With recent changes in the West Coast Bio Region of Western Australia that has seen a six month demersal ban introduced over a twelve month period. Targeting squid is a great alterative to keep anglers busy while the ban is in place. With the introduction of the new demersal seasons, squidding is a great way to spend those hours you would normally spend fishing, chasing calamari. This was one change to my own fishing over the last twelve months. I turned my focus to squidding in a bid to gain more knowledge and refine my own techniques while demersal fishing wasn’t an option.
Location
Patches of broken weed are great places to start in the Midwest . The weed not only offers squid shelter from their predators but also the perfect place for these tactical hunters to ambush prey. Anywhere bait fish are congregated squid can be found such as weed beds, reef, bombies, jetties and right on the shoreline during a rising tide. Squid are one of the aluminate nocturnal hunters with their large eyes, and it is at night that they do most of their feeding. Fishing from jettys or rock walls that are near the mentioned ground are worth a try, especially if there is lighting. The squid are attracted to the lights making rock walls and jettys the perfect place to start if targeting them land based. Sunrise and sunset can also be productive times of the day but squid can be caught throughout the day. If targeting squid land based a rising tide is when squid have an opportunity to move into shallow water to hunt. If you have limited time to squid land based, fishing around the high can produce a feed.
Methods
With any type of fishing different techniques will achieve the same end result. Squidding is no different , the more you experiment and mix things up, the more you will learn and develop your own specific technique that suits you. When squidding from our boat I like to cast ahead of the boat allowing the squid jig to sink close to the bottom and then work the jig with a quick whip up action, wind the slack line and pause. The focus with the squid jig is to attract the squid’s attention and to mimic prey fleeing. The free fall is an important part of my technique, it allows the predator time to take action if it has been incited by the movement of the jig. Another method is casting out and again letting the jig sink but this time a fast retrieval to try and entice the hunter’s predatory instincts to pursue an easy meal. When drifting for squid I make the most of all possibilities and I have a squid jig trailing behind sitting in the rod holder. The movement of the boat while drifting generates enough movement that I often get squid using this technique. It is important to make sure the drag is loose in case the jig snags but also you do not to pull the jig free from a squid you may have hooked. I do find the rod trailing handy in cases where I have hooked a squid casting ahead and a second or multiple squid follow the hooked squid. Visually experiencing a shoal or a squad of squid competing for your jig makes for some exciting fishing. Squid will also follow hooked fish up and for this reason I always try and have a squid jig ready to go if I encounter such a scenario.
If a squid does show interest in your jig but it is not taken just drop the jig straight back down through the water column. Squid will often come back for a second take. Always keep pressure on once hooked up. If a big squid is hooked the excitement grows as a decent squid will run. When landing squid it is best to net it and face it away from the boat to minimize your chances of being inked or covering your beloved boat. Another technique is grabbing it by hand right behind the eyes making sure you don’t put your fingers near its sharp beak. Hold the squid away from the boat or vertically with the head down. The distance a squid can squirt their ink is truly amazing and after a day on the water you don’t want to spend all your time cleaning ink, spread throughout your boat. Dodging ink does add to the fun of targeting them, especially when someone else gets inked.
Jigs
Shimano has a range of squid jigs in different weights, sizes, designs and colours. Each jig has their own special features. The Shimano Flash Boost Rattle squid jig, in the orange glow colour is my current favourite squid jig to use in the Midwest. It is the jig that I am currently having the most success with. But of course depending on conditions I do often change my jigs to suit the water movement, depth and visibility. There are plenty of squid jigs in the Shimano range and it is a case of experimenting with what colour and weight you have the most success with in your local environment. Don’t be afraid to change it up regularly and keep rotating through your jigs until you find the one working on that particular day, it might be multiple jigs in one day as conditions change.
In the Midwest I use nothing heavier than a 3.5 gram as I fish in depths between three to seven metres. We don’t have a lot of current here so this allows the jig to drift gently to the bottom. As mentioned a pause or first sink after the jig has been cast can produce squid, so it’s important to get the weight right. Too light and it will be too high in the water and too heavy it will drop to quick and snag up all the time. Before you start fishing, just drop your jig overboard and watch it sink. This will allow you to adjust your technique or change jigs depending on the fall. When you do find your favourite colour jig, Shimano makes them in a variety of sizes. In the shallower areas of the Midwest using the Shimano Clinch Long Appeal Jet Boost allows you to cast a greater distance. Its weight distribution allows the jig to sink slowly to the bottom. With a twitch upwards of the rod and a slow retrieve across shallower areas, it can produce some nice squid.
Jig Care
After a day squidding, I put my jigs into a container of fresh water to soak. When removing them from the water I give them a quick rinse under fresh water, to minimize any chance salt deposits remain on the jig. They are then dried and left in the sun to dry further. Once dry I return them to the squid jig case ready for the next squidding session. I am currently store my jigs in a Shimano Egi Squid Case. I love the versatility of this case with the clear cover, it enables me to make a quick decision on my next jig. The case can display up to 12 jigs allowing you to have a variety of options at your fingertips, colours, weights, and sizes.
Rod
I prefer to use a light spin rod with flexible tip. The greater distance you can cast always increases your chances when your jig covers more ground. As much as the above combination is ideal , with lack of room in our tinny I don’t always have the option of a light spin rod. I do use slightly heavier gear at times and with a light drag still have success hooking and landing squid.
Table or bait
The main reason I target squid is to use for bait but if keeping them for the table it is important to despatch of them swiftly for the best flavour. A squid spike is a quick and easy method and when done correctly the squid will turn white instantly. To assist with cleaning I remove heads, wings and internals then drag them behind the boat in a scaler bag. When preparing squid for the table I soak them over night in milk or with slices of kiwi fruit to tenderize the flesh.
No matter if you are a novice or an experienced angler, a day squidding in the Midwest can certainly be productive and offer a unique fishing experience while dermersal fishing bans are in place.