Is squid a vialble alternative to eels

[fcap60]

Since eels may be on the decline, I'm just curious to know if any of you have considered using squid as an alternative.

1. You can catch them is use them live (sometimes);
2. They are readily available fresh, dead (fish markets, grocery stores);
3. How about squid skin plugs (can't be that hard to make) , and
4. Rigged squid (I can think of a few ways to attach them to a wobble plate) ?

Any thoughts ?

[Pt.JudeJoe]

Frank you give me good idea . A trick I use bait fishing with squid is to put some bubble wrap in the body to keep it off the bottom and boyant while the sliding egg sinker is on the bottom. Now..maybe doing this with a small squid on a Wobble Head or maybe even one of theWobble Head eel tube swim plates would allow the bait to swim in the middle of the water column and retieved slowly. This would not be a rig that casts far but in certain circumstances ,I think it has potential.

[fcap60]

There have been so many ariticles on using, freezing and re-using dead eels. I just figure with a potential shortage, why not go to the local supermarket/ seafood market, or tackle shop and try some inovative techniques with fresh, frozen, or live squid.

[Pt.JudeJoe]

You can catch all the squid you can freeze in Newport from the last week in April thru May.

[Backbeach Jake]

You can usually catch a grocery store open when the bait shops are closed. I'll grab a box of squid then. Always check out the fish counter sometimes you get real lucky, macs, butterfish, smelts. All good. Yes squid works, I caught many keepers with grocery store squid.

[NEXT2NUN]

I buy small california squid at the grocery store. I have a mold for a smiling bill jig with a swinging hook. I cut the tip of the body off run the hook up through the body and put it through the head (eyes). Then secure it to the jig with a small rubber band. I have caught large many times doing this. I got the split rings straightened so many times with this rig, I had to modify my mold so I could eliminate the rings. I think you could use an Eel skin rig or a Eel bob to do the same.

[gone fishin]

Just don't forget the extra squid in the sand sled -- boy does that stuff stink when ripe!! been there done that!

[Redsoxticket]

There was a time when I would stuff the squid with cat food, tie off with elastic. This would create a chum. It works.

[fcap60]

I've been thinking of slipping a squid over a Needlefish body and tying it off (sort of like an eel skin plug).

Any thoughts ?

[shadow]

might fit better over the top of a slider or spook.

[piemma]

There is a Narragansett "sharpie", who doesn't frequent this forum, who last year caught a 39# and several others in the 30+ lb range, livelining squid. Not chunking it, but literally live lining them.

[chipwood]

Just fish the squid on the bottom and you'll catch more bass than anyone else. It takes too much effort to keep squid alive ( I'm sure some of you do it) especially from shore. Besides the bass don;t care if it's dead or alive. The big bass would rather have it dead and on the bottom. Now to use a squid like an eel skin. Squid are too delicate to use over and over. If you've ever fished with squid, you're constantly replacing your bait. By the way it sounds like you have'nt left squid in the back of your truck in a few days. That smell could be the worst you've ever smelled.

[chipwood]

Just fish the squid on the bottom and you'll catch more bass than anyone else. It takes too much effort to keep squid alive ( I'm sure some of you do it) especially from shore. Besides the bass don;t care if it's dead or alive. The big bass would rather have it dead and on the bottom. Now to use a squid like an eel skin. Squid are too delicate to use over and over. If you've ever fished with squid, you're constantly replacing your bait. By the way it sounds like you have'nt left squid in the back of your truck in a few days. That smell could be the worst you've ever smelled.

[lurch]

Originally Posted by fcap60

I've been thinking of slipping a squid over a Needlefish body and tying it off (sort of like an eel skin plug).

Any thoughts ?

Sounds like a great idea!!

The only problem is that you would need a small squid due to the weight or a heavy rod.

[Mr. Sandman]

They make a steel insert in two sizes for fishing squid. (I forgot the maker) I have a few. It is a flat section with a couple of flared punched out pieces in the center to keep body of the squid fuller. It has a hole at each end one your leader and other for a hook. I have only used it a couple times. It seems to work but I don't think you could whip out a sqiud on a 10.5' surf rod the way you do an eel time after time. You can cast them but they are not as robust as an eel.

