Newbie Question - How To Set Up Line Using Squid Jig?

[squidmatt]

Hi,



I'm a beginner fisherman and I'd love to be able to have a go at catching a squid. I'm from the Dorset area and would really like it if anyone could help advise me on a good location to try for squid, but I'd also like some help regarding setting up my line.



I basically need to know everything - what sort of line strength would I need, would I be best float fishing with the jig? (a lot of people seem to use this method when trying for squid). I thought that the idea was to move the jig around to attract the squids attention, but if float fishing then wont the jig just remain static?



Also, might be a bit of a silly question but how can you gauge the depth of the water in which you are fishing?



If anyone has a picture of the line setup for the squid jig/floats etc then that would be really helpful too <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':woot:' />





Thanks for any help!

[fishyrob]

[quote name='squidmatt' post='18431' date='Apr 18 2010, 02:12 PM']Hi,



I'm a beginner fisherman and I'd love to be able to have a go at catching a squid. I'm from the Dorset area and would really like it if anyone could help advise me on a good location to try for squid, but I'd also like some help regarding setting up my line.



I basically need to know everything - what sort of line strength would I need, would I be best float fishing with the jig? (a lot of people seem to use this method when trying for squid). I thought that the idea was to move the jig around to attract the squids attention, but if float fishing then wont the jig just remain static?



Also, might be a bit of a silly question but how can you gauge the depth of the water in which you are fishing?



If anyone has a picture of the line setup for the squid jig/floats etc then that would be really helpful too <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Thanks for any help![/quote]



How we have found effective in Brighton is a standard sliding float set up (Google will show you many examples) and replace any hooks with jigs. We have found that cloudier days fish better, and that you need your Jig within three feet of the bottom.

As to where to go, I should imagine that somewhere like Durdle Door would be ideal. Anywhere with 12 plus feet of water over rough ground is likely to hold them. You have only got about three or four weeks left to get one though, as once they have finished breeding they dissapear again, returning in October to pee me off when I am bassing with livebaits........

[Peter Hugill]

squid matt, good to see newbies getting into it! I would start with a very light braid 10lb for a beginner, tie the braid to some 100% flurocarbon leader (if you know how to best to do a bimini twist then tie this to the leader with an improved allbright knot), then you can attach this straight to the squid jig. I like to use the breaden clips to attach to the jigs so if i need to change jigs or even change to a chrome slice for fish i can do so quickly.



As for jigs i would start off with probably a cheaper jig to get used to jigging and jerking the jig about as when you start you might snag up and loose some jigs!



For technique you can float them which works well, drift in a boat, or if your from shore i like to cast into weedy/sandy areas, let the jig sink then give it a few jerks then wind in the slack as your going along.



Hope this gets you started mate!



Cheers,



Pete

[moofoo]

Have heard that the odd squid gets caught off the stone breakwater (rather than the pier) at Weymouth harbour - so that may be worth a go...?

[squidmatt]

Ah thanks for all of the help!



I was actually at Lulworth cove the other day (next door to Durdle Door), I'll give it a go there, only problem with that place is the parking, is really expensive and think it is closed at night. Is it best to try for squid at night or during the day do you think?



And when using a float and a squid jig are you supposed to pull at the line to make the jig bounce up and down to attract their attention? Or is it a slightly different technique?



Thanks again

[fishyrob]

[quote name='squidmatt' post='18606' date='Apr 23 2010, 03:05 PM']Ah thanks for all of the help!



I was actually at Lulworth cove the other day (next door to Durdle Door), I'll give it a go there, only problem with that place is the parking, is really expensive and think it is closed at night. Is it best to try for squid at night or during the day do you think?



And when using a float and a squid jig are you supposed to pull at the line to make the jig bounce up and down to attract their attention? Or is it a slightly different technique?



Thanks again[/quote]



Please remember that in Brighton we are still working on whats what, and Peters info from Perth cannot be discounted. However, we are finding more action during the day than at night, even with floodlights. Mornings deffo best (landed one, missed 4 today. Normally the statistics are the other way around, but of course I had cameras running today!!) The swells will work the float well enough, but adding movement has to be worth a go. From my observations, the squid are pretty active free swimming predators, whilst its looking like the cuttles are quite fond of an ambush point. As soon as the video we have taken is put together, I will put up a link for you to check it out.

[squidmatt]

Thanks fishyrob and thanks to everyone else that has helped.



Weymouth is quite far from here but I've heard that people catch them from there in winter, I might have to have a look and find out where the stone breakwater actually is.



Also just to be sure, I've got about 15lb line and about a 50lb shockleader, am I okay using the shockleader with my float and the squid jig, or am I best adding some 15lb line to the end of my shockleader to use?



And with regards to making sure the jig is not on the ground and is a few feet off, how can I determine the depth of the water? Or is it just trial and error, until it feels/looks about right?





Thanks again <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Peter Hugill]

Matt, 50lb is way too heavy! You will be surprised how strong 10lb is. If you use line this heavy it will most probably spook the squid away, 15lb line is fine for mainline probably wouldn't go any heavier than 20lb for leader.



To judge how fast the jig sinks just cast into a shallow bit of water and watch it.



Cheers,



Pete

[squidmatt]

Cheers Pete. I just checked my line, the line is 15lb and the shockleader is tapered from 20lb to 60lb.



I'm guessing that I would be best off changing the line when trying to squid, using just 10lb line and a 20lb shockleader?



