As the popularity of kayaks continues on an upward trend, we are receiving more questions than ever regarding the best way to set up a kayak for flounder gigging. Kayaks are lightweight, compact, and simple — which means the key to success is minimizing weight while maximizing performance.
In other words: choose a flounder gigging light that is multi-functional, efficient, and capable of running on smaller batteries. (If you're comparing your options, here’s our new in-depth guide on the best flounder gigging lights for 2026.)
Flounder Gigging Light Setup on a Kayak
Thanks to one of our kayak flounder gigging customers, Kevin Vlaun, we’re able to share his clean, highly functional setup using two Mini Swamp Eye Submersible Flounder Gigging Lights mounted to the front of his kayak.
Why This Setup Works So Well
1. Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles work above and below water. They’re waterproof and durable — perfect for kayaks, which take waves and can roll in rougher open-water conditions.
2. They provide a wide, bright 6,000-lumen flood. This helps you spot flounder more easily and improves your visibility for navigation and safety. Other boats can also see you better at night.
3. One mounted on each side gives full front-end light spread. Maximizing coverage = maximizing the number of flounder you can see.
4. Two lights can run all night on a small 12V battery. A 30Ah battery can run them 10+ hours. Even a compact 10–12Ah deer feeder battery gives 3–4+ hours of runtime.
5. Each Mini Swamp Eye Submersible includes 10 ft of marine-grade wire. This is typically enough to run wiring through the kayak hull. If you need additional length, we carry waterproof wire connectors and battery terminals for clean, secure connections.
Alternative Kayak Mounting Options
If you prefer to use Swamp Eye Submersibles (underwater only) or mount your Mini Swamp Eye Submersibles underwater instead of above water, an easy option is using Schedule 40 PVC conduit to drop the light down into the water beside your kayak.
If you build a PVC-mounted underneath-the-kayak setup, send us photos — we love featuring customer rigs in our guides!
Some kayakers even use our Boat Adapter Poles for Underwater Lights, though you’ll need something sturdy for the clamp to grab onto (it opens to 3"). A simple piece of marine-grade wood, aluminum plate, or DIY bracket works well.
This customer used a trolling motor bracket for underwater lights, but needed to extend the mount using a 2x4 so the trolling motor wouldn’t rub when turning. Using our boat adapter pole would’ve prevented this issue entirely.
Share Your Kayak Setup
We love seeing customer innovations. Send us your rig, and we may feature your photos in this article or future kayak-specific flounder gigging guides.
More Mounting Idea Resources
If you want more ideas for rigging and customizing your lights, you might find these helpful:
- Mounting Ideas for Your Mini Swamp Eye Submersible
- Mounting Ideas for Your Swamp Eye Submersible Lights
- And if you’re comparing overall performance, don’t miss our new guide to the
