How do you catch Squid

[copie]

Can anyone offer me some advice have been fishing most of my life but never really targeted squid. I have light gear and several squid jigs so i guess i am asking the how to. Do you cast let it sink and do a slow retrieve or is it like using plastics as in a twitch of the rod and let it sink back down. On a recent trip we were getting squid on pillies fished near the bottom but I could not get one on a jig. If we got some up on a pilchard and it let go near the surface i was able to get them to go for the jig. So what am i doing wrong.

Mark

[Scalem]

Dunno, all I can tell you is when I was trying to catch one in shallow water off the bank this squid would not take it. This bloke turned up and said did I mind if he had a go? The squid hovered the same way it did when I was trying until he totally let the line go limp which burried the nose of the jig into the bottom. The squid reacted immediately and went in for the kill. It was like it was waiting for a signal that it's prey was mortally wounded. I have since caught them from a boat with the same approach, but I don't target them often enough to say this is the answer. Try it after a few jigs, then let it sink and wait for a bit before lifting again.

scalem

[Moonlighter]

They can be finnicky buggers.

you need to find out what colour jig they are going for on a given day. We usually start with bright lures on bright days, and dull ones on dull days. Pink, green, red and copper my favorite jig colors.

Sometimes they hit gently fished lures, but often, rapid, erratic retrieves get them motivated. On Sunday, i got a cracker squid by ripping the jig 6 or 7 times as i wound quickly, then stopped suddenly and let it sink - bam! Within a second of stopping i had a Big squid on.

Even a tiny bit of weed on your jig and they wont touch it.

squidding is great fun. They taste great, and the heads and wings make great bait for reds and grassies and parrot.

[Fillet`n`Release]

I spend a lot of time squidding (egi'ing if you're mad keen). Squid aren't just fickle, they're intelligent. Only bested by cuttlefish and octopus I find. As Moonlighter says, you need to try lots of different colours until you find one that is favoured that day depending on light, wind, current etc. They have extremely good eyesight, and if anything isn't right they won't touch a lure.

I sight cast a lot for squid during the day, focusing around weed beds and such. You can actually spot squid from up to 50m away change colour and home in on a lure it's awesome to watch. They'll go jet black in pursuit, then almost invisible as they get near the lure if they want to attack.

I try a few different things until I find what works each session. I generally do a few really long and fast retrieves to see if any big squid who can be immediately excited will slam a lure fast. If nothing happens, I'll do a half dozen very slow retrieves, by bringing the lure up to near the surface, and then do an almost full drop to the bottom (but don't touch the weed or it'll turn them off that cast). Squid most often attack on the drop as they think they're going to lose the opportunity to attack what may be vulnerable prey and if it reaches the bottom they'll miss their opportunity. If I don't get much after about 10 mins of switching between fast and slow, I will switch colours and weights depending. I can go through 10-20 different lures in a session trying out all different combinations till I find the one for that day.

Something to keep in mind if you're focusing squid, always have a 2nd line ready with a lure. Squid hunt very often in pairs, and I'd say 50% of the time you get 2 squid at the boat, one on your lure and one wanting to get at the lure. You can usually drop another line in his face and the partner will jump on it.

Happy egi'ing !

[ShinySuitMan]

A bloke i was working with here yesterday said he catches squid after dark out of the boat by tying a glow stick onto his jig. Throwing it out, let the line go slack, have a couple of sips out of his can and winds it back in with a squid on the end....

[Mr Squiggles]

Something to keep in mind if you're focusing squid, always have a 2nd line ready with a lure. Squid hunt very often in pairs, and I'd say 50% of the time you get 2 squid at the boat, one on your lure and one wanting to get at the lure. You can usually drop another line in his face and the partner will jump on it.

Happy egi'ing !

Maybe a heavier line as well.
Off Cowan a while ago I had landed 3 good size squid & on hooking a 4th, 4 decent Cobia decided to investigate said squid being retrieved on 2kg line. I, as pointed out by my very good friend in the boat with me, should have taken a rod or two on the hunt but we only went out about 100m, after the ladies suggested some calamari would be nice with dinner & we all know what that means, don't we?
Also, don't make the mistake I did around the same time. Returned to the beach at Cowan with 3 squid. #1 about 600mm head & body. # 2 about 400mm & # 3 about 300mm, all alive.
Women & kiddies come down start the "Look at their gorgeous big eyes"
"You can't kill them them"
"That's Mum, Dad & Baby" etc, so back in the briny they went.
The next day the catch was "processed" on board.

[copie]

Thanks to all for the advise i will try all the above next time out and see how i go.

Mark

[Nslfishing]

What's the best time of year for catching these squid

cheers Nic