queensland Squid

ellicat · October 19, 2020

I'm trying to figure out how to get a bag of squid for bait or food. Hopefully some members can answer some questions for me.

When is squid season ? or can they be caught all year ?

I know they are attracted by light at night. I was thinking around Huyber's light might be a spot to try. Thoughts ?

What about day time ? What should I be looking for to find the little suckers ? Weed beds in shallow water or deeper water ?

Any help will be appreciated.

crazywalrus · October 19, 2020

not sure Brian - we are looking to try targeting them in the deep as well on Paternoster rigs.

Do$tylz · October 19, 2020

Definitely best during winter Brian but are around all year.

I'm no expert but have a few spots that go on fire at certain times. The seagrass beds from Dunwich heading south seem to always hold each time I've tried but I've only done it a handful of times tbh.

ellicat · October 19, 2020

Thanks, Henry. Would you drift the area or anchor and jig ?

Do$tylz · October 19, 2020

drift to find them.

anchor if you hit a honey hole or your drift is too fast.

Do$tylz · October 19, 2020

Do$tylz · October 19, 2020

sorry - it's been ages since I've done it.

but that circle just off dunwich - lots of seagrass there. Have seen a kingy eat a squid that was swimming along the top there. Angus and I almost wet ourselves And i've done OK landbased for squid there so must be ok with a boat.

The 2nd bigger area - somewhere around there was a massive weedbed in 2-4m of water. Years ago there was a floating dock that was anchored out there. About 50m south of it, we found squid. I can't remember who was fishing with me (kriso? or Benno?) but we lobbed the big tigers we caught at the floating dock and found kingies under the dock. Got a hook up but didn't land any.

ellicat · October 19, 2020

47 minutes ago, Do$tylz said:

Angus and I almost wet ourselves

I know that feeling from my Curtain trips.

I'm heading out Thursday so if the fishing is a bit slow we might head over there for a try. Thanks for the info.

Do$tylz · October 19, 2020

good luck mate. Let me know how it goes.

ellicat · October 19, 2020

I certainly will. Thanks

samsteele115 · October 19, 2020

Long casts, long drifts, shallow water weed beds, coffee rock and reef in clean water. They are visual feeders so might chill out deeper when it's too dirty or something, as success doesn't seem as good. Hence winter being the best time to target in the shallows along with being at their peak in numbers of the ideal meal size. Once you find one there's usually a patch of them around so mark the GPS and give the area a good go. Definitely no secret spots, so the more ground you cover the better your chances.

They only live for 10 months or so and this time of year they tend to be larger but not as numerous as the past few months. Definitely worth a go though on any of the bay islands. Keep an eye out for the little squidly eggs and as they hatch over the next few months. Very cute

ellicat · October 19, 2020

Being visual feeders suggests to me that light at night is essential ? So a spotty on the water should attract them ?

samsteele115 · October 19, 2020

2 hours ago, ellicat said:

Being visual feeders suggests to me that light at night is essential ? So a spotty on the water should attract them ?

Most squid fishing I've done has been during the day. But at night you can see them with a spot light yep. Unsure if light actually attracts them per se, but it sounds like it does! Not too much help on that one

jon · October 19, 2020

Clean water is key, if going land based winter is the best on the mainland. Broken rock and broken weed beds will hold. Rainbow and rouse hold good numbers. If your ever bottom bashing straddie inshore usual spots like middle reef, big halfway etc be sure to drop a squid jig with a four or five ball sinker above or below the jig then wind up five metres of the bottom and place your rod in the rod holder. Solid squid when targeted like this but not too many people do it.

Angry51 · October 19, 2020

3 hours ago, ellicat said:

Being visual feeders suggests to me that light at night is essential ? So a spotty on the water should attract them ?

Yeah Brian, You can buy for purpose squid lights, used to see

them advertised lots but haven't seen them for awhile.

Will have a look.

Angry51 · October 19, 2020

Yeah, there on ebay.

AUS-BNE-FISHO · October 19, 2020

Hi Brian

When I was on my charter the guide was saying that squid were common over sea grass, coffee rock patches, and seaweed. I think Winter is peak time to target them.

