red, blue, or multicolored and is good for squid, tuna, and swordfish.
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty lure light, the Shaddock Fishing Deep Drop will not let you down.
Click here to check out prices, pictures, and reviews of Shaddock Fishing’s Deep Drop Lure Light.
Time to get out there
Now you should have a better idea of what lights to get before you head out on a night fishing adventure.
I hope the products I’ve recommended have helped you narrow down what light to get. Now it’s time to make a decision and get out there.
If night fishing isn’t your thing, that’s okay. Check out our article on the most popular types of fishing. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
Good luck and happy (night) fishing!