Newport Ri 2016 Squid Season

[BillG]

Hi:

 

I am new to squid fishing, well fishing in general and have a few general questions. I've heard Goat Island is a great place.

 

What should I buy for a rod and reel and line (mainly squid)? What should I buy for a jig? Or is a three-pronged fishing hook ok?

Can I squid fish at any time (i.e. 2am)?

Is the area packed 24/7( will I find a spot to sit off the bridge)? Am I allowed to park nearby?

 

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

Thank you

 

A lot of these answers can be found if you just read through the previous years' Newport threads. However, I will give a brief summary. Goat Island is a great place to squid jig, except when it isn't a great place. At times, the crowds and the parking can be a problem, but that is only usually true from early-May to mid-June on weekends plus every day when they are really running. There is nearby parking on the bridge for free plus metered parking on the street. For the most part, all the non-metered convenient parking is Newport resident sticker parking only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Most people will get there and set up an hour (or so before sunset and jig until they don't want to or fill their bucket or call it a bust. Sometimes, they will hit in broad daylight, but that's easier to do in a boat where you can go to them rather than hoping they come to you. Lastly, you can use any inexpensive, light rod/reel combo spooled with something like 4 lb. test fluorocarbon. You will want to get some decent jigs from a real bait and tackle store. It's tempting to get the ones for $1.97 from WalMart, but those are usually ineffective. You might find the bigger Yozuri Ultra jigs in some box stores (Benny's has them behind the registers) for $4-5. Those work, although most say they are too big when the squid are small or finicky. The prawn-style (Yozuri minis, Yamashitas, Japanese imports) in a 1.8-2.5 size are, according to consensus, the "best". Unfortunately, the "best" will cost you between $10 and $35. A common treble hook is highly, highly unlikely to "catch" any squid. And, if they did, the barbs would mean that you would have to rip the flesh to get the hooks out which will cause you to be sprayed with ink.