Newport Ri 2016 Squid Season

[CalamaroItalia]

Hi Guys, I plan on driving up from Stamford this weekend. Would hate to make the hike of there's no squid action, so if anyone is aware of squid activity (and location) please let me know. Also, can anyone tell me if squid are also caught in Stamford or Norwalk? Thanks!

[Grady white]

Haven't pulled more than 5 from jamestown yet per night,hopefully it picks up soon.

[JANZ]

Update, after cleaning all the squid I noticed that there where eggs from them here and there

of varying sizes.  Found a few squid measuring at 13" (tube only).   Still a bit early for the

slaughter at GI.  Last year when we killed em there mid day they were all huge and chuck

full of eggs that were ripe.  So judging from the eggs I saw while cleaning them should be a

2-4 weeks before the main body of squid get to GI.  There has been some flurries there from

the early scouts but no heavy constant action there. 

[CalamaroItalia]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

[hilife]

This season has been a bit weird because of the changing temperature. Very little to no action in Newport off the water on 5/14-5/15. I know the ideal temp is around 55 so i'm hoping once the water warms up this week they will be good this weekend. we'll have to see if they bite this weekend. 

 

Scup are being caught now so, this could also mean that the squid season is past us but definitely not definitive. 

[BillG]

This weekend's full moon might make things a little tough. I'm betting next weekend and the weekend after should be huge squid-slam-fests, though.

[CalamaroItalia]

Bill - I agree about the full moon, but wouldn't the expected overcast help block it out? Assuming it's extensive overcast?

[angler]

i dont know about squid. but moon tides increase water flow and therefore bait. thats why it is usually better for fish. doesnt the same hold true for squid?

[Squidjiggawhat]

I've heard new moons are better for squid because it means the only light source is your own, rather than competing with the moon. This is just what I've heard. I don't really know if one is truer than the other.

[BillG]

They come inshore to feed, breed and die. My working theory is that the full moons draw them in from offshore following the flush of bait and currents. However, as was said, the bright full moon over the whole bay doesn't concentrate the bait into large balls like a flood light does, so it makes it harder to catch the squid chasing the bait. If you have a boat or a kayak, you can go around with your fish finder looking for the squid and have great success. However, those of us less fortunate shore-bound anglers seem to have better luck under dark skies. So, if it is dark on Sat. night, it would probably be a great night, however, it's supposed to be stormy with an offshore low pressure system pushing up the coast, so I expect that it will be rough and choppy and wet out there. For my part, I will be drinking homebrew and eating roast pig instead of fishing/squidding.

[JANZ]

Last night Frances fleet  had another great trip.  If looking to get out

on a lighted boat you cant beat $45.   7pm to 1am

http://francesfleet.com/wordpress/

[angler]

BillG, Thanks so much for generously sharing your theory and knowledge in squid fishing in this forum! I having been fishing for squid for over 2 decades but must say, this sport has a lot to learn and is somewhat different than the other type of traditional fishing.

 

Another interesting observation, I often see school of squids swimming close to the surface either focus in feeding the bait fish ball on the surface or simply hanging around. When this happens, I (and the others) seldom catch any squid as I think the squids simply aren't in feeding mode, at least at the bottom level. On the contrary, when there is a run where every drop would produce a catch, I never see any squid being close to the surface!

 

Has anyone observed this phenomenon? Has anyone got any remedy to deal with "uninterested" school of squid, especially when the squids are visible close to the surface?

[tongvo]

Newport squid fishing was excellent last night. 

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Angler,  

 

As I can see from many nights of fishing and  I love fishing under the Newport bridge at night.  I noticed that the squids surfaced on top because there are fish (scups, sea robbins) lurking on the bottom looking for a squid meal.

I think squids that come to the light always want to feed, no matter what depth.  The are not "uninterested", they just scattered or moved to prevent being eaten.  Sometimes you just need to present your bait at certain depth where the squid can feed.  As always, I fish with my fish finder on because I can see where the school of squid hangs out.  They can be 15 feet below your boat, or at the bottom.  I use three squid jigs tied to the dropper loop.  I cut the dropper loop circle so there's only 1 line and tied the jig about 6 inches or 7 inches out.  Don't tie them too short.  Squid might not have a chance to grab your squid jigs if you move them up and down too fast with a short line.  Tie them a little longer so that you have water resistance (slow down) and allow enough time for squid to grab your jig. The jigs tied to the dropper loop present a swimming action that looks like the bait fish.  I use 3 ounce sinker.  I use 3 oz sinker because the water current can be strong and will hold bottom.  Even in the middle depth around 10 or 15 feet.  The 3 ounces sinker allow your line to stand in the vertical position even with the strong current. This way your jigs looks like swimming bait.  The squid will attack your jigs. I see people doing "jig" action too fast up and down.  "Jig" slow.  Sometime you jig once, then wait a few seconds, then "jig" again.  Or you "jig" 2 or 3 times fast, then stop for a few seconds..count to 20..then lift your pole slowly..I do this and always have luck with a squid grabbed to my jig or jigs..good luck.  Hope this help.

[algreenjr]

Was in JT yesturday on my kayak caught one squid saw little on the fish finder on a side note the sea bass are in to bad they are out of season caught and released over 15 keepers

[Matsquidman]

One thing I have learned is to watch my line in the water. Sometimes the squid will knock your jig a little before they grab it. You will see your line move from side to side and then straighten out. Lift slowly but firmly and you may have more success especially when the bite is light. Several years ago I caught one after another in the daytime because I had good sunglasses and I used a light jig. I watched the squid knock the jig ever so slightly as it slowly sank. When I saw them touch it I lifted. Otherwise the bite was so light that I may not have felt it. No one else was catching that day but I nearly filled my bucket because I could see them just touch the jig instead of grabbing it. It seemed if they were trying to figure out if the jig was a fish or not! They are smart!!! Other times they just hammer it and it really is a matter of just getting you jig to the bottom. How many times have you put your pole down with your jigs in the water in order to do something else for a minute or two. You then pick up the pole and you have squid on the jigs without even trying!! One thing for sure there are many ways to do it and what works depends on the conditions that day like water temp, current and tide , amount of light, color jig, wind, there urge to spawn, amount of baitfish around, comorants or other birds around looking for a meal and fish who will cause them to scatter like striped bass etc. Just keep trying different things. If no one is catching the squid might not be around but change your tactics and you might find they are!!!!!

[JANZ]

Had nights where the squid on the surface would rush up to the jig only to stop 

short and just look at it or slowly reach out with one of it feelers and barely touch

the jig only to pull back and swim off.   Tried some herring scent on the jig and repeated

only to have them attack the jig after a soft touch and catching the scent.  That was

only one night but filled the bucket.  Like said above try diff things.

[fatso]

5/21 late night 2 hr. 10 squids. Season over???????

[JANZ]

NO   just starting.   Patience grasshopper.

[alaskanaturally]

NO   just starting.   Patience grasshopper.

Hope you are correct Janz. We'll be up there next week.

[Asiansquidder]

Hey guys my name is Vinh and I've been following this post/thread for a long time now. My dad and I have been hitting the jackpot at Sakonnet Point. Last night we caught 4 buckets (five gallon buckets) by boat in a matter of 3 hours. A lot of people fish from the docks there too. I don't know how Newport is doing, but everyone has been doing great at Sakonnet Point (Little Compton).