Jerry,

The professional type Fluorescent light you see out there are built as an www.ISAA.CC club project light, made once a year, usually in October. I have led to last 3 year's party, so I can speak from first hand knowledge. The last 2 years lights used an 18" bulb. The club buys parts in bulk and gets significant discounts for the quantity of lights built. To build one or 2 or 5 lights, you would have to pay about $90, and figure out how to put it all together into a watertight assembly. Not an easy task. There are no plans or instructions outside of ISAA. I am the originator/designer of the 18" greenies. I don't recommend this as your first light building venture. I know people that tried building them only to have them leak water and short out.

I know people that have tried to imitate the green light with plastic film and household fluorescent bulbs and have everything look great prior to turning them on, and be disappointed with the results.

Now, as far as LED technology goes, it also sounds simple. LED's have been around for years. But not all LED's are created equal, and thus far, there aren't any LED lights competitive with Fluorescent green lights. In fact, Engineering an LED light is new territory even for an Engineer. What you have seen on this message board is a Cutting Edge, first of a kind prototype light, that I will make as a startup business venture. Believe me when I tell you, Just the new technology LED's needed is a very expensive item. Making these lights is not a shoestring $operation.

So, I'm telling you to be patient, save your money and buy one good light instead of several iterations of the cheaper lights sold in bait shops. Then, save some more for a second light.

Lights are but one part of the equation for catching shrimp. Any light can be used to catch shrimp, but not all light types are equal, and it's light type and deployment complementing each other that will improve your catch.

Location, Location, Location is another part. Type of net is a third part, Shrimp Biology is a fourth part. And so on. You've come to the right place for this information.

Tell us what kind of shrimping and location you're doing - boat, sea wall, pier, or bridge dipping. We have all types on this board. Don't be shy or feel intimidated. Mosts of the members here also started out with little or no experience or no how, and there aren't any books yet about shrimping.