16-11-2003, 11:20 PM (This post was last modified: 05-09-2004, 01:44 AM by glen.)
Hi everyone,
I recently received an email from tippy as follows:
Squid are in on the Puget Sound in November through February. Catches from the piers can be up to 40 +. They are small - 8 -12 '' but tastey. High tide or early evening is the ticket.
I have seen people literally catch "buckets" of these things and as far as I know......they share them with family, friends. Not sure if they end up as "bait" for other prey though. I have eaten mine and my friend has shared hers with a friend and had them herself as well.
Here's to good squidding by everyone <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
I hope you catch your limit every time you're out.
"God loves you and will keep you safe in HIS loving hands".
It can get really crowded. A couple of times I had to wait to fish, or just go home. But weekdays are slightly better, and if its raining its not too crowded. Plus if I show up before dark I usually get a good spot.
I used to think that squid fishing was only good in the winter, but this summer, there were people on the pier every night, and they were doing OK. Looks like its year round, but best in November and December (winter).
The biggest squid are almost a foot long. Once in a while, we'll catch one around 3 inches too. Most of them are around 7 inches.
I usually stay for about 3 hours and get 20-30 squid. Some days though, people can get a whole bucket in an hour. I haven't been that lucky yet. But I do have a full freezer.
There's a couple things I'm curious about. I want to know how other people make jigs. I also want to know if any one eats the squid whole, or raw. Thats it for now.
Tell your new friends, our squid are "Opal" Squid, common to the Northwest Coastal and Inland waters of the Puget Sound <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> !
Thanks for the information. Opal squid! Will have to try remember that. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
Just an update. The squidding here has been great. Fished last wednesday and got a limit (10 lbs) in 2 hours. I stopped by on Friday and they had been catching them 2 or 3 at a time on every cast all evening. Probably limiting in less than an hour. I stopped by for a short time on saturday and I got 20 (about 3 lbs). I'm getting lots of practice at cooking squid.
I've been looking through all the boards and I see that we fish differently here in the Puget Sound than in most areas. Here, we just have small thin glowing jigs that we fish straight up and down from piers or boats. Seems like in most other countries they troll or cast. But it works great for us.
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I DID!! I went with my friend and we fished Friday night Nov. 28, for several hours. She caught 81 squid and I caught my biggest catch of 20 squid to this date.
Then last night, Friday, Dec. 5th we went out again and she caught about 24. I caught 12 this time. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
We plan to go out more after she finishes school on the 10th of Dec. She is
working on getting a teaching degree! She even CAUGHT A SMALL OCTOPUSS ON
THURSDAY NIGHT. She threw it back though. However, she will eat the next one she catches, she says <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' /> I think they are too magnificant to kill myself.
What do you all think on this ???? Let me know your views.
Thank you. Hope you all get your limit every time you're out!!
I hope you catch your limit every time you're out.
"God loves you and will keep you safe in HIS loving hands".
That is a huge catch! Let me know if you still enjoy eating squid after getting through them all! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />
In regard to the octopus, I have caught a couple by accident but I was scared of them and was glad they fell off my line! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I am not sure how to handle them. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' />
My friend gave away about 30 squid to two of her friends. Each were given about
14-15 pieces of squid. Then she had some herself and cooked the last of her huge catch and shared it with me. She will eat most of what she catches to lower her food bill.
I was not afraid of her octopuss. She slammed it on a bench trying to get if off her jig! I asked her to stop as I didn't want the beautiful creature hurt. I removed it off her jig for her. Then I handed the octopuss to her! She was afraid of it too so
she dropped it into the water and set it free.
She will eat any more she catches though. I will not. I bought some new jigs and I am waiting for them to be delivered. Maybe I will get them on Monday, Dec. 8, tomorrow. I did lose one jig on Friday night Dec.5, 2003 on something. I don't know if I hooked a sea creature/ fish or if I had a rock or what. It finally came lose and 1 jig was gone but I had the 2nd one still on the line.
I fish better with 2 jigs than I do with 3 jigs. I feel the 'nibbles' of the squid with just 2 so I will stay with this. I am still waiting to catch 2 squid at the same time! I have not been able to do that yet <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' /> . My friend has caught 2 at once already <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> . I have seen other people get 3 on at the same time!! WOW - 3 at one time !!
I hope you all catch your limit every time you go out! Take care everyone.
I hope you catch your limit every time you're out.
"God loves you and will keep you safe in HIS loving hands".
18-12-2003, 05:57 PM (This post was last modified: 05-09-2004, 01:59 AM by glen.)
Here is a quote from the seattle times article published November 25, 2003 -
Pier 86, just off Elliott Way near the grain terminal, is by far the most popular squid-jigging area. The large pier is well-lit from end to end, has shelters to keep dry from the rain, restrooms and a small store that sells snacks, coffee and jigs. There are also electrical outlets where jiggers can plug in portable lights.
Piers 62 and 63 are the biggest squidding areas along the waterfront, and the Seattle Aquarium pier and the pier just north of it, known as the concert pier, are great places to try. The Seacrest Boathouse pier in West Seattle also draws an allegiance of squidders.
Don't just limit yourself to squidding in Elliott Bay.
"I've heard of good fishing reports at the Brownsville dock in Bremerton, and scattered reports around the Edmonds pier," Bargmann said.
In Puget Sound, try the Point Defiance Park pier and Les Davis pier in Tacoma area; Fauntleroy ferry dock, Blake Island pier, Vashon Island ferry pier, Redondo-Des Moines Marina pier and Dash Point pier in King County; and Illahee State Park and City piers, Waterman and Indianola piers in Kitsap County.
Other possibilities for squid are Clyde Davidson pier in Steilacoom; Luhr's Beach pier in Olympia; Port Townsend City Dock; Allyn City pier in Mason County; Port Angeles public-fishing piers; and Twanoh Park and Point Whitney piers in Hood Canal.
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