2017 Rhode Island Squid Report

[Hobodave45]

Hmmm, maybe I'll run into you in Stonington Alaska... Seems funny saying "Alaska"... Just had to put our Siberian Husky "Alaska Jack" down last month. His nickname was Alaska.

[squidman890]

@Glligan

 

would you please tell me what how heavy is your main line when you use 4lb fluorocarbon leader? :o

[Rhumbline]

I tried Galilee Saturday night near the bridge and commercial docks - did not see any.  Saw two others with same result.

 

Anyone have luck in the galilee area?

 

Thanks!

[alaskanaturally]

Tough when you have an old friend die. We spent last night looking for squid at Galilee. Nothing! And no


signs. A little bait in the water. We're staying at Fishermen's Mem.SP. Thinking of driving up towards Newport. Anyone have any ideas where we can try?

[Hobodave45]

Sorry Alaska, since last year was my first year squiding, I only know of Goat Island and Stonington. Glad to hear you got some in Stonington though.

[alaskanaturally]

Anyone tried Jamestown lately?

[Rhumbline]

I tried Saturday in Galilee (near bridge and commercial docks) - no signs.

 

Anyone have luck in Galilee?

 

Cheers,

[Gilligan]

@Glligan

 

would you please tell me what how heavy is your main line when you use 4lb fluorocarbon leader? :o

 

 Hi squidman, 4 lb flourocarbon all the way to the bottom of my spool!! No leader, but I do use a tiny snap (no swivel) to make it easier to change jigs quickly, and it sometimes seems the tiny snap helps my catch. I would not go heavier than 6 lb, the thinner line gives the smaller "prawn" style jigs better action. I am mostly a dock squidder and do very well with my little jigs and skinny line. If I have to go deep in fast current I will use a different rod with 8 lb line so I can cast a 1-2 oz sinker at the end of the line with a small jig on a 4 lb leader about three feet up from the sinker.  Of course a thin sensitive graphite rod also helps, mine is home built and a little over 5' long.  Good luck out there!! -----G

[Fisher02813]

I tried Saturday in Galilee (near bridge and commercial docks) - no signs.

 

Anyone have luck in Galilee?

 

Cheers,

No

[alaskanaturally]

I tried Saturday in Galilee (near bridge and commercial docks) - no


We did same Sunday. Nothing.

 

Anyone have luck in Galilee?

 

Cheers,

[squidman890]

 

 Hi squidman, 4 lb flourocarbon all the way to the bottom of my spool!! No leader, but I do use a tiny snap (no swivel) to make it easier to change jigs quickly, and it sometimes seems the tiny snap helps my catch. I would not go heavier than 6 lb, the thinner line gives the smaller "prawn" style jigs better action. I am mostly a dock squidder and do very well with my little jigs and skinny line. If I have to go deep in fast current I will use a different rod with 8 lb line so I can cast a 1-2 oz sinker at the end of the line with a small jig on a 4 lb leader about three feet up from the sinker.  Of course a thin sensitive graphite rod also helps, mine is home built and a little over 5' long.  Good luck out there!! -----G

Fishing with 4lb fishing line is a new world for me , the lightest line I use is 15 lb braid. I never dare to go that light with squid fishing since I bought some yamashita jig and is little worried about if I got snag on the bottom. Since you have done light squid fishing for years. I probably will start spool my reel with 6lb or 8lb braid line and give it a try , after I feel comfortable with this kind of fishing, I will switch to the 4 lb fluorocarbon.

 

Would you recommend a fluorocarbon line which you use and what size reel do you use? And during the daytime squid fishing, you jig vertically at one spot or you actually cast out and slowly retrieve back the jig with some jerking. 

 

After reading all the info from this site, I realize that  the yamashita jig I bought is probably too big, since big size jig is for huge cuttlefish in Japan. I will buy more small jig in the future. And I just check the Yamashita naory, they have new series jig called 490 which whole body will glow at night for very long time.

