Hi all,
I have been asked recently, how big do southern calamary actually get?
I have been told by squid researchers in tasmania, that the biggest sample they have encountered so far was 515mm in mantle length and 3.6kg body weight.
If you have any proven and first-hand proof of larger squid please let us know!
And photos would also be welcome. You can post them in this chat board too using the "file attachments" function. Or you can provide a link to a photo on another website using the IMG button.
Cheers,
Glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
I have caught plenty over 3kg and one that Ive called 4kg for yearsI reckon his mantle was at least 600mmm
At portland this year a number of mega calamari where caught up to 6kg.
I have seen a photo and if you know the cleanibng tables at the boat ramp there it was about 300 mm wider !!!!!
Contact Geoff Wilson and ask him about Bob Mc Phearsons photos.
Could be good for this site.
Regards John
G'day
Glen
Ive heard of recent reports that suggest a ripper squid of 7 kilos was caught off Rosebud pier recently
I have heard Rex hunt report of squid up to 5 kilos and these seem to happen around Queescliff at the start of the season
I know my best was around the 2 kilo mark and that was a big squid so Im not fully convinced on the report of the 7 kilo one but as we all know squid come in all sizes like the big ones off new zealand <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
Suparsquid
Hi guys,
This is my first post on this site and i have included a hyperlink of some photos of a couple of big squid I caught last season. I have plenty more photos but this is the only way i can post them on here because they are bigger than the max upload limit.
I also found it hard to believe that a 7 kg squid coulb be caught in PPB and i doubt that southern calamari grow that big. That's why i asked Glen if this was possible.
I also find it hard to believe though, that the biggest recorded have been 3.6kg.
Anyways, this makes for an interesting discussion.
regards,
marco
[url="http://www.fishvictoria.com/pyoursay/galleries/030414squid.php"]Fishvic[/url]
Nice squid Marco,
I reckon 2.5ish kg,
I think the 5 and 7 kg especially may be a bit over estimated.
Regards John
Here is a picture of the second largest squid I have caught, about 3.5kg (estimated). The pictured squid to the left must've been on steroids as I have never seen a squid fight so hard, hitting the bait up to 10 times before finally getting lifted. I have caught another one which I think had a good .5kg on this one but have no photo.(both in May this year). I have not seen any of the really huge ones that I have been told about so I am keen to see photos of 6-7kg monsters.
Ps. that is not a small eskie lid!
Crikey! They are some monsters....nice work Snapperman. Did you catch them on baited jigs? And if so what bait? I have been told that silver whiting and pilchards are good baits. I am currently making the (slow) transition from fishing with jigs to fishing with baits, after being told by numerous people on piers that bait fishing is the only way to catch really big squid.
Cheers
Jazman
good luck
my name is monaccus monaccus
I Love sguid fish
Jazzman,
All the squid pictured were caught on silver whiting jigs. All the bigger squid that I have ever caught were on baited jigs. I only use yozuri type jigs spinning and they will outfish baited jigs when smaller squid are around (1kg and smaller) but you cannot go past silver whiting for the bigies. Of the 5 squid pictured all the squid with the exception of the largest 'let go' of the jig one or two times and the second largest letting go around ten times as she had virtually destroyed the whiting as it was only hanging on by the head. I ended up throwing another jig in eventually to catch her. With artificial jigs the squid will hit them once or maybe twice before losing interest so your chances of a strike are greatly reduced. The best approach is to have a couple of baited jigs out and spin or jig with an artificial (3.0 - 3.5) with a very light spinning outfit, 6 - 9 lbs is best. Some people do well at times with artificial jigs suspended under a float so this may be worth a try as well.
Good Fishing,
Tas
Silver whiting arent too bad but the guts fall out in no time.
Try TommyRough, Aussie Salmon, Yakka's or red bait although the red bait are pretty soft but the pink flash from them sends the squid nuts.
For mine though a fresh king george whiting no jig inserted and used as a decoy.
DEADLY!
