A lighted fishing pole holder is attached to the gunwale of a boat and has a top mount that is attached to the gunwale in the usual way. A transparent or translucent fishing pole receiving tube member depends downwardly from a central opening of the top mount below the gunwale. A light strip is attached to an outer surface of the tube member with its lights directed into the tube member. The lights of the light strip are connected to the boat's electrical system or to a battery and provide lighting into the tube member which is directed out through the central opening of the top mount. A remote control can control various operations of the lights.