Frequently Asked Questions

How do Underwater Fish Lights work?

It’s a simple, proven process that begins automatically at dusk when the light turns on. As the light illuminates the water, it reflects off naturally occurring tannins, microscopic particles, and phytoplankton, immediately attracting shiners, shad, minnows, and other small baitfish. As they become comfortable with this new and abundant food source, activity around your dock increases and a micro feeding frenzy begins each time the light is in operation. Over time, the local baitfish population learns that your dock is a consistent, reliable source of food, and they will begin showing up nightly at dusk. Once the baitfish start to congregate, larger predatory fish soon follow. Species such as snook, grouper, tarpon, redfish, tripletail, bass, crappie, walleye, muskie, gar, perch, and many others depending on your location, are naturally drawn in by the activity. Before long, your dock becomes a thriving underwater ecosystem, with a wide variety of fish gathering there night after night.

Do I need an electrician or diver to install my Underwater Fish Light?

First and foremost, neither an electrician nor diver are needed for installation as it basically comes down to mounting the control box on your post or piling, lowering your light into the water, and plugging the system into a 110V grounded outlet.  Be sure to mount the control box no less than 6 feet above the waterline and within 5 feet of your grounded outlet. Once connected, carefully lower your light into the water, connect your photocell, and wait for the sun to set. It’s really that simple! This video will walk you through the set-up and installation of an Underwater Fish Light system. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer service team at 941-391-5846 or via email at info@fishlight.com for more information.

Is a special permit needed to install and/or operate an Underwater Fish Light system?

Our lights do not require any special permits for installation or operation, however there may be localized restrictions in place by HOAs, condominium boards, or developments that will need to be adhered to.

How many fish lights do I need?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as a few key factors come into play. While adding more lights will naturally increase the amount of fish activity around your dock, the most important consideration is the amount of usable space on your dock or seawall.

Each light typically creates a circular spread of illumination ranging from approximately 8 to 15 feet in diameter, depending on the system’s wattage as well as the water depth and clarity at your location. For optimal performance, we recommend spacing each light at least 10 feet apart.

As a general guideline, a two-light system can comfortably and effectively cover a 40-foot dock without overcrowding the area. For most applications, a one- or two-light setup delivers more than enough fish attraction while maintaining a clean, balanced, and visually appealing presentation.

Do Underwater Fish Lights cause electrolysis?

Regarding electrolysis, we’ve been asked about this issue for over 20 years, and we can confidently state that our systems do not produce the continuous electrical current required to cause electrolysis.

While any electrical device in the water could theoretically contribute to electrolysis, it’s almost always the result of faulty dock wiring.

Our systems are designed with built-in safety features that prevent electrical leakage. If there’s any irregularity—such as damage to wire, the Underwater Fish Light system will automatically shut down and remain off until the issue is resolved. This ensures that no current is released into the water. It’s important to note that most electrolysis problems stem from improperly grounded or poorly wired dock equipment, such as boat lifts or davits, not from the lighting systems themselves.

What are the monthly operating costs for an Underwater Fish Light?

The operating cost will depend on your local electricity rates; however, we have found that each bulb typically costs between $3 to $4 per month to run on a nightly basis.

Can solar power be used to run your lights?

Our permanent dock systems require more power than current solar setups can reliably supply. While some customers have attempted to use solar over the years, none have been successful due to the amperage needed to operate the lights, even for single-light systems. For this reason, we are unable to recommend powering our dock systems with solar energy at this time.

Do your Underwater Fish Light systems include a warranty?

Yes! All new Underwater Fish Light systems include a three-year warranty on the control box and related components. Our bulbs, regardless of wattage or color, are covered by a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. The warranty does not cover damage of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, system submersion, lightning strikes, power surges, broken bulbs, damaged wiring, modifications to the system, acts of nature, theft, or vandalism. Any warranty claim requires the non-operational component to be returned for evaluation. In addition, we are the only underwater lighting company to offer a 60-Night Money Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase within the first sixty days of ownership, you may return the system for a full refund, provided it is returned in functional, non-damaged condition. Please see our full warranty details here.

Which bulb color attracts the most fish?

Simply put, fish are attracted to light in general, regardless of the bulb color you choose. Some customers find that our Natural Green bulbs produce better results, while others swear by our Vibrant Green bulbs. Both are effective, and preferences often come down to personal preference and local water conditions. It’s important to note that our Natural Green bulbs do not contain a colored filament and are essentially clear. Their green appearance comes from the light reflecting off naturally occurring particles and tannins in the water. In very clear water that lacks these elements, the light may appear more white than green. Ultimately, your choice should be guided more by your water clarity than by color preference alone.

