Fishing might seem easy, but the truth is that we need to stock with all of the information and tools in order to get it done right. This goes especially to those of you who plan to go on a night fishing on a boat. Out of all needed tools like rods, lures, etc., the one thing you shouldn’t forget is to choose the right underwater boat lights. Underwater lights for boats are essential gear that can help your boat stand out at the river, ocean or marina.
Do Underwater Boat Lights Attract Fish?
This, in fact, is the main goal of these lights, aside from being a perfect way that can lift the party mood when throwing a boat party. That is because, the colour of these lights can attract fish to the boat, from which you could benefit a lot. To be more specific, there is a kind of chain or circle that is formed when using marine underwater lighting during night fishing. The night lights on boats can attract zooplankton, the zooplankton will attract baitfish and finally, baitfish will attract game fish which is your goal. Amazing, right?! And the best part is that you‘ll be able to see with your own eyes this circle of life.
What Is the Typical Underwater Boat Light?
Strobes (flashlights) and video lights (constant lights) are the most commonly used types of marine underwater lighting out of which the underwater video lights are the most popular. The reason is simple, they can be used as a dive light and as a video light. What you need to know is that strobe lights are mainly attached to the fishing lines. Besides these types of lights, you can also choose from the many portable lights that are designed to be dropped over the side of the boat.
Regarding the type of light, it’s said that it’s best to choose submerged LED lights instead of halogen. The reason for this is simple, they’re power-savvy meaning that the battery power won’t be chewed up too quickly. On, the other hand, they also don’t emit high heat. In fact, they emit only a minimal amount of heat so they could run longer. The lifespan of these lights is also longer. In other words, they can be used for more than 40 000 hours which means that they could last a lifetime, literally. The last and not least benefit of using underwater LED marine lights is that they are designed for tougher environments which means that humidity, vibrations, shocks and the water won’t impede them from working at their best.
Which Colour to Choose?
Since your goal is to attract game fish, the first type of fish you have to attract is zooplankton, and it seems that they love green and white lights. Now, since bugs and other flying insects also love these colours, make sure to choose submerged green and white lights, so you could have peace of mind that you won’t have to deal with insects. Practice shows that green lights are also a great choice for areas where the water clarity is poor. Blue lights are also quite common when fishing at night and they have proven effective in darker waters as well. The reason why green and blue lights are better for darker and white lights for cleaner water is that green and blue have the longest wavelength. For instance, green lights can penetrate the water at 30 metres while green lights at 50 metres. Red lights, for instance, can penetrate the water only at 5 metres, orange lights at 10 and yellow lights at 20 metres. The last thing to know about colours is that you can choose between lights that emit single or multicolours. The type you choose should be based on the size of your boat and how many lights you should incorporate. If not sure about any of this, consult with a professional.
Choosing the Right Number of Lights
The number of used LED marine lights should be based on the size of your boat. Generally speaking, it’s said that a boat between 7 – 14 metres should have 1 to 5 lights on the transom of the centre console. Runboats which are around 50 – 90 metres should have 4 to 6 lights. For larger sport boats you can choose more than 6 lights. Keep in mind that the number of lights can also depend on their lumen and brightness, so before making any decision, you should consult with an expert in this field. This is essential especially for those of you who plan on using the boat mainly for fishing and parties. In the end, having a successful night fishing will depend on the type of underwater lights you choose, so making sure you invest in the best should be your goal.
