Squid fishing?

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now. Does anyone fish for squid? Can it be found at all in Ireland, particularly in the East coast/Dublin area? Would be nice to catch a few with these:

[img:813:1200]http://www.yo-zuri.com/images/ProdSquid/A1420.jpg[/img]

have caught squid on galway bay. dont know about the east coast.

Some Octapus available on the east coast and I think they will also take these jigs. For squid in Ireland, you tend to need deeper water. Somthing similar but heavier would do the business. Just retrieve at a stready slow pace from the bottom to mid water and then drop again. If they are in the area, you should get the them on the jigs.

Kev

We had some great squid down here in Kerry last autumn, had some on baited pirks, then tried the jigs, they do work well, must get some more of those :wink: I would not be surprised if there are not more about than we think, I have had a lot of squid type 'takes' that have just come away on the way up, makes you wonder :?

Had a good Octopus last week as well.

[img]http://www.seanpalmer.hostinguk.com/other/160408octopus3.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.seanpalmer.hostinguk.com/fish/squid061007.jpg[/img]

have had occasional ones on the boat down in kilmore.

same kinda size as seanp's.

Had them last Autumn up here off North Donegal.

Handy tip: When you reel up and spot that it's a squid, pause with the squid on the surface. Don't lift it straight into the boat. Wait till it squirts it's ink, then lift it in. Much less messy this way!

I agree Sean,

I think there is more of them about than we think. The needle type hooks on the jigs are the only real way to turn bites into squid. Squid, and cuttle fish are quite predacious and do hit these jigs. With the needle hooks they tend to stick, don't strike though, just keep reeling at a steady pace. You need to move them slow and steady. Jigging them doesn't seem to be anywhere near as effective, except for Octopus.

I have used the jigs above when spinning off harbour walls at night time in SA. These work in shallow water. For daytime and deeper water, you will need something heavier. They are available, you might just need to order from somewhere abroad.

Let us know how you get on with them.

Kev

i was talking to a scuber diver at mullagmore in sligo a few weeks ago he said the harbor was full of them but they were only small ones

I agree Sean,

I think there is more of them about than we think. The needle type hooks on the jigs are the only real way to turn bites into squid. Squid, and cuttle fish are quite predacious and do hit these jigs. With the needle hooks they tend to stick, don't strike though, just keep reeling at a steady pace. You need to move them slow and steady. Jigging them doesn't seem to be anywhere near as effective, except for Octopus.

I have used the jigs above when spinning off harbour walls at night time in SA. These work in shallow water. For daytime and deeper water, you will need something heavier.


Kev

Must remember to try that steady retrieve this time Kev, I must admit I was tending to jig them like feathers, you can use those type of jigs in deep water easy enough, just make up a 2 dropper rig, 5'' snoods/water knot and wack a lead on the bottom, worked well for me :wink:

Good idea Sean... Should do the business. Steady slow or medium paced retrieve is the only way to go. I have caught dozens of squid and cuttle fish in SA using these jigs and flies. I have never caught one with a jerky retrieve... Not sure why.... just seems to be the only way to get them.

Kev

Thanks for the replies!! It seems you can get them from the boat in the West coast alright. Anyone knows of any shore marks in the Dublin/Wicklow area?

a fella i know catches loads of them in his trawls in the autumn, think its when he's targeting prawns/shrip in the deep water. have seen a few around the 2 ft mark..

i seen lads in oz catch den wit dem rigs, id try of cliffs in2 deep water. let us no if ye get out 2 try

I have caught squid along the kilcoole beach in Wicklow in the evening last May.
Enneriley beach north of Arklow also produced a few squid in early June. Slack tides and clam weather seemed to be the best.

Claremount strand beside Howth Harbour also produced a few small 15cm individuals as late as November last year, again slack tides, calm weather and dusk seem to be the time.

All the squid were caught while sampling juvenile flatfish from the shore so the water depth was no greater than 75cm as I was using a push net.

I have seen the spanish anglers use a squid rig with a starlight placed about 60cm up the line and it works well for them along the Northern Coast of Spain.

I have caught squid along the kilcoole beach in Wicklow in the evening last May.
Enneriley beach north of Arklow also produced a few squid in early June. Slack tides and clam weather seemed to be the best.

Claremount strand beside Howth Harbour also produced a few small 15cm individuals as late as November last year, again slack tides, calm weather and dusk seem to be the time.

All the squid were caught while sampling juvenile flatfish from the shore so the water depth was no greater than 75cm as I was using a push net.

I have seen the spanish anglers use a squid rig with a starlight placed about 60cm up the line and it works well for them along the Northern Coast of Spain.

I used to do this kind of squid fishing or eging......from rock marks..big cuttle fish.....from boat....squid...using both artificial jig and bait jig...but never try it here in ireland....have a look on a video at the link bellow...
[url]http://www.daiwaseiko.co.jp/fishing/movie/fabv/index.html[/url]