Overhead (above-water) green fishing lights are a low-maintenance alternative to traditional underwater lights, offering reliable fish attraction without barnacle buildup, corrosion, or constant cleaning.
In this guide, we break down the two main types of overhead fishing lights—spot-style and flood-style—and explain exactly when each one makes sense based on water depth, mounting height, light spread, and proximity to neighbors. Whether you’re lighting a narrow canal, a residential dock, or an open shoreline, this guide will help you choose the right overhead green fishing light for your setup.
Underwater fishing lights can be effective—but they often come with a maintenance nightmare. Continuous barnacle buildup, algae growth, and corrosion require frequent cleaning and can shorten the life of the light.
Because of this, more anglers and waterfront homeowners are switching to overhead (above-water) green fishing lights.
The primary reason for the shift is simple:
Above-water fishing lights last longer and eliminate ongoing maintenance.
This is especially appealing for:
- Waterfront homeowners who don’t want to scrape or clean lights
- Rental and Airbnb properties where regular maintenance is difficult
- Canal homes where underwater access is limited
Two popular overhead options are the Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Spotlight and the Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light, each optimized for different fishing scenarios.
Quick Take: use a spotlight for deep water and controlled light near neighbors; choose a flood light for maximum surface coverage on open water.
Why Choose an Above-Water Green Fishing Light?
Overhead fishing lights are mounted entirely above the waterline, eliminating many of the problems associated with submersible lights, including:
- Barnacle and algae growth
- Hull drilling and underwater wiring
- Water intrusion failures
- Frequent cleaning or replacement
Modern overhead green fishing lights still produce a strong, effective green wavelength that attracts plankton, baitfish, and predator fish—without being submerged.
Two standout options in overhead fishing lights are the Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Spotlight and the Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light. The spotlight is ideal for narrow canals and deeper water where focused penetration matters most, while the flood light is designed to illuminate wide surface areas like ponds, piers, and open shorelines with powerful green coverage.
Types of Overhead Fishing Lights
There are two main types of overhead fishing lights mounted above water:
Each style has advantages depending on water depth, mounting height, and how much area you want to illuminate.
Overhead Spot-Style Green Fishing Lights
Overhead spot-style green fishing lights produce a narrow, directional beam designed to penetrate deep into the water column while keeping light tightly controlled. Unlike flood lights that spread illumination across a wide surface area, spotlights concentrate output exactly where it matters—in the water, not in neighboring houses or windows.
Modern above-water green fishing spotlights use a high-intensity green wavelength proven to attract plankton, baitfish, and gamefish, while remaining fully mounted above the surface. This eliminates barnacle growth, underwater corrosion, and the constant cleaning required by submersible fishing lights.
The Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Spotlight is designed to deliver a narrow, powerful beam that penetrates deep into the water column while keeping light tightly controlled.
When Overhead Green Fishing Spotlights Are the Best Choice
Overhead spotlights are commonly used when:
- You need to minimize light spill toward neighboring homes
- The water is deep (6-8+ feet)
- The light is mounted 8–15 feet or more above the water
- The target fishing area is 15-20 feet away from the mounting point
- HOA rules or residential settings require controlled, directional lighting
Above-water spotlights are often chosen to replicate the fish-attracting effect of underwater lights while keeping all electrical components safely out of the water.
Key takeaway: Spotlights mimic underwater lights while keeping everything out of the water.
Why Many Dock Owners Choose Overhead Spot Lighting
The #1 reason people choose overhead green fishing spotlights is simple:
zero maintenance.
Because the light stays above the waterline, it avoids barnacle growth, marine fouling, and electrolysis—even when left off for long periods or run nightly.
Additional advantages include:
- Far less likely to be snagged by fishing line
- Extremely low risk of damage from passing boats or props
- Capable of running on shore power (110/120V AC)
- Lower wattage and operating cost than many traditional underwater lights
- Focused output delivers better depth penetration with less wasted light
Benefits of Overhead Spot-Style Fishing Lights
- Directional beam minimizes light spill into neighboring properties
- HOA-friendly option for canal homes and residential docks
- Strong water-column penetration for deeper water environments
- Ideal for high mounting locations and long-distance illumination
- Keeps illumination focused in the water—not in nearby windows
Ideal Use Cases for Overhead Spotlights
Overhead green fishing spotlights work best in:
- Narrow canals
- Residential docks
- HOA-restricted areas
- Locations with close neighboring homes
- Deep-water docks where downward penetration matters more than wide surface coverage
They are also highly effective for long-distance targeting, making them a strong choice when the light must be mounted high above the water or when the fishing zone is farther from shore.
