Jiggiing up squid?

T angler

New Member
I am wondering if anybody knows of where, when, and how one can catch squid. I have heard of people jigging them under the lights off a pier some where near Duncan. Has anybody done this?
Is there a particular time of the year when they come in near shore?
 
I think you may be thinking of Bamberton. I have a buddy who used to work there when the plant was operating. I'll ask him. To catch squid, buy a jig at any good sports fishing store here on the west coast. I always keep one in my tackle box on trips up to Bamfield and the WCVI as there are times when they come in close to shore and the chinook target them. I've seen times when you can jig them up and use them as live bait--works like a hot damn. Once in a while they come right into the inlet at Bamfield and you can catch all you want with a salmon net right off the wharf. good bait and good eats too.
Tom
 
Isn't this a night time fishery?. Is lighting for them legal.

Have had large Chinooks from N. Island absolutely gorged full of them. No room left for my cut plug they hit. haha.

Some like it rough...
Others just puke!.

Mr. Dean
 
T angler --Talked to my buddy who worked at Bamberton--he says they used to spin cast off the dock at night and catch them and yes, they were there because they were attracted to the dock lights. He can't remember what time of year they used to do that. Sorry, very sketchy detail.

Mr. Dean--sometimes they come in around Cape Beale or even at the entrance to Pachena Bay and the chinook just go nuts. Most of the natives go out and jig using a white silda or just anything white and do really well. If you carry a squid jig tho, it can truly be awesome fishing. My brother has a great photo of a 25 lb chinook coming right out of the water beside the boat after a squid we had hooked up.
Tom
 
Thanks again T.

I know that area fairlywell. Play out around the bar in the BIG water often (nice run of HUGE springs). Have seen them squid jigs in the stores but have not a clue on how to use them. Sounds as though I better pick one up and get playing.

Saw a show once about commercials out of California jigging them up. Fuzzy on the details though but I do remember they were out at night during the spawning/mating season using lights shining down into the water. The theory was that the jig simulated a female (color?) and the males would attack it in a gang-B-dang sort of mentality (not a politically correct statement, I know). COOL show. Lots of underwater photography, house full of needy guests...missed out on alot of it.

But you figure 'if you see them, catch them'?. Or do I need to wait for the 'romance' to set in (whenever that is)?. Real keen on learning. Hali's love'm as well.

Some like it rough...
Others just puke!.

Mr. Dean
 
I'm not sure whether they always go after the jigs or not, but the times I've jigged for them, they've worked OK. If you are lucky enough to see them under a dock when they are attracted to lights you are really in business. We did that in Bamfield one time--they were so numerous that we just dipped our salmon net into the school and brought it up. Most fell through the mesh, but we caught 10 or 12 every dip. There was a sea lion who was helping out by chasing them up from below to where we could get them. It was calamari night in Bamfield...
The jigs are very straightforward to use, just watch your sounder to see what depth the school of squid are at. If you are out on the fishing grounds, empty out your bait cooler and put sea water in--then keep them alive and set up a mooching rig to mooch them live--and hang onto your hat! One thing, tho, use 25 or 30 lb test on your squid jig line as the chinook will sometimes hit it when you are pulling it up. I found out the hard way...
Good fishin--see you out there sometime.
Tom
 
<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> :) !!!
 
Ive cought one squid before.. i was jigging for cod of chemainus, and i reeled my line up to head home, and i had a squid snagged on my jig..and thats all i know about squid juigging

To fish or not to fish,
What a stupid question!
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish, and he will sit on a boat drinking bear for a life time!
TGIF =Thank God It Floats
 
This won't help you because of where you are but man what a hoot going out for squid! l had a great time in California about a month ago! Went out by San Diego for giant squid! Caught 6 at 40lbs each on the average! 600-700 ft of water and you can't give it slack! What a back breaker! If you go(not sure if they are still there?) be prepared to have a gallon of water sprayed at you but worse yet ink that is very difficult to remove! No one is sure why they are out in the California coast this year but it could be a rare event! We went out at night so you have to use lights and the lights hung over the sides of the boat draws them up closer to the surface so you don't kill yourself bringing them in from 700ft! Also we used the lights to make our flourecent jigs glow before dropping the 10ounce jigs to the bottom. They have razor sharp beaks like parrots so if you don't want to loose a finger don't put it where it should not be!

I am sure you are seeking smaller squid as bait in your case but man! Going after these giant squid 20mi off shore from San Diego is the true catch! 8" diameter calamari!
 
Never mind using them for bait, people like them too. Stuff them with cream cheese and crab mixed together, roll them in egg and bread crumbs, fry fry em up in a little oil. Delicious!!!
 
I agree! l love calamari ! only problem is you would have to use many pouns of cream cheese to stuff a giant squid! You can check out what l mean by looking at a picture of my catch! Go to:

www.sandiego-sportfishing.com

click on photo album then click on 2005 season.
I am the guy in the blue jacket on the top left corner.
That was actually my smallest one! It was the last one and on top
of the bag when l pulled one out for the pic. That one was 40# or
so the average one l caught was 40-45 pounds! I hope l can do that again some day. Still looking forward to my fishing trip in B.C. in June for salmon and Halibut! I am from Ontario, great fishing but nothing like out your way! I want to retire out there!
 
LOL Yup, that would take a couple of buckets of cream cheese to stuff that beast.

I assume you ate that thing? If so, how did you cook it?
 
That was my fustration!

I was going to Vegas for five days after and l did not even get to taste it! I gave all my squid to a fellow fisherman on the boat who was the firechief for Carlsbad California and they cooked it up for all of the firemen. Man! it pays to be near the sea! That's why l am retirering near you! I can get out of the concrete jungle of Toronto and live my last days fishing ! Even a burial at see would do me just fine!
 
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