2017 Rhode Island Squid Report

[Gilligan]

Awesome post. Very informative and thanks for sharing. I using 8 lb power pro, but you just about convinced me to switch to 4 lb mono. So would you say most of your jigging of a single jig is a foot or more from hitting total bottom? I'm new to swuidding and try to keep my jig on the bottom . Is this wrong?

 

 What's right is what works for you. Squid are not always or even most of the time right on the bottom, maybe more so on the bottom in the daytime. Just like any other fishing you need to present your lure where the targeted species happens to be. If the bottom is clean and sandy I sometimes bounce bottom, but usually any on the bottom will rise when they see my jig a foot or more above them. They have fantastic eyesight and can see bait at a distance and see thicker line, another reason I like my flourocarbon 4lb. Now this flouro line was not available a few years ago, and I used plain 4lb mono or sometimes Stren Magnathin 6lb which is almost 4lb diameter. I don't care how heavy a line you use, if you hook a shopping cart, scup trap or large dock line you are going to lose your jig if you hook one of these.

[alaskanaturally]

Great conversation Gene. What do make of this? Yesterday at GIB: A guy and woman using 12 lbs mono rigged with 1-2 oz sinker with 2 jigs above, were catching one right after another. We were fishing light as you describe with a weighted tube on bottom and small jig above and only managed one in an hour while they caught about 25. Tried copying their rigs without results. They would lower line to bottom them make a big swiping jerk, at least 6 ft. We tried mimicking them, but it did no good. We did similar jigs. Go figure. Every situation is different.

[OneEyedSquid]

It is all about experience and where the squid was concentrated at the time.  It could be that the group of squid happen to be right below them and they were picking it quickly enough where it never made it to you.  Especially when they are double rigged and working as a team to keep the squids there.

 

Listen to Gilligan, he's been doing this for a long time.  Japanese squids don't live here.  Different place = different techniques, color, size.  Maybe make an appointment with Gilligan and see who catches more.  = )

[folkcafe]

I found a lot of little bits of information in this video on squid jigs such as current and how squid attacks its prey.  Worth a watch.

 

https://youtu.be/swl5JfD4yvg

[alaskanaturally]

Could be but this was about 6pm. Went back at 11 and they still were doing it and we couldn't. We were within 4 ft of them and casting right into their spot. Gill. has given us great advice and we caught many by following it. We fished all around the World and have been able to adapt almost everywhere. This is just perplexing. Going to try something different today. Let you know what happens.

[alaskanaturally]

One thing we are quite sure of. When We squided in Australia, we only had large jigs. Granted the squid were much larger than we are experienced with here, but believe we would have done better with lighter lines and smaller jigs as they were reluctant to hit at times. Didn't consider that until talking with Gene.

[Calamariaddict]

Great info as always Gill. I have gone crazy last year trying to get the right lights, and I hear over 30 years you don't even own one? I should have talked to you sooner. lol .I have a 300 watt 100 watt leds, 2 green underwater ones, generator, batteries, power inverter. You see how crazy I got. Best videos I see are guys using minimal light or just a small dock lantern. You feel pier lights are enough? some pier lights are so dim. I'm losing my bird!!!

[Gilligan]

I was introduced to squidding in 1976 on Martha's Vineyard, and have been squid fishing there every fall since then and sometimes in the spring, occasionally done real well in August, but I can't stand the traffic there in summer so I usually don't do that anymore. Been to Stonington a few times. Many years ago I bought a styrofoam ring with an automotive sealed beam in it with long wires to hook up to your car. Never really used it. Most dock lights suit me fine, and where there are really bright dock lights I find often the "edges" of the light are best for me. If the water is really deep and the lights are bright I do well fishing away (casting) from the dock or fishing deep. Have seen huge schools come up right under the lights and caught over 250 on a few occasions. My best night ever was under much dimmer dock lights and I won't say how many I got, but it was a ridiculous amount in five hours. I have seen those green underwater tubes, my fishing buddy bought one, was a real disappointment to us. You are right, I don't own a light. Like I said, often I am the guy quietly bailing them in the shadows, although I am also sometimes in the middle of a bunch of squidders when they are in and the word is out. My fishing buddy, his two boys, and myself all use similar rigs, jigs, rods, and line, and have made a lot of pilgrims walk away in disgust. On the other hand I have lent a lot of people good jigs for an evening and their catches definitely rose considerably. Jigging technique is also important, I have switched rods with guys doing poorly and done better than them with their own rigs. Sometimes I give a young kid my rod just so they can have some real fun when the squid are there, they are amazed at the difference gear makes.