Regards John
John,
So have i understood you correctly, the decoy KGwhiting is meant to act as a "teaser" to get the squid close to the boat at which point you switch decoy for real thing with jig in it and snare the squid? :blink:
this is starting to sound like game fishing where they switch hookless bait with the a bait WITH a hook once the marlin is really pissed off and ready to engulf the bait <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
"Back up on the squid, its going to spool me!"
i could only wish......i'm getting carried away,.... <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
AK <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blueboxbullet.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
You got it AOK,
but no need to use another bait , just haul the decoy out as you drop a Yo zuri type jig on its head.
Your bait lasts much longer and you can raise a dozen or so squid at once.
This technique has been used in Queenscliff for 50 years or more.
Very effective in shallower water but not so much in the deeper stuff.
Regards John
To the Snapperman...
Thanks for the good oil on how to fish baited jigs, and also for your strategy advice. I'm going to the market to buy some silver whiting tomorrow morning, and maybe some salmon as well, so look out squid on sat night. Will let you know how I go.
I agree that squid will only hit an artificial usually 1-2 times before giving up, this is frustrating, and I look forward to having multiple hits on a baited jig. 10 times though, you must have been pulling your hair out!
Cheers, and good fishing
Jazman <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
hi guys
i have fished with just about every bait and found nothing beats Salted pilchards I have out fished all others 10 to 1. the next best bait is garfish.
I find that all the other baits and lures just dont cut it when it comes to Pilchards but SALTED ones Ive used these for years and so had my Dad and there has been too many times to count that we bagged out while other anglers could manage only a few using lures whiting and tommy rough.
I have had the old die hards on the peir at Queenscliff ask what I use for bait and I tell them and most tell me they are using whiting or roughies.
The problem with using whiting is they dont stand out and almost look the same color as the sand. If you want to increase you squid catch get rid of tommies and whiting and use Salted pillies or gars.you will thank me
Salted pillies also last along time on jigs and can be frozen over and over again with out falling apart but most of all squid go nuts over them and if you want a bigger surprise rig two jigs on the one line and get two at a time
something Ive only seen done by my good self and I fish a lot for squid
Two jigs on one squid line is illegal in victoria.
As for refreezing your squid baits then your dreaming.
Thats probably why you havnt had succes with whiting or roughies . If they have been frozen give to the cat.
My two cents worth on what bait to use:
K.G. Whiting, in my opinion is the "eye fillet" of fish bait, whether it is snapper, gummies or squid. The only thing is I would rather throw a piece of eye fillet on the barbie than on a jig. Squid have attacked live KG many times and I when I have used them I have done well.
Garfish, probably a very good bait because of colour and that it is squids favourite food but sometimes soft, expensive, messy and hard to place on a jig (can someone tell me the best way?)
Tommys, never used them.......
Yackas, excellent tough bait, the only bait you can use where allot of pickers are around. (I have done allot of fishing off Stanwell Park rocks)
Pillies, dont bother
Salted Pillies, have seen some people catching on them.
Silver Whiting, Cheap, fairly firm, Easy to get (all year round), not messy. Basically I know if I head down to Victoria St Richmond one of the three fishmongers will have something decent and you can select your own fish! And very cheap.
I am of the opinion that a hungry squid is likely to attak any fresh fish jig that it will come across. Some factors like depth, location and presentation of fish are probably more important than the type of fish.
About 20 years ago I came across a guy at the end of portsea pier with a bucket full of squid. What was he using on his jig? - Peeled potatoes!!
Anyway thats my 2 cents worth.... Keen to hear your opinions.
I use Tommies only. Would love to use garfish but am finding them hard to buy - small tommies are a good substitute - have also seen them caught to 2kgs on Pillies............
'Hooks'- A gang of four hooks (i.e. linked together by the eye), a treble hook or a single hook are each classed as one hook. Lures and jigs are also classed as one hook
That clears up the argument of having two jigs on one line ITS ALLOWED.
supersquid
Yes I agree with supersquid. You can fish with 2 squid jigs in Victoria if you wish. No problem.
Its worth trying a large jig and a small jig at the same time. then you cover all your bases! However if you get snagged you will be in tears! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
Glen
Steve O'Keefe of Geelong weighed in a 3.57kg squid last week from the kelp beds at Queenscliff.
Fished today for 8 squid too 2.5kg.
all on 40cm KG whiting .
Regards John