2021 Rhode Island Squidding

[alaskanaturally]

                                              Update 210516


Pulling into the small parking area at The Goat Island Bridge, Newport, RI, also affectionally know as GIB, only one other vehicle was observed. When the squid are running, curb parking is completely filled with a number of autos and pickups waiting to park as soon as another leaves. “Think we made a mistake,” Martin says to Ruta. “Probably too early.”


Ruta, the eternal optimist responds, “The trip is already a success. We got out of the house and just drove 500 miles to one of our favorite places.” Martin had to admit that it certainly was better than our self imposed quarantine due to the pandemic. Sure nice to be out on the road again.


Our initial concern was proven incorrect. By 3:00 PM the parking area was almost filled to capacity. And the usual tumult of squidding began: coming and going, yelling fish stories at each other in 10 different  languages, rigging up thier rods and walking from place to place.


The previous evening and morning were spent at Stonington, Ct. Squid were actually caught: seven during the windy, rainy evening and 13 in the beautiful sunny morning. For the most part during this entire trip, squidding was better for us during daylight than after dark. Of the seven caught in the evening five were taken before dark and all 13 of the morning cephalopods during daylight. This also proved true for the time spent at GIB.


After a quick stop and a few casts at Galilee to determine whether the critters were in the harbor, the short ride to the GIB was taken. Since Ruta has a twisted knee and Martin a bad back, the folding chairs were pulled out of the camper and set up right next to the seawall. Fishing from a seated position, aka “old fart fishing,” was the order of the day.


During our three days at the bridge, a number of old friends were encountered as well as new ones made. Everyone was as happy as we were to be out squidding again. Again, while the squidding was wonderful, the catching was slow but adequate. A total of 70 cephalopods were pulled up out of the waters of Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. Plenty for us but in the past trips like this would yield between 100-150 or more. The majority of the time the weather was sunny though quite windy. And the view of the sunset over the Newport Bridge was amazing.


An interesting observation: since we are fully vaccinated and most of our time was spent outside, we only wore our face coverings when entering a rest area building. However, at the GIB and in Stonington, the majority of the Asian Americans we encountered wore face coverings even outside. Perhaps a difference in cultural customs.  


In reality, our catch was better than most encountered. It was quite windy and therefore difficult to reach the bottom. Figured out that using Yamasita 2.2Ds solved that problem. We also squid with a single jig without a weight. The idea is that offering appears more natural. Just our way of doing it. Others have different methods that work for them.


Oh yes! Another indication of the approach to normal, was the traffic on the return trip. All was well, until Rte 295 near Philadelphia in southern NJ. Then from that point through the northern half of Delaware, it was one tie-up after another. Hey! We’re not complaining. Just observing. Maybe because it was Friday afternoon and lots of folks were heading to the beach.


While at the GIB, our traditional breakfast of squid and eggs was enjoyed as celebration of the new squidding season. Our first dinner at home was baked Catalonian stuffed squid. Sure nice to be back in action.