Drifting fresh dead (or live) squid out of a breachway or from a boat is pretty darn effective. They don't last very long before something grabs it. Dealing with live squid is a pain. (they bite! and the big ones hurt! and they require a good air-rator) The ones I use are dead. I catch them and vacume pack 6 or so in a pack right away and freeze them. They seem fine all season.

The hard core squid fishermen I know, catch about 6-10 squid and then go fishing right away. Most work the bottom with them.

btw, the big derby winner shore bone and albie....live whole squid off the dock.

The problem with supermarket or california boxed squid is they they are washed and cleaned, as the market is aimed at calamari lovers. IMO you are better off catching your own fresh local stuff. 1) they are bigger, 2) they have all the oils and jucies and smells of the real squid and 3) it is just fun catching squid. Some local bait shops sell "ink squid" these are local squid that were purchased by the tote from a dragger and the baitshop owner probably boxed and packaged them himself. They are not washed will work better then the supermarket type. I do a lot of fluke fishing and you can ask anyone on my boat what bait they want and it is that big fresh squid.

I think dead squid are fine because squid don't live very long and after they spawn most of them die within a short time later (30 days or so) and fall to the bottom...so for a fish to see a drifting dead squid on the bottom is a pretty natural thing.

[Goose]

Last year I got some decent bass mid day drifting squid, just enough weight to keep it down,small egg or rubba core. I'ld like to see a pic of that insert Jim.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by Goose

I'ld like to see a pic of that insert Jim.

Next time I go up to the "fishing attic" I will dig them out and post a pic. I may have one still in the package if I dig around. I picked them up at #^&#^&#^&#^&'s B&T a few years ago.

[bart]

Originally Posted by piemma

There is a Narragansett "sharpie", who doesn't frequent this forum, who last year caught a 39# and several others in the 30+ lb range, livelining squid. Not chunking it, but literally live lining them.

does he wetsuit?

[GBOUTDOORS]

How about soaking them in a brine for a few hours to toughen them up a bit? I know when they drie out the skin is like leather.

[Offshore]

Squid are a lot tougher than they look. Brine might improve them. Back in the 60's we used to make up Squid daisy chains for Tuna by sewing them onto monel leaders. They would troll well for hours until hit by a tuna or shark.

[JFigliuolo]

I have seen some LARGE bass caught at an outflow. Squid rigged w/a float inside and a slip sinker to hold bottom in an eddy. THEN, this is the imp. part, A LONG chum line of diced squid. To slow for me... but I have seen it work more than a few times.

[janiejones]

Can I be "SquidWoman"?

[fcap60]

Don't many of us store our eel skins in salt/salt brine. Why not squid ?

[chipwood]

Check out Cabelas rubber quids. They look pretty good. The thing with using fresh squid is that after a few casts the heads tend to tear off. Also fishing squid you get alot of head poppers. That is small bass s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g off the squids head. No it's not a sexual act. It's not unusual for you to go through 30-40 squid in a session. All this talk of putting squid in a brine just seems like a waste of time to me. Fresh squid is the best squid. I've seen guys with squid caught hours before outfish guys who are using squid caught just the night before. If your gonna brine squid be prepared to do alot of them.

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by piemma

There is a Narragansett "sharpie", who doesn't frequent this forum, who last year caught a 39# and several others in the 30+ lb range, livelining squid. Not chunking it, but literally live lining them.

hell of a fisherman!

[BassyiusMaximus]

This had been an excellent thread and I thank all who have contributed, however I have some more questions.

If I were to fish for them, say, in Vineyard Sound, what time would be best, April?, May?, and where?, in the rips, just drift through jigging my squid jig like I would for fluke?

[Goose]

at night.. later is better, under lights, in harbors

[vineyardblues]

nothing better than squids,,,,, please don't tell anyone
VB

[macojoe]

I buy a tote very year or two and they are great!!

I just never seem to be in the right place at the right time when they are here to catch ???

I want to find a good place and start catching my own. I use a ton of it Fluking and have caught many other fish with it, it is a great universal bait!!

[chipwood]

When the squid are in, you'll have no problem getting a seasons worth in a few nights. I seperate the baiters from the flukin' squids as I catch them. I have'nt really used the boat in a few years so I usually keep the big ones for the table or I trade them to the Asian fellows for baiters. If you throw bait squid is great, but as the season goes on the smaller species rob you blind when using squid. Then you use the almighty pogie. Remember fresh is best. But there's always a place to get fresh squid if you know what I'm talking about.