Squid fishing

[Chris T]

Hi All,

Has anyone ever tried to target Squid?? Have had one before when I was fishing for Mackerel but I saw something on TV the other day where River cottage dude was fishing for them around this time of year and catching loads.

I seem to remember someone posting recently enough that they had seen Squid snatching sprats under the lights at the harbour in Skerries.

All info welcome!

[last cast lad]

Hi, I have often seen local anglers fish for squid while on holidays in croatia, they did use a specific squid lure, always fishing after dark from pier walls/rocks into 4 or 5 metres depth. never heard of anyone target them here with any success but, yes have heard of them taking lures being jigged from a boat. Hope you have some success, let us all know, remember he who dares wins

[Tanglerat]

Targeted squid? No. But I've caught them before off the Donegal coast - out by the Limeburner - at the back end of the season around late September/October on hokkais meant for other species.

You can get squid jiggers, designed for the job. I suspect the best catches would come at night if you fished under a strong halogen lamp.

Thing to remember if you do hook one: pause with it on the surface til it squirts its ink before you swing it inboard. Otherwise you could get messy.

Not shore angling, I realise. But something there might help.

[blowin]

Off a pier in Dingle ( the same one where lads were catching spider crab ) , guys were shining bright lights driven by generator down onto the water . Didn't see them catch any the night I was there but was reliably informed that they could get them by the boxfull . Don't know what rig they used but none of the local angling shops sold jigs so I guess it was something else . I'm sure something like Hokeye would do . Perhaps flatten the barbs for ease of unhooking . Good luck .
PS that was in summer . Don't know about winter .

[eoghanb]

That was me trying and failing in skerries i dont think theres enough light ,but u could try using a genie and light urself but i dint think theres enough of them to go to thst effort,but i will try again next year

[last cast lad]

Hi here's a pic of the squid jigs I found (snagged and lost) on the bottom while snorkling on holidays, hope you have some success.

[stox 1]

Off a pier in Dingle ( the same one where lads were catching spider crab ) , guys were shining bright lights driven by generator down onto the water . Didn't see them catch any the night I was there but was reliably informed that they could get them by the boxfull . Don't know what rig they used but none of the local angling shops sold jigs so I guess it was something else . I'm sure something like Hokeye would do . Perhaps flatten the barbs for ease of unhooking . Good luck .
PS that was in summer . Don't know about winter .

Don't like the sound of boxes of any fish being taken with the help of a generator at night. Likely they use it to stun the fish . Not anglers or sportsmen!

[blowin]

Good point about the use of generator but , just for the sake of debate , what's the difference between that and choosing a spot beneath harbour floodlights where they also congregate ?
FWIW they were all destined for the table . Does that make any difference ? Same considerations as for mackerel bashing I guess .
ATB/

[stox 1]

Good point about the use of generator but , just for the sake of debate , what's the difference between that and choosing a spot beneath harbour floodlights where they also congregate ?
FWIW they were all destined for the table . Does that make any difference ? Same considerations as for mackerel bashing I guess .
ATB/

There has been a lot of activity using generators on the midland lakes over the summer at night. A live cable carrying electric current is dropped into the water. This stuns all fish in the area . Hardly Sporting ! There is nothing wrong with using lights to fish if a it is accompanied by a fair means of hooking the fish. If these guys use the genny for light only.then good luck to them. Just my opinion, Blowin!

[eoghanb]

Were not saying electrocute the squid,the light just attracts the plankton which attracts the shrimps and sprat which in turn attracts the predators ,eg squid.artificial lighting just brings the food chain to your spot

[Jayball10]

Haha electrocute the Squid. Its like that episode of South Park when they throw grenades in the pond. Seriously though I seen someone doin it on that famous Kerry pier (not that famous for me as I blanked) a few months ago but the light was just to lure the Squidys. Looks like good fun and a few fresh Squid for the table! Yum...

[canning]

http://www.sportingfish.co.uk/sportingf ... arina.html

have a look at this

[The Austrian]

these MINI LED Deep Drop Underwater Fishing Squid Lure Lights might help to improve your catch rates: http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... SS:IE:1123

[blowin]

Were not saying electrocute the squid

Too right !
Setting aside any question of sportsmanship the current under / around that pier would carry away any floaters in no time .

I don't have a generator and probably wouldn't go to those lengths anyway but will try with a powerful torch . In the context of eoghanb's explanation it is hardly different from groundbaiting .

Those ebay jig lights look good but note that they don't appear to be supplied with the "hooks" attached . Be sure to flatten the barbs if you attach a treble . Good luck .