jigging for squid "where and how" - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

wrestlersdad · 01-21-2002, 04:58 PM

i'm interested in learning how to jigg for squid but i need to know some basics. i know i need squid jiggs. but where to go and when go is a problem. i live in ct. but i'm interested in fishing in rhode island. also do i need any other gear besides pole and jiggs.i.e lights or live/cut bait.
thanks guys & gals for helping a rookie @squiding

AnthonyN · 01-21-2002, 05:52 PM

I'll show ya the way!

Ok first off I suggest using a short senstive rod say 7ft with 15lb mono. (I acutally use a 7ft ugly stick lite with 12lb mono.) For a rig I use a el cheapo $1.50 squid jig on the bottom and a blue or pink Ultra Yo-Zuri squid jig about a foot higher. Dont use any sort of snaps or swivels. No need I tie everything direct I don't know the name of the knot I use up top but its sord of a varation of a limited slip nice and secure for the Yo-zuri its double loops using the main line. Anyway Techniques vary from person to person but I will tell you the one that works for me. I drop it down to about within 2 feet of the bottom. (you don't want to hit the bottom you will lose lots of jigs!) I than pull up the rod twice quick and soft not to hard not to soft. When the jig is on the way down I like to give it a couple of twiches to add some appeal. The squid usually always hit the squid on the way down. Some other things you may want to consider is a coleman propane latern it helps attract the squid works a bit like chum. Just hang it over the side about a foot above the water and be carefull of a rising tide!!!

You may have to rasie it every half hour on the incoming.

I can tell ya about one spot that is universally know and thats the goat Island causeway in newport, RI. Can't give ya any of my spots because they have been getting crowded over the years so I have to head down there late night during the week. But the causeway is a solid spot just gets crowded!! There is 2 runs for squid the first (and the best) is from mid april till mid may and the second which varies on water tempature is from early Oct to mid Nov..

I will post a couple of pics on the rig I use and some equipment if you have any other questions just let me know?

AnthonyN · 01-21-2002, 06:12 PM

The line is hard to see in the pic. But thats how I tie it. The yozuri hangs off the main line with the heavy cheap jig on the bottom to give some weight. Also if you get stuck the cheap one is far mor likely to get stuck first saving your $9 yo-zuri. Wish I had the drawing skillz of bloo so i could make a diagram on the knots. I have no clue what they are called I made them myself. But they are very strong.

AnthonyN · 01-21-2002, 06:15 PM

Here is the set up i use along with the coleman

AnthonyN · 01-21-2002, 06:37 PM

I always post the arrival of squid on the reports board. I am always looking to see when the arrive. So check the report boards at the start of the season I am sure you will see a post The Squid Are In!

Good Luck!!!!!!

bloocrab · 01-21-2002, 06:50 PM

.....

A little "Squi-tease" for ya!!.......

..caught by Joe Varella, not Bloo....

bloocrab · 01-21-2002, 06:55 PM

....a few of the many "Squid-Jigs" available....

.....take notice of the last two on the right.....???....."How does that work???".....check the next post!!....

...." Things that make you go...hmmmmmmm??...."......

bloocrab · 01-21-2002, 07:13 PM

A little different eh, Anthony?...

...being a squidder', you know the squid don't spend much time on the "hook"...so this bait would last ya almost all night....so preparing a few beforehand....would prove very successful!!

...I catch most of my squid on the downfall also...(as the lure drops)...by watching your line...you can pretty much count the time it takes to tighten up....then jig again, when you notice slack in your line when there shouldn't be...9 times out of 10..."SQUID ON!!!" ...If your fortunate to find some spots that are already lit up, (light poles on a dock

).. you can catch em' by eye!!!.this is when you can really figure out they're attack...

...You must be careful handling the Squid due to the beaks that they have...the best way to remove it from the jig is to grab the top of the jig, and turn it upside down...(this being one of reasons that the jig hooks don't have barbs)..it will slide right off. Also keep in mind that when they darken up (start changing colors) ...it's Gusher-time...HERE COMES THE INK MAN!!!....NO NOT TATTOO

a couple of other things....."LIGHTS DEFINATELY HELP"..they also attract small baitfish, which inturn attract squid. As far as the knot, any knot you feel comfortable with will suffice.....Odds are, your not going to catch a 20# squid

...that's FishEye's job!

AnthonyN · 01-21-2002, 07:45 PM

That is something new and different. I have never seen a "bait" squid jig anywhere. Where to you get them bloo?? How heavy are they?? Do they sink more like a yo-zuri very slow or like a sinker? I could rig that on the bottom with my yo-zuri rigged on the top. It would be a killer combo. Just gotta set out a minnow trap for some bait and your good to go.

