I was downtown a couple of weeks ago at night and came upon a bunch of folks jigging for squid. It looked like fun, and I love Calamari.

In between the looking and eating I know nothing. Any help on, seasons, techniques, and cleaning out there?

Thanks

Retriever, I'm no expert, but I was fortunate enough to tag along with a friend and his brother--both of whom have done quite a bit of squidding--on Friday night for my first squidding trip, and we managed to hook a few. Here's what I can tell you, based on my very limited experience...

Timing: December and January are the prime months, as this is when the squid come into the bay to spawn.

Technique: Squidding is primarily a night-time endeavor, and you need to shine a bright light into the water (I'm sure you saw these on Friday night), because the light attracts smelt, which in turn attract squid. If you don't have your own light, just go somewhere where other people have 'em. Popular squidding spots are the various piers in downtown Seattle, Ballard and Des Moines. Make sure you've got your shellfish catch card. Use a sensitive, somewhat limber rod with about 10 lb. test (you go that heavy in case you snag bottom), and tie on a squid jig, which you can purchase at Outdoor Emporium. Cast out about twenty feet, keep a tight line, and "jig" your jig back to the pier, directly underneath you, and then jig it up and down for a while until (hopefully) you feel a slight weight on your line or you suddenly feel nothing (meaning a squid grabbed the jig as it was freefalling) and reel in quickly. Take the squid off the hook (best done by simply turning the jig upside down, whereupon the squid slides off and into your bucket). Try to avoid the ink--best done by not touching the squid.

At the end of the night, take your squid home, clean 'em, and fry 'em up. Delicious!

That's what I learned on my first and only squidding adventure last Friday night...

Good luck.

As an ex-squid (US Navy Sailor), I have always thought the best "bait" for "squids" is pretty women and cold beer. They are suckers for that stuff.

Later
Paul

[This message has been edited by paul in b'ham (edited 12-06-2000).]

As an exZoomie I recall that the women needn't be pretty, nor the beer cold.

Squid start coming into Puget Sound in September and are probably here in greatest numbers in Late October, November and December. I take a generator, 2, 500 watt Halide lights down to the Seattle waterfront. Any public pier will do. Shine the lights down into the water. High tides are best. I like the reddish glow-in-the-dark jigs. Toss the jigs out a bit, let out some line and jig away. They usually hit the jig on the drop just like a salmon. Vary the depth. It can be fast and furious at times. Great fall diversion. Nothing like a calm winter night on the waterfront. You need to wear your shellfish tag (was actually checked this year!). Tasty little critters.

I usually fish the Des Moines pier. Get there just before dusk, as there is often a "bite" just after dark. Narrows Marina and Outdoor Emporium have carried a good assortment of jigs in the past. Squid jigs are $3-$5 apiece. You don't want to hit the bottom too often or it can get expensive. I squid with a double jig set-up, and can catch two or three at a time when they are in. Much of the time you just wait and watch for some sign of action. I've jigged squid when the Xmas ship was sailing, the snow was flying, and the wind was near gale force. Nothing breaks the force of the weather on the pier, so dress to stay warm and dry. You can't use generators on the Des Moines pier. You can hang a lantern over the water to attract squid, but I just jig around the pier's lights. The WDFW puts out a bulletin on squid and squidding that contains a lot of useful information.

Can you get squid in the strait or do they migrate deeper into the sound? Thinking of trying in Port Angeles.

You're in squid heaven, BW! Just go down to your city dock.

BW01: FYI Found Discovery bay full of squid last August.