Trade-Offs to Consider
- Narrower coverage area compared to flood-style fishing lights
- Best suited for targeted zones rather than broad surface illumination
Overhead Flood-Style Green Fishing Lights
Overhead flood-style green fishing lights are designed to maximize light spread, illuminating a wide surface area of water rather than focusing light into a narrow beam. This wide-angle output creates a broad glow that attracts plankton and baitfish across large zones—making flood lights ideal when coverage matters more than depth penetration.
Above-water green fishing flood lights remain fully mounted above the surface, eliminating barnacle growth, corrosion, and underwater maintenance while still delivering proven fish-attracting performance night after night.
The Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light delivers wide, coverage-oriented illumination that attracts baitfish and feeding activity across large surface areas.
When Overhead Flood Lights Are the Best Choice
Overhead flood lights are best suited for:
- Shallow water (less than 8 feet deep)
- Docks, piers, marinas, ponds, and wide shorelines
- Situations where surface attraction is more important than deep penetration
- Open water environments without nearby homes or light-spill concerns
Even in deeper water, overhead flood lights remain effective by pulling baitfish toward the surface, which naturally draws predator fish into the illuminated zone.
Why Many Anglers Choose Overhead Flood Lighting
The #1 reason people choose overhead fishing lights—including flood styles—is zero maintenance.
Because the light remains above the waterline, it is never exposed to barnacle growth or marine fouling, whether it’s run continuously or left off for extended periods of time.
Additional advantages include:
- Extremely wide light coverage with a single fixture
- Less likely to be snagged by fishing line
- Very low risk of impact damage from passing boats or props
- Capable of running on shore power (110/120V AC) or 24V DC battery systems
- Lower operating cost than many traditional underwater fishing lights
- Compatible with modular wiring systems for extending power leads
- Optional protective covers for long-term durability
Benefits of Overhead Flood-Style Fishing Lights
- Extremely wide light spread for maximum surface illumination
- Ideal for large open-water areas and high baitfish concentrations
- Commonly mounted 1–10 feet above the water surface
- Excellent choice for ponds and temporary or seasonal installations
- Creates strong surface activity that draws fish into feeding zones
Ideal Use Cases for Overhead Flood Lights
Overhead green fishing flood lights work best in:
- Open-water docks
- Wide shorelines
- Piers and marinas
- Areas without nearby homes
- Locations where maximum water coverage is the goal
- High baitfish concentration zones
- Boats and mobile setups running 24V DC power
Trade-Offs to Consider
- Less penetration into deep water compared to spot-style lights
- Light does not project as far as a directional spotlight
- Not ideal for narrow canals or residential areas due to wide light spill
Situational Recommendation
Because flood-style lights intentionally spread illumination over a broad area, they are not recommended for canals or tightly spaced residential docks where controlling light spill is important. In those environments, a directional overhead spotlight or a high-performance underwater fishing light is typically a better choice.
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Narrow canals and close neighbors → Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Spotlight
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Open shores and high baitfish activity → Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light
Choosing the right overhead fishing light comes down to water depth, mounting height, and how much control you need over light spread.
The overhead green fishing light shown above is the Outrigger Outdoors Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light, designed specifically for dock, pier, and shoreline applications.
2 Comments
Hi Skipper – the height depends on what your goal is and what lights you choose.
The Above Water Green Fishing Spot Light is going to benefit from being higher up off the water because it’s a more tightly focused beam that minimizes light spread to the surrounding areas where you might irritate a neighbor who doesn’t want light in their windows. If you’re on an open canal, with no neighbors to worry about I would recommend 10 ft off the water or so. If you are on a canal with neighbors, then I would only do 3-4 ft off the water.
The Above Water Green Fishing Flood Light is going to broadcast a wide flood. You can mount this closer to the water surface, but I would still keep it 2-3 ft off the water at least. The higher you go, the more spread and coverage it will have. We see people happy with mounting it 6-10 ft off the water and people equally happy mounting it 1-3 ft off the water.
Ultimately it varies from one case to the next because everyone has a different environment.
Strictly performance based I would say utilizing our Green Spot Light 7-10 ft off the water is best and utilizing the flood light 4-5 ft off the water is best.
What is recommended height to hang over fishing dock?