Handlining squid while diving

[Hunter_Killer]

Being interested in squid I decided to try something completely stupid and absurd. I used a small leader spool and tied a small squid jig to it and towed it behind me when snorkelling. Guess what? It worked!



I located a school of small squid off my local rocks and one of them attacked the jig. I retreived really fast and got the squid and held it just behind the head. However to my displeasure I discovered that squid are very flexible creatures and this one swung its tentacles around and started sucking on my bare hand. This was still underwater. I got paranoid that its beak was gonna make it to chump my flesh and I had to let go of it, and the barbs promptly fell out, and the squid escaped. I was surprised to see that the barbs did substantial damage to its tentacles, which was obviously frayed from my viewpoint underwater.



My more sensible attempts underwater so far have yielded about 10 squid, all on my handspear. One thing I have noticed which impressed me was that when followed matchbox sized squid around, they changed color as they moved from a sandy bottom to rock bottom. But the thing was that they timed it perfectly, such that the moment they made the transition accross the border between rock and sand they switched perfectly. Whats even more amazing is that they did it such that the transition was perfect if viewed FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. So they took into account that I was a threat to them, and adjusted their color changing according to the way they looked from my perspective. I found that unbelievable. :blink:

[RX3-BOi]

hey dude i've speared a cala b4 of woolamai at phillip island more fun ctahcing em off a pier .

but i must try that one with the jig trailing behind whilst spearfishing

[glen]

good work hunter killer!



next time take some photos! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/zorro.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[aok47]

hunter killer,



you were wise in letting the squid go before it had a go at you with its beak. i caught a big cuttlefish off the main jetty at Flinders Island a few yrs ago and let it wrap itself around ym hand. i was having a great old time until it sank its beak into my hand!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol' />



boy did that hurt!



AK

[Mr_Willy]

The old arrow squid can be quite alarming until you get used to it. I told a mate to pick one up that we caught and he thought it was a normal squid - funniest thing i have seen!!!

[Hunter_Killer]

Heh, I will continue to try catching squid the "stoopid" method until I get one



But becareful that the spool dont wrap around your legs or gear if anyonelese wants to fool around too. I doubt that this method is as productive as casting, its attraction lies in the fact that when the squid attacks your jig, you get the best seat in the house to see it <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[peejaypee]

good work hunter! you are not the first to use the handline method, however i have never heard of it being used on squid! good thinking! what happens when they ink you though. a good idea would be to carry around a fish bag to put them in. my fishbag is just the mesh bag my mask and snorkel came in, you can hold it by the cord around your wrist or tuck it onto your weight belt if you are wearing one.

good luck,

pj