Lighting Up the Gulf Coast: The Story of Coastal Floundering Lights
If you’ve ever spent a summer night on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, chances are you’ve seen fishermen wading the shallows with gigs in hand, lanterns glowing against the dark water. Floundering is a tradition here — equal parts fishing, hunting, and storytelling. But like many coastal pastimes, the tools of the trade have evolved.
That’s where Coastal Floundering Lights comes in.
From Coleman Lanterns to Custom LEDs
For decades, the Coleman pump-up lantern was the only real option for night floundering. It worked — but just barely. The mantles were fragile, water ruined everything, and you practically needed a second person just to hold the light while you gigged.
Damon, one of the founders of Coastal Floundering Lights, remembers that struggle all too well. One night, frustrated with the old gear, he dunked a waterproof spotlight under the water — and the whole world lit up. That moment sparked the idea that would eventually grow into a Gulf Coast business.
A Backyard Prototype That Turned Into a Business
That first prototype wasn’t fancy: a hacked-apart LED bulb sealed into PVC pipe. But it worked. In fact, the very first night Damon tested it, another fisherman begged to buy it on the spot. Word spread fast. By 2011, he and his childhood friend John were building lights in bulk, testing durability in bathtubs, and selling out of every batch they made.
Their early models were rugged, bright, and — most importantly — waterproof. Soon, they refined the design into a full line of single, double, and triple-head lights, complete with batteries, gigs, and stringers. For the first time, fishermen could buy a complete “ready-to-fish” package built specifically for floundering.
Built for the Gulf, Proven Around the World
By 2015, Coastal Floundering Lights had switched to marine-grade bulbs built to their specs. They tested them relentlessly — even smashing them on countertops to see what they could withstand. The result? A lifetime warranty and thousands of lights sold.
And while their lights were born on the Gulf Coast, word spread far beyond. Today, their products have made their way to Florida, Texas, the East Coast, and even Australia. Whether it’s bully netting for lobster in crystal-clear water or chasing flounder in Biloxi’s tea-colored shallows, their lights are trusted by night fishermen everywhere.
More Than Just Bright Lights
What sets Coastal Floundering Lights apart isn’t just the technology — it’s the passion. Damon and John didn’t set out to reinvent floundering; they just wanted a better way to do what they loved. By keeping things simple, durable, and built for the long haul, they created gear that solves real problems fishermen face on the water.
As they put it on the podcast: “We’re not building these so you come back for a repair. We’re building them so you come back for more.”
👉 Want to hear the full story straight from the founders?
Watch the full Brown Water Banter episode now ⬇️
