06-05-2008, 07:09 AM
[quote name='SchuckMyClam' post='11409' date='May 6 2008, 05:01 AM']Glad people are catching squids in RI right now. I live on Long Island. I haven't caught my first squid yet BUT, I think it's time. I just learned to squid jig last Fall 2007 so I am fairly new but I can see that they are much bigger than the fall run squid.
I'm trying to do everything right. The problem is I CAN SEE THEM HOVERING NEXT TO MY LURE & THEY ARE NOT BITTING!!!
Can anyone offer me advice or suggestions from experience???
1- I arrived at the top of the tide. Waited for the water to slightly begin moving out.
2- I'm using a 15 watt fluorescent Coleman Lantern.
3- I'm using 2 kinds of Yo-Zuri jigs (the smooth ones & the ones scaley ones) using all colors & they sink at 6" per second.
4- I'm using sinkers between 1/4 oz - 1 oz to not affect the sinking rate of the jig itself.
5- On a 48" leader I have the sinker at the bottom, 1st jig @ 24", 2nd jig @ 36" & a swivle @ 48" to attatched to my main line.
6- I'm dropping line straight down and sinking all the way to bottom and then retrieving straight up. (I wait a few seconds around the top where the squids are hovering and repeat the technique).
They must be at the bottom because when I least expect it like 3-6 squid will appear from the darker bottom & just like hover around my jig near the surface BUT, it won't strike it AND, it also won't strike all the baitfish underneath my lanter so I don't think that they are hungry (but they are VERY CURIOUS about my jig)!!!
It's sooo frustrating! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> What should I do when I have them literally "sniffing my jig" to make them grab it?
Has anyone ever encountered this same problem?
Am I doing anything wrong?
Is my tide wrong?
Are my sinker weights wrong?
Is my setup wrong?
Can anyone offer my and advice or suggestions please?
Thanx to all who can reply!
-JP from Long Island[/quote]
Unless i'm misunderstanding what you're saying, this is your problem. From the sounds of your post, it seems you drop the line down, let it sit for a minute, then reel it up and redrop? Is that correct? If so, stop doing that. Try a heavier weight as well (1-2oz) Don't worry about the sinking rate of your jigs so much b/c w/ the 1-2 oz holding bottom for you, the current will provide your jigs w/ "action" You might not think to look at them, but the yozuri jigs certainly do have a unique action. Try dropping your jigs to varying depths (not necessarily bottom all the time) and let them suspend. Every so often, give them a twitch, jig them up a bit and drop em back down. Vary your presentation too b/c even if the squid aren't necessarily hungry, you may be able to piss them off enough to hit the jig anyway. Also, you say you're using a 48" leader. What lb. test are you using for the leader? Squid have pretty keen eyesight so you don't want to use anything too visible.
I'm trying to do everything right. The problem is I CAN SEE THEM HOVERING NEXT TO MY LURE & THEY ARE NOT BITTING!!!
Can anyone offer me advice or suggestions from experience???
1- I arrived at the top of the tide. Waited for the water to slightly begin moving out.
2- I'm using a 15 watt fluorescent Coleman Lantern.
3- I'm using 2 kinds of Yo-Zuri jigs (the smooth ones & the ones scaley ones) using all colors & they sink at 6" per second.
4- I'm using sinkers between 1/4 oz - 1 oz to not affect the sinking rate of the jig itself.
5- On a 48" leader I have the sinker at the bottom, 1st jig @ 24", 2nd jig @ 36" & a swivle @ 48" to attatched to my main line.
6- I'm dropping line straight down and sinking all the way to bottom and then retrieving straight up. (I wait a few seconds around the top where the squids are hovering and repeat the technique).
They must be at the bottom because when I least expect it like 3-6 squid will appear from the darker bottom & just like hover around my jig near the surface BUT, it won't strike it AND, it also won't strike all the baitfish underneath my lanter so I don't think that they are hungry (but they are VERY CURIOUS about my jig)!!!
It's sooo frustrating! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> What should I do when I have them literally "sniffing my jig" to make them grab it?Has anyone ever encountered this same problem?
Am I doing anything wrong?
Is my tide wrong?
Are my sinker weights wrong?
Is my setup wrong?
Can anyone offer my and advice or suggestions please?
Thanx to all who can reply!
-JP from Long Island[/quote]
Unless i'm misunderstanding what you're saying, this is your problem. From the sounds of your post, it seems you drop the line down, let it sit for a minute, then reel it up and redrop? Is that correct? If so, stop doing that. Try a heavier weight as well (1-2oz) Don't worry about the sinking rate of your jigs so much b/c w/ the 1-2 oz holding bottom for you, the current will provide your jigs w/ "action" You might not think to look at them, but the yozuri jigs certainly do have a unique action. Try dropping your jigs to varying depths (not necessarily bottom all the time) and let them suspend. Every so often, give them a twitch, jig them up a bit and drop em back down. Vary your presentation too b/c even if the squid aren't necessarily hungry, you may be able to piss them off enough to hit the jig anyway. Also, you say you're using a 48" leader. What lb. test are you using for the leader? Squid have pretty keen eyesight so you don't want to use anything too visible.
Squid: The other other OTHER white meat