I always thought doing it at night with lights was a common method, as well as getting them at daytime. Good luck in getting some. Calamari would be a treat!

Cheers Hamish

P.S. Attached are some Sammy Hitzke videos/links/other vids to websites that may be helpful -

https://bnbfishing.com.au/stalking-tiger-squid-moreton-bay/

https://ozfish.org.au/2020/04/the-tiger-squid-are-back-in-town/ (Notice in this one somone familiar @Drop Bear)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Local-Business/Squid-Fishing-Guide-Moreton-Bay-508107675941369/

(Just type in, "Squidding - Moreton Bay" and you will get much more ).

Ed. · October 19, 2020

3 hours ago, samsteele115 said:

Most squid fishing I've done has been during the day. But at night you can see them with a spot light yep. Unsure if light actually attracts them per se, but it sounds like it does! Not too much help on that one

I think that the light attracts bait fish which in turn attracts the squid.

samsteele115 · October 19, 2020

17 minutes ago, Ed. said:

I think that the light attracts bait fish which in turn attracts the squid.

Makes sense!

Kat · October 19, 2020

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=552705365135342&id=117294068350317&_rdr

Check out this video. In depth about squid fishing - also Google "Doug Burt squid". He is a top bloke and really knows his stuff.

Good luck.

Cheers Kat

crazywalrus · October 20, 2020

22 hours ago, ellicat said:

Thanks, Henry. Would you drift the area or anchor and jig ?

Hi Brian - Have a look at this video from Victoria - it has some good advise regarding squiding deeper water and surveying an area.

jon · October 20, 2020

Also some broken bottom Areas on the western side of the bay Will produce small cuttlefish (snapper baits !)when jigs are fished very close to the bottom. And if your bottom bashing Deeper water and you think your snagged but you get some line back and then dead weight its quite often a lump of coral or rock on the end of your hook, But every now and then it’s a big cuttlefish or sometimes octopus.

Edited October 20, 2020 by jon

AUS-BNE-FISHO · October 20, 2020

36 minutes ago, jon said:

Also some broken bottom Areas on the western side of the bay Will produce small cuttlefish (snapper baits !)when jigs are fished very close to the bottom. And if your bottom bashing Deeper water and you think your snagged but you get some line back and then dead weight its quite often a lump of coral or rock on the end of your hook, But every now and then it’s a big cuttlefish or sometimes octopus.

My religion teacher says whenever he fishes (mainly off Mooloolaba) he always has a squid jig out the back as his fam loves squid. Sounds like it is a viable way to catch some squid when targeting other fish, jon.

Cheers Hamish

October 20, 2020

On 19/10/2020 at 12:19 PM, ellicat said:

I'm trying to figure out how to get a bag of squid for bait or food. Hopefully some members can answer some questions for me.

When is squid season ? or can they be caught all year ?

I know they are attracted by light at night. I was thinking around Huyber's light might be a spot to try. Thoughts ?

What about day time ? What should I be looking for to find the little suckers ? Weed beds in shallow water or deeper water ?

Any help will be appreciated.

I usually try shallow reefs for bigger squid I just throw a yellowtail on a squid spike under a float , has worked well for me in the past

crazywalrus · October 21, 2020

On 19/10/2020 at 7:04 PM, jon said:

Clean water is key, if going land based winter is the best on the mainland. Broken rock and broken weed beds will hold. Rainbow and rouse hold good numbers. If your ever bottom bashing straddie inshore usual spots like middle reef, big halfway etc be sure to drop a squid jig with a four or five ball sinker above or below the jig then wind up five metres of the bottom and place your rod in the rod holder. Solid squid when targeted like this but not too many people do it.

I am about to start targeting them in the shallow reefs and also the deeper marks as i reckon some of the bait we see out deep may be squid

kmcrosby78 · October 21, 2020

Lot of good advice there Brian. Keep an eye on Spero's reports on the Fishing Monthly website as he targets squid and cuttlefish a fair bit, mostly around the northern side of Peel, eastern side of Green, