Stonington, CT 2014 Squid Season

[BlueKayak]

Hi everyone - first post, enthusiastic kayak fisher and general naturalist here.

 

I have never caught squid, but I see there are threads up for the 2013 and 2012 seasons, with posts from regulars, hope nobody minds if I fire this thread up (mod - maybe you could pin it?)

 

I live in Stonington, and I see the docks have some lights that attract squid. Are these lights everyone refers to where the commercial boats are tied? I'm going to concentrate on the Stonington area, but information for Noank, Mystic, or anything within driving distance is much, much appreciated.

 

Mostly I intend to eat what I catch, if it turns out to be a great year I will give it away and/or keep it for bait

 

I'm ordering some squid jigs now, and a green/red stick-on light - only a white light is required but I've almost been clocked several times even when I had two white lights on my kayak. If anyone knows of a fairly cheap submersible light that I can use out of a kayak, give a holler.

 

Obviously I will be posting here to update everyone on what my own experiences are.

 

Good luck!

[Gilligan]

 Hi Blue, the commercial docks are where they catch squids in Stonington. You will see Asian squidders there when the squid are in, watch them and learn. I think Stonington is maybe better than Mystic and there is little public access  to any docks in Noank to squid from. I prefer jigs 3&1/2" long or smaller, and use 4LB test mono for best results. I'll be in town first weekend in May to try it there.

[BlueKayak]

Thanks Gilligan, hope to see you there. I live only a few minutes drive from those docks, and as my name would suggest, will be in a blue kayak. Thanks for the jig suggestion, I'm ordering some Yo-zuri jigs now. Have most of the squid you've caught in this area been on the smaller side?

[CoastalLifePhotography]

Will keep an eye out for you, my boy blue. Lol

[BlueKayak]

Haha, hope to see you there.

 

If anyone fishes Southeastern CT for squid while it's light out, I'd love some tips on how/when/where. So far my plan goes as far as fishing under any lights I can find, but I'm guessing tide will dictate otherwise occasionally.

 

Thanks all

[RustyMorr]

Quiet and cold last night in the harbor. After 30 minutes of no action I went home. Only one other guy around, he had nothing too. I think we're close though.

[1tym]

Hi everyone - first post, enthusiastic kayak fisher and general naturalist here.

 

I have never caught squid, but I see there are threads up for the 2013 and 2012 seasons, with posts from regulars, hope nobody minds if I fire this thread up (mod - maybe you could pin it?)

 

I live in Stonington, and I see the docks have some lights that attract squid. Are these lights everyone refers to where the commercial boats are tied? I'm going to concentrate on the Stonington area, but information for Noank, Mystic, or anything within driving distance is much, much appreciated.

 

Mostly I intend to eat what I catch, if it turns out to be a great year I will give it away and/or keep it for bait

 

I'm ordering some squid jigs now, and a green/red stick-on light - only a white light is required but I've almost been clocked several times even when I had two white lights on my kayak. If anyone knows of a fairly cheap submersible light that I can use out of a kayak, give a holler.

 

Obviously I will be posting here to update everyone on what my own experiences are.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Blue kayak. I have two 12v green led submersible lights I built for squidding. They are 10 watts a piece and draw less than an amp. Let me know if you are interested in them.

[cirodimegliophd]

Thinks should start soon, there are reports that some have been caught in RI so they can't be far behind.

I haven't fished stonington nor mystic. I am in CT these days and it would be nice not to have to drive three hours to Newport and pay the toll bridge for a few suckers.  any suggestions for public access to the squid in the area?

I might need to borrow a kyack, is the water open there or protected?

Cheers,

DrC

[cirodimegliophd]

checking out the google map, I am thinking the bridge to Mason Island looks like a promising spot. Anyone have any luck there in past years?

[RustyMorr]

The worst thing happened to me last night. I figured I'd try my luck for 15 minutes. At the 14 minute point I caught one mid-sized. I couldn't leave, and three more hours yielded nothing. I would have been better off if I didn't catch one. But, at least we know there's something out there.


It was nice to see my old pal Squid Vicious (or is it Squiddy-Eyed Pete?) out trying his luck.

[CoastalLifePhotography]

I know that all too well Rusty, as I'm sure many on here do. Lol It's an un-curable addiction... Unless Dr. C has a remedy. Lol

[CoastalLifePhotography]

No love tonight. A few herring zipping around Stonington.

[Gilligan]

The worst thing happened to me last night. I figured I'd try my luck for 15 minutes. At the 14 minute point I caught one mid-sized. I couldn't leave, and three more hours yielded nothing. I would have been better off if I didn't catch one. But, at least we know there's something out there.


It was nice to see my old pal Squid Vicious (or is it Squiddy-Eyed Pete?) out trying his luck.

 

 Rusty, it was great meeting you Sat. night. Sorry you didn't get any more. I was worrying all night that I left just before they came in thick, but I'd had a long day, and knew I had a long one ahead of me so I hit the sack without returning to the dock. good luck this week. ----Gino

[CoastalLifePhotography]

To Dr. C. Mason's island bridge could be good, but you'll need your own lights.

[BlueKayak]

Haha Rusty, I totally know that feeling from freshwater fishing!

 

Having never caught a squid, I personally would take the 'one and done' scenario over none, but it can be frustrating.

 

I tried Thursday about 2 hrs before high tide (9pm?) and didn't get any, but then again I have no idea if I'm working my jigs right. Am I wasting my time if it's still light out? Am I wasting my time if it's not particularly near high tide?

 

Evening high tides are coming, hope to see you all in the next few days!

[cirodimegliophd]

My Rx is, to fish for them when the are there, and OD, go cold turkey, when they are gone.

 

As for daytime fishing for squid, I think I have (per hours logged in) caught as many during daylight hours as I have at night, withthe added benefit of not having to worry about melted lines and crowding. I have gotten good tans while squidding.

 

Here is a trick, freeze brine water for icing squid, they get home nearly frozen, and keep much better during the day.

Also, don't bother cleaning them before freezing on a big catch. they take up a litle more space in the freezer, if that is an issue, but otherwise, upon thawing the innereds come out as a nice "gut-sickle" skinning seems easier too.

 

I also suggest a lighter line going to the sinker.  Often, since it is what is massaging the bottom, it gets caught on something and you wind up losing >$15 / rig due to it. Not a fan of Pb-ing the ocean, but if it is going to happen anyway, keep the jigs in the box at night.

 

Lastly, DON"T BE DICKS OUT THERE!

Pick up after yourselves, and bring out one other douchebages discard and it will make for a pleasant scene and no whining folks, to petition, us away from spots.

For ###'s sake don't jump someone's boat and ink it out. If it were my boat, I'd take y' all out, but the last thing some non-fisherman needs, is to come back to a tye-dyed boat they spent hours keeping up.

 

Peace Bros

DrC

[BlueKayak]

Thanks DrCiro for the tips. I'll give the ice thing a try (if I remember!) Great to know about daytime squid, we have some good-looking afternoon/evening tides coming up and I may hit the docks or go from my kayak for these.

 

Thanks also for the tip about the sinker leader. Do you run multiple jigs with a sinker at the bottom? One of my jigs is a fast sinker already, do you just weight the small light ones?

 

Maybe I'll give tomorrow a try, nice 4:30 high tide. Only unfortunate thing is it looks like New London is still at 46.8 degrees.

 

Thanks again all!

[cirodimegliophd]

They are reporting them in Newport, How far behind could they be?

[Noplan]

Hey guys I'll be anchoring up in fishers island sound at night over the weekend to try my luck. Hopefully the squid are out there. I'll keep you all posted.

[CoastalLifePhotography]

They're here. Go get em. :-)