Is a shockleader required when trying for squid as you're not going to be casting hard/heavy weights? Or is it just to protect the line from the squid?



Also, would I be okay using a small spinning rod when trying for squid?





Thanks again.

[rocksy]

i'd like to add, if you letting a baited jig drift under a float.

use either a suspending braid/fused line (fireline) or mono/flourocarbon main line wont sit on the suface like most braid and cause the float to drift faster than required.



Having said that many people use braid anyway with great results.

Also i agree, 50lb shock leader is overkill to the extreme. i would never use anymore than 20lb shock leader for squid, and that is even overkill.



if you purely casting size 2-3 jigs on a spinning outfit i'd run 10lb mainline for the snaggy country and 6-8lb for the other stuff. If you rod and reel allow using such lighter line you'll cast it plenty far enough and have much better control over the jig and feel a hell of a lot more squid grabbing it.



I can feel much more on my lighter squid outfit than i can on my heavier rod with 10lb>10lb. 8lb>8lb is perfect in my opinion

[squidmatt]

Thanks Rocksy.



So you think 10lb line with a 20lb shockleader would be fine?



Also when you say to use suspending braid/fused line (fireline) or mono/flourocarbon, would I have the 10lb line and then the 20lb shockleader and then attach the fireline/mono/flurocarbon to the end of the shockleader, which I would attach my float and jig to?



Hope that makes sense. And thanks once again.

[rocksy]

you should either have braid or normal mono as your main line. then the shock leader.





If you have normal mono as your main line it should be sweet for what your doing, braid is better but it's not essential for squid.



10lb>20lb should be fine... bare in mind the lighter the leader the more you will be able to finesse move the jig. but 20 is fine.

it's all a matter of preference, you need to fish with what your confident with. You can always change it down the track for a bit of sport.



knowing how to make them take a jig, and where to fish it is the part that eludes some people. I'm constantly outfished by old greek fishermen, using gear that is older than me.

[Peter Hugill]

Aahhahaha Rocksy that is gold!

[squidmatt]

Thanks Rocksy, thats great.



Out of interest can I ask why the shockleader is necessary when float fishing for squid using a jig? I mean its not likely that the force of the cast would snap the line is it? Or is it to strengthen the line a bit so the squid can't bite/tear through it?





I'm pretty sure that I'm already using mono line so I think I'm okay, just need to get a weaker shockleader.



Thanks!

[rocksy]

to be honest a shock leader isn't necessary with a float but i always run a leader because i use braid. But i rarely use a float.

Mine aren't there to prevent bust off during a cast I run a leader to protect against rocks/ tangles with other line/kelp/wind knots and something to grab to lift the squid if need be.



Just force of habbit, i use a leader on every thing. The leader knot can act as a float stopper if the leader is long enough.

[squidmatt]

Ahh okay, thanks a lot Rocksy.



I've seen some 8lb-20lb carp shockleader on a popular auction site (item no. 390083185499). Something like that would be fine wouldn't it?



Would the usual rule apply for the shockleader also - about twice the length of the rod and a few turns on the reel?



One last question - Pete said earlier in the thread that I can just cast the jig into water and watch how long it takes to sink, but how can I work out at which depth to set my float so that the jig is just off the bottom? Is there a way or do you have to just take a rough guess?





Apologies for all the questions, thanks for all of the help <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[rocksy]

if it's for the float and a jig i'd just run absolute max 3 meters of leader, you cant really know the depth unless you cast out an jig to sink to the bottom and count how long it takes to sink.

most jigs have a pretty good rule of thumb 3-3.5 seconds per meter. But they do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, just look it up on there website, or the jig box. sometimes you also can't feel it hit bottom... another way is to have say 2 meters of leader drop the jig in the water and count how long it takes for the leader knot to go under, then you know exactly how long it takes to sink 2 meters.





It's all guess work in the end, you'll cover more water by casting and retrieving, probably end up with more squid.

But it's good to have a set and forget float out while your casting... i just bagged 2 average squid tonight with a baited jig while i was casting. I got nothing on the cast.

[fishyrob]

[quote name='rocksy' post='18739' date='Apr 27 2010, 04:04 PM']if it's for the float and a jig i'd just run absolute max 3 meters of leader, you cant really know the depth unless you cast out an jig to sink to the bottom and count how long it takes to sink.

most jigs have a pretty good rule of thumb 3-3.5 seconds per meter. But they do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, just look it up on there website, or the jig box. sometimes you also can't feel it hit bottom... another way is to have say 2 meters of leader drop the jig in the water and count how long it takes for the leader knot to go under, then you know exactly how long it takes to sink 2 meters.

It's all guess work in the end, you'll cover more water by casting and retrieving, probably end up with more squid.

But it's good to have a set and forget float out while your casting... i just bagged 2 average squid tonight with a baited jig while i was casting. I got nothing on the cast.[/quote]





Interesting you are baiting your jig Rocksy. I am starting to find an order of preference for baits over here. The best seems to be Sprat, a type of small herring. Next best, Herring, third best, pacific saury, fourth mackerel. Do you find certain baits better than others in Oz?



My most recent squid, under floodlight

[glen]

nice work rob! gee they are long!!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[rocksy]

Are you using to fillets as a skin on the jigs or is that a fish with a skewer through it?



Awesome size on that, would they be a 2-3 kilo job?



Did you find out if they are the Veined squid or not?



For some reason those arrows remind me of Pepe from the muppets