 

When I first started the prawn type jigs were not available and we used 1-1&1/2"x1/4" dowel rods with a small screw eye in each end and a small treble hook on the business end. We used whatever rods we had that were usually fiberglass 6-7' with 10-15lb test. We still got full buckets on many nights, but I think the squid were just much more plentiful back then.

 

 Martin and Ruta, if the water is deep and the current swift I switch up to a longer, stiffer (6-6&1/2') rod with 8lb and a 1-2 oz sinker on the bottom and one or rarely two jigs above the sinker, as the folks you mention used. A friend of mine does well this way and ties his jigs directly to the running line while I prefer a  2' or longer leader and if two jigs the long leader on the bottom and just a small dropper loop on the top jig, but I hate the tangling action of the two jig system and I am not vertical dropping, I have to cast out to the channel. This is my favorite daytime rig for fishing deep in the Edgartown channel. Sometimes just a split shot a foot ahead of the jig works very well if you have to get deep and there is current. I always carry a small dispenser with different size split shot. My fishing buddy is better than I am with the split shot method. I don't know what you mean by weighted tube jigs, could you send me a pic of one? No matter where you fish or what you fish for there will always be somebody who blows your doors off. Like when small boat fishing and the person on the starboard side catches more than the guy on the port side and both are using similar rigs. Luck will always be a big part of our game. If you see the couple wailing them again, maybe it will be your turn, or you have to look more closely at their rigs and technique. I hope everybody gets full buckets tonight!!

[Strapalap]

So I am new to squid fishing and use to do it from the docks as a kid on block island. I live in CT anf had plans to squid this week by boat but the marine forecast is not cooperating. I would never ask for someone's fishing spot but I was wondering if there is any walls or piers that are public areas. I can't seem to find anything online and I feel driving over an hour to take every back road in hopes of a decent spot will be miserable. I saw some videos on youtube near Newport but I was hoping some experienced squid fishers would be kind to point a newby to atleast a starting shore spot. Thanks in advance.

[OneEyedSquid]

There are days when the squids like to stay deep close to the bottom.  If you are using light weight, you may not be getting to the bottom.  Remember, squid attack during the descend.  What works one day may not work the next.  

Try different things and see what works best.  That is the best thing about fishing.  We are always trying to improve our techniques and learn new things.  Goodluck out there, hope you score big tonight!

[JANZ]

I have seen this "technique" before.  Some times the squid just sit there and wont hit

anything.   I've watched as folks snagged them with the squid jigs, not real sporting

but I'll bet where they came from anything goes.

[alaskanaturally]

The bottom could be sticky here. Lost a few jigs. Today switched line to 10 lb. Put a swivel at bottom, jigs above. Attached sinker to 4 lb line and attached that to swivel. If we get stuck, hopefully the sinker will break off and save the jigs. Have used this rig for tog in the past. So far no lost rigs very few squid. Actually had GIB to ourselves for most of the day. Hope it picks up tonight. Leaving tomorrow. Will squid Stonington tomorrow evening.

[Hobodave45]

Awwh, gonna miss you again Martin and Ruta! It's my wife's birthday and she wanted the entire family to go to the movies... Next year!!!

[squidman890]

The bottom could be sticky here. Lost a few jigs. Today switched line to 10 lb. Put a swivel at bottom, jigs above. Attached sinker to 4 lb line and attached that to swivel. If we get stuck, hopefully the sinker will break off and save the jigs. Have used this rig for tog in the past. So far no lost rigs very few squid. Actually had GIB to ourselves for most of the day. Hope it picks up tonight. Leaving tomorrow. Will squid Stonington tomorrow evening.

isnt most of time if you got snag  to something , is the squid jig snag  on something because they have those tiny hooks?

Since most sinker is rounded and have not thing to snag with.?

[alaskanaturally]

Sorry too. Would have liked to meet you too. Had a better night tonight. Fishing next to fellow who really was catching while I was just getting a few. Asked him what I was doing wrong. He looked at my rig and technique and said that I was doing everything correctly. It was like magic. I immediately began catching them as fast as the others. Guess I just needed to be validated. Strange things happen.

[alaskanaturally]

Yes, and if you do get the sinker stuck, no big deal to loose it compared to the cost three jigs.

[Hobodave45]

Good for you Martin!

[OneEyedSquid]

Your jigs has been blessed by a squid whisperer.  Don't lose that rig!!  It is now a worthy rig.  

[Hobodave45]

Hahaha

[Tim85]

I would like to go to GI bridge for this long weekend. Is squid coming in by number by now? Or with this May cold weather still slow? Was hoping for a nice warm weather this weekend =(