[Gilligan]

 Personally, I think thin mono sinks faster than braid of similar diameter. I don't know any "pro" squidders who use braid for squid although most folks I know and myself use braid for general fishing with the exception being giant tuna fishing. My current reel is a Daiwa Procyon 1500 SH, a rather expensive reel, but I use my same outfit for pickerel and other fish. Any small reel will work. Shad are great fun on 4lb. I fished bluefish for years from a boat and only used 8lb tournament line, caught many over 16lbs. Never underestimate the ability to catch big fish on light line. I often fish day or night by casting out, and retrieving with short jerks, staying on top if that's where the squid are, or letting it sink when they are deeper. Sometimes I just fish vertically if the squid are right beneath me. Like all fishing you have to adapt to the occasion, there are no set rules. The bottom is not your friend when jigging squid, and usually they will rise off the bottom when they see your jig, sometimes even following almost to the surface before they hit, sometimes grabbing it as soon as they see it. I don't remember what brand of 4lb flouro I have on my spool now, it is two years old, and I an an impulse buyer. I am sure it is all good. Losing jigs is a matter of fact when one gets desperate and ventures too close to the bottom, but I only lose one a year or so in thirty days of jigging. Smaller is definitely better, I like 3" total length or smaller. See my thread "Merry Christmas to all squidders" for a good site for jigs. They sell my favorite Yamashita Naory Range Hunter 1.8B (60mm) for under 7 bucks, (the hologaphic clear/white and the orange are real killers), and they have many decent smaller jigs for under five bucks each. Regarding glow, I usually don't "charge" my jigs up, occasionally, but not often, and I often fish lit docks, but even in the dark I usually refrain from making them glow brightly. I have outfished others with brightly glowing jigs with one that had no glow capabilities. I think size, color, and action is way more important than glow. If you order from WaveInn, remember to keep your jigs size 2.0 or smaller, I like 1.8 or smaller, and that equates to about 60mm or smaller.

 

 I have used a stick with no reel and eight feet of thin mono and outjigged others with reels and rods, don't fret about reel brand or cost. A small sensitive rod, THIN line, and good jigs equal success, and of course practice. Often just the right "twitch" on the rod makes all the difference. Use your wrist rather than your arm in most situations. Using thicker line due to fear of losing jigs is counterproductive, like all lures action is paramount, and when you have a tiny jig on, the thicker line will just not suffice. I also think the tiny snap (no swivel) I use contributes to good jig action. The guys on the dock with seven foot rods and over ten pound test are seldom going to do as well as a guy rigged as I do. There are times they come in thick and hungry and hit anything on any rig, but that isn't the norm. The rod I use is graphite, and I originally built it for trout and pickerel, go small and kill'em all!! Try to go where others are squidding and closely watch the high hooks, their jig techniques, and their rigs.

[Calamariaddict]

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?

[squidman890]

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?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyioK38Hozo

 

video shows how professional Japanese squid master jerk their jig.

[Calamariaddict]

Thanks have seen these videos. So basically jig should touch bottom between jerks which is what I do. You hope you don't snag bottom due to the way jig rests on bottom with face down and prongs up. Correct? Thanks

[squidman890]

 Personally, I think thin mono sinks faster than braid of similar diameter. I don't know any "pro" squidders who use braid for squid although most folks I know and myself use braid for general fishing with the exception being giant tuna fishing. My current reel is a Daiwa Procyon 1500 SH, a rather expensive reel, but I use my same outfit for pickerel and other fish. Any small reel will work. Shad are great fun on 4lb. I fished bluefish for years from a boat and only used 8lb tournament line, caught many over 16lbs. Never underestimate the ability to catch big fish on light line. I often fish day or night by casting out, and retrieving with short jerks, staying on top if that's where the squid are, or letting it sink when they are deeper. Sometimes I just fish vertically if the squid are right beneath me. Like all fishing you have to adapt to the occasion, there are no set rules. The bottom is not your friend when jigging squid, and usually they will rise off the bottom when they see your jig, sometimes even following almost to the surface before they hit, sometimes grabbing it as soon as they see it. I don't remember what brand of 4lb flouro I have on my spool now, it is two years old, and I an an impulse buyer. I am sure it is all good. Losing jigs is a matter of fact when one gets desperate and ventures too close to the bottom, but I only lose one a year or so in thirty days of jigging. Smaller is definitely better, I like 3" total length or smaller. See my thread "Merry Christmas to all squidders" for a good site for jigs. They sell my favorite Yamashita Naory Range Hunter 1.8B (60mm) for under 7 bucks, (the hologaphic clear/white and the orange are real killers), and they have many decent smaller jigs for under five bucks each. Regarding glow, I usually don't "charge" my jigs up, occasionally, but not often, and I often fish lit docks, but even in the dark I usually refrain from making them glow brightly. I have outfished others with brightly glowing jigs with one that had no glow capabilities. I think size, color, and action is way more important than glow. If you order from WaveInn, remember to keep your jigs size 2.0 or smaller, I like 1.8 or smaller, and that equates to about 60mm or smaller.