Will the Caribbean Blue bulbs work in my waterway?

Our Caribbean Blue lights are undeniably eye-catching, however in order to truly appreciate the icy blue illumination, they need to be deployed in crystal clear water, similar to what you’d find in the Bahamas or parts of the Florida Keys. If your water is not crystal clear, the output would be an unimpressive shade of orange and would not show the color intended. If you’re not sure if the Caribbean Blue will work in your area, please give us a call at 941-391-5846 and we can certainly point you in the right direction.

Will I need to clean the bulbs periodically?

One of the biggest advantages to our Underwater Fish Light systems, as opposed to LEDs, is that our bulbs run hot enough to circumvent barnacle growth as long as your light is running for at least eight hours every night. If you are in a nutrient-rich body of water and barnacles start to accumulate, the easiest method to clean them would be to unplug the system, remove the light(s) from the water and soak the bulb, cage, and housing in undiluted white vinegar for 24 to 48 hours. This will break down the calcium of the barnacle and will allow you to essentially wipe off any remnants with an old towel.

Is there any advantage to having more than one light in the water?

Absolutely – the more lights you have in the water, the more baitfish that you’ll attract, meaning that the predatory fish will be in abundance! Simply put, our single light system will bring in an incredible number of fish, but our double, triple, and quad light systems are guaranteed to bring even more fish to your dock.

Can the lights be run outside of the water?

No. Running the bulb out of the water will cause irreparable damage due to the extreme amount of heat that is emitted while in operation. Our bulbs are liquid cooled and need to be fully submerged at all times while illuminated.

Can you swim when your Fish Light is in operation?

Although designed to instantly shut down if there is an interruption in power, we strongly advise against swimming around the lights. If you do plan on swimming near the lights, you will need to unplug the system from the outlet beforehand to prevent possible injury or death.

Can I upgrade to a brighter bulb and can I add more lights?

Unfortunately, our two systems are not interchangeable meaning if you purchased a 175W system, you would only be able to utilize our 175W bulb. Likewise, if you opted for our 250W system, you would only be able to use our 250W bulbs. As far as adding lights, unfortunately this not possible as our systems are not scalable or modular in that additional ballasts/transformers cannot be added to the control box. If you already have an Underwater Fish Light system and you wish to add more lights, you have a couple options. If you are within sixty nights of your purchase, you are more than welcome to send/bring the system back to us and we can upgrade you to a larger, multi-light system. If you are outside of the sixty-night period, you can still get more lights on your dock by purchasing an additional Underwater Fish Light system, but just make sure you have another outlet available at your dock that can handle the amperage.

How can I protect my fish light from potential damage?

The biggest challenge that customers encounter is damage to the wire that leads out to the bulb, which more often than not, are caused by fishhooks and/or marine life. To prevent this, we offer Wire Shield which is a heavy-duty rubber conduit that has been sliced down the middle so that it simply wraps over your wire and is secured every twelve inches with the included zip-ties. Whereas this won’t prevent damage from a boat prop, it will definitely keep your wire safe and will prolong the life of your Underwater Fish Light system.

Is the bulb cage meant to be left on or taken off?

Our complete systems include a removable bulb cage that is primarily intended for transportation and installation. While it can be left on after deployment, doing so can become problematic in saltwater or brackish environments. During operation, the bulbs generate enough heat to deter marine growth on the bulb itself, but not on the cage. As a result, growth can accumulate on the cage, requiring the light to be pulled and cleaned more frequently. Additionally, once deployed, the cage does not provide sufficient protection against impacts from boat props, hulls, kayak paddles, or other contact commonly encountered in a marine environment. The decision is ultimately yours; however, removing the cage will offer a more maintenance-free experience.

What happens if my bulb breaks?

Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and if a breakage occurs, the fastest and easiest solution is to replace the entire bulb and wire, which we refer to as a light assembly. This includes the sealed bulb, housing, wire, and replacement zip-ties for your weight. Orders placed before 2PM EST typically ship the same day. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to give us a call at 941-391-5846.

Are your systems waterproof?

While our systems are engineered to withstand harsh marine environments, the electrical components in the control box are not waterproof and can be permanently damaged by extreme tides or storm surges. To avoid this, the control box should be mounted at least five to six feet above the waterline, or higher, when possible, to keep it clear of potential submersion. Additionally, the inline GFI is weather resistant but not waterproof and must not be submerged. We recommend keeping the plug elevated and positioned away from any areas where water may pool on your dock or seawall.