Saltheart · 01-22-2002, 10:34 AM

Great posts. Only thing I would add is don't jump right in when you get there. Watch the other guys for about 15 minutes. The beak can give you a good bite and the ink Bloocrab mentioned doesn't just ooze out. They can squirt it. Save yourself some aggrevation and take the time to watch the other people a little first. If you go to the Goat Island Causeway in season there will be about 4 million people there squiding (maybe more!)

so it's no problem to watch and learn. In fact , its elbow to elbow so its not like you'll have to spy on someone.

Get you jigs early on. Most bait+tackle stores run out of the squid jigs early in the season.

quint · 01-22-2002, 03:56 PM

do you guys eat them or bait with them?

bloocrab · 01-22-2002, 05:06 PM

...A lotta bit-a-both....

...I make nasty stew with them, along with the traditional calamari rings...

...and of course, BAIT!!.. fresh squid rules...sushi anyone?

...

AnthonyN · 01-22-2002, 05:34 PM

I keep the big squid to eat and the smaller ones I use for bait. I have a couple spots that not many people know about so I usually bring an extra rod with me and live line the squid. Last year I seen a keeper bass anywhere from 28" to 36" swimming in the shallows under the light. I threw everything at him but he didn't want it. Even threw out a squid. In the end I think I spooked him off. At the causeway thats not really an option unless there isn't a lot of people there which is rare. I have caught a couple of keepers and lots of schoolies with the live lining method. You have to use a small 5/0 Gami Live bait hook. Maybe smaller as the stripers can see that and the squid has more trouble swimming around.

bloocrab · 01-22-2002, 08:14 PM

...keeping the Big Squid, like Anthony mentioned is a Great idea...especially for eatin...(it makes cleaning them, much more easier)...BUT!! ..those big ones are great on the hook too!!...better than the small en's...

...what I usually do when I plan on keeping some for eating is,...I bring two buckets, 1 normal size..the other a smaller one...I try to catch the ones fer eatin' first!!...I leave them on the jig a bit longer...to allow them to fully "GUSH"

..then I place them in the larger bucket with some clean water to allow them to flush themselves out some more, changing the water frequently...as they clean themselves. Then I place them in the smaller bucket.

...As far as live~lining them, one small detail Anthony left out was that if you penetrate the body cavity, they will DIE!!...there is a small area near the head, that offers a spot to hook them...Once you get good at it, you can try and place the hook in the skin of the body without piercing it

..practice makes perfect!

...gotta run....more details later.....

Fish_Eye · 01-22-2002, 09:22 PM

Great advice.

Here's a look at how they eat:

Mr. Sandman · 01-23-2002, 01:42 PM

I have always been interested in how everyone else catches these cool critters. These things look like they swam in from outter space. Freekie lookin'. Fresh squid are great on the hook for bait and great on the table too.

This year I tried that yo-zuri rig (after I saw some other guys out fishing me 3:1 with it) and it works. That bait rig would work too.
These things are hungry and aggressive.

Some of the info on this tread could go into a book on squid fishing.

BTW, squid fishing is a lot more fun then it sounds. ( and the kids like it too) One night I actually stopped fishing for bass to fill my cooler with squid for the winter.

bloocrab · 01-25-2002, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saltheart
and the ink Bloocrab mentioned doesn't just ooze out. They can squirt it. Save yourself some aggrevation and take the time to watch the other people a little first. If you go to the Goat Island Causeway in season there will be about 4 million people there squiding (maybe more!)

...

Saltheart, that reminds of a night I had squidding...I had taken a few friends along and set them up for a good night of squidding. Its a place where your only 3 feet from the water's surface. They had never caught any before, but had tried a couple of times ...anyway, there we were lined up side by side (by ourselves), catching squid...and then here came the troops...A jeep pulls up and a couple of ignorant fishermen "Rudely" start to rub elbows

..Now I'm usually a very passive fisherman, but due to the fact that I had some friends with me with not much experience and seeing the nervous look on their face due to the close-ness of these "Rudees", I went to the car and put on the oldest pair of BlooBlockers that I had.

That's when the Fun began!...I positioned myself between my friends and these dopes, gave my friends a wink, and with every single squid that I brought up, I purposely turned toward them as soon as possible.."There she blows!!"...I'd yell

..It didn't take long before they complained, that's when I became as ignorant as them, and told em' PUSH OVER!!!...

...for the record, I had told them that the squid were everywhere. but they seemed to think the squid were only under us!!! Oh well, lesson learned..I hope...

AnthonyN · 01-25-2002, 05:33 PM

There is a lot of ignorant people out there. When they see you catching squid they assume thats where the squid are so they crowd in as close as possible next to ya. Me not wanting to start problems or get myself aggrivated move to a spot where there is more room. But sometimes its unavoidable.