 

 I have used a stick with no reel and eight feet of thin mono and outjigged others with reels and rods, don't fret about reel brand or cost. A small sensitive rod, THIN line, and good jigs equal success, and of course practice. Often just the right "twitch" on the rod makes all the difference. Use your wrist rather than your arm in most situations. Using thicker line due to fear of losing jigs is counterproductive, like all lures action is paramount, and when you have a tiny jig on, the thicker line will just not suffice. I also think the tiny snap (no swivel) I use contributes to good jig action. The guys on the dock with seven foot rods and over ten pound test are seldom going to do as well as a guy rigged as I do. There are times they come in thick and hungry and hit anything on any rig, but that isn't the norm. The rod I use is graphite, and I originally built it for trout and pickerel, go small and kill'em all!! Try to go where others are squidding and closely watch the high hooks, their jig techniques, and their rigs.

 

 Personally, I think thin mono sinks faster than braid of similar diameter. I don't know any "pro" squidders who use braid for squid although most folks I know and myself use braid for general fishing with the exception being giant tuna fishing. My current reel is a Daiwa Procyon 1500 SH, a rather expensive reel, but I use my same outfit for pickerel and other fish. Any small reel will work. Shad are great fun on 4lb. I fished bluefish for years from a boat and only used 8lb tournament line, caught many over 16lbs. Never underestimate the ability to catch big fish on light line. I often fish day or night by casting out, and retrieving with short jerks, staying on top if that's where the squid are, or letting it sink when they are deeper. Sometimes I just fish vertically if the squid are right beneath me. Like all fishing you have to adapt to the occasion, there are no set rules. The bottom is not your friend when jigging squid, and usually they will rise off the bottom when they see your jig, sometimes even following almost to the surface before they hit, sometimes grabbing it as soon as they see it. I don't remember what brand of 4lb flouro I have on my spool now, it is two years old, and I an an impulse buyer. I am sure it is all good. Losing jigs is a matter of fact when one gets desperate and ventures too close to the bottom, but I only lose one a year or so in thirty days of jigging. Smaller is definitely better, I like 3" total length or smaller. See my thread "Merry Christmas to all squidders" for a good site for jigs. They sell my favorite Yamashita Naory Range Hunter 1.8B (60mm) for under 7 bucks, (the hologaphic clear/white and the orange are real killers), and they have many decent smaller jigs for under five bucks each. Regarding glow, I usually don't "charge" my jigs up, occasionally, but not often, and I often fish lit docks, but even in the dark I usually refrain from making them glow brightly. I have outfished others with brightly glowing jigs with one that had no glow capabilities. I think size, color, and action is way more important than glow. If you order from WaveInn, remember to keep your jigs size 2.0 or smaller, I like 1.8 or smaller, and that equates to about 60mm or smaller.

 

 I have used a stick with no reel and eight feet of thin mono and outjigged others with reels and rods, don't fret about reel brand or cost. A small sensitive rod, THIN line, and good jigs equal success, and of course practice. Often just the right "twitch" on the rod makes all the difference. Use your wrist rather than your arm in most situations. Using thicker line due to fear of losing jigs is counterproductive, like all lures action is paramount, and when you have a tiny jig on, the thicker line will just not suffice. I also think the tiny snap (no swivel) I use contributes to good jig action. The guys on the dock with seven foot rods and over ten pound test are seldom going to do as well as a guy rigged as I do. There are times they come in thick and hungry and hit anything on any rig, but that isn't the norm. The rod I use is graphite, and I originally built it for trout and pickerel, go small and kill'em all!! Try to go where others are squidding and closely watch the high hooks, their jig techniques, and their rigs.

 

 Personally, I think thin mono sinks faster than braid of similar diameter. I don't know any "pro" squidders who use braid for squid although most folks I know and myself use braid for general fishing with the exception being giant tuna fishing. My current reel is a Daiwa Procyon 1500 SH, a rather expensive reel, but I use my same outfit for pickerel and other fish. Any small reel will work. Shad are great fun on 4lb. I fished bluefish for years from a boat and only used 8lb tournament line, caught many over 16lbs. Never underestimate the ability to catch big fish on light line. I often fish day or night by casting out, and retrieving with short jerks, staying on top if that's where the squid are, or letting it sink when they are deeper. Sometimes I just fish vertically if the squid are right beneath me. Like all fishing you have to adapt to the occasion, there are no set rules. The bottom is not your friend when jigging squid, and usually they will rise off the bottom when they see your jig, sometimes even following almost to the surface before they hit, sometimes grabbing it as soon as they see it. I don't remember what brand of 4lb flouro I have on my spool now, it is two years old, and I an an impulse buyer. I am sure it is all good. Losing jigs is a matter of fact when one gets desperate and ventures too close to the bottom, but I only lose one a year or so in thirty days of jigging. Smaller is definitely better, I like 3" total length or smaller. See my thread "Merry Christmas to all squidders" for a good site for jigs. They sell my favorite Yamashita Naory Range Hunter 1.8B (60mm) for under 7 bucks, (the hologaphic clear/white and the orange are real killers), and they have many decent smaller jigs for under five bucks each. Regarding glow, I usually don't "charge" my jigs up, occasionally, but not often, and I often fish lit docks, but even in the dark I usually refrain from making them glow brightly. I have outfished others with brightly glowing jigs with one that had no glow capabilities. I think size, color, and action is way more important than glow. If you order from WaveInn, remember to keep your jigs size 2.0 or smaller, I like 1.8 or smaller, and that equates to about 60mm or smaller.

 

 I have used a stick with no reel and eight feet of thin mono and outjigged others with reels and rods, don't fret about reel brand or cost. A small sensitive rod, THIN line, and good jigs equal success, and of course practice. Often just the right "twitch" on the rod makes all the difference. Use your wrist rather than your arm in most situations. Using thicker line due to fear of losing jigs is counterproductive, like all lures action is paramount, and when you have a tiny jig on, the thicker line will just not suffice. I also think the tiny snap (no swivel) I use contributes to good jig action. The guys on the dock with seven foot rods and over ten pound test are seldom going to do as well as a guy rigged as I do. There are times they come in thick and hungry and hit anything on any rig, but that isn't the norm. The rod I use is graphite, and I originally built it for trout and pickerel, go small and kill'em all!! Try to go where others are squidding and closely watch the high hooks, their jig techniques, and their rigs.

most of us actually jig vertically with drop loop and sinker on the bottom because many people use their light to concentrate the squid at one spot. The way you play with your jig is very similar to those Japanese squid fishing technique.

One of my friend will visit Japan at one week and I will ask her to get me some small jigs!!

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B004...VRQENFRJN5

 

This is the Japanese site of Amazon, that is how I get my Yamashita jig if any one is interesting at buying jigs and they have different brands of jig if you search.

 

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ another website you can buy jig

 

Both of these site are eligible for global shipping .

 

Actually there are many different kinds of features of jig at the market, such as long casting model or floppy fin jig etc. but their size is just a little big for squid in the America

 

And thank you so much with all the helpful information.  I will switch my gear to your set up and give it a try!!!

[squidman890]

Thanks have seen these videos. So basically jig should touch bottom between jerks which is what I do. You hope you don't snag bottom due to the way jig rests on bottom with face down and prongs up. Correct? Thanks

What I realize the in the video. Before you really start jerking the jig, slightly lift your rod so the jig in the bottom will rise up a little bit, and then you jerk. So at this way you won't really put too much pressure on the jig if you really snag on something. 

[Calamariaddict]

Great point. Thanks again. Practice makes perfect.

[Calamariaddict]

Great point. Thanks again. Practice makes perfect.

[Gilligan]

 I do not really fish "Japanese style" at all. I use a short rod, they like a longer rod. They bottom bounce, I try not to ever let my jig hit bottom unless there is NO weed or junk down there. The only time I will let my rig hit bottom is when I am in deep fast current with a sinker below my jig. I have seen a couple of the Japanese videos and it looks like they are fishing a sandy bottom with little weed. Most docks I fish from have a lot of junk down there like old dock lines, crab traps, bicycles, even shopping carts. I stay off the bottom. I also notice in the videos that they seem to catch single roaming squid, not like here when we see big schools or "pods" of them. While at some places I see people gathered by a light hoping the light will gather the squid. I am the quiet guy in the shadows bailing the squid while others get a few here or there. I also see in those videos they are using larger jigs than I do , different lures and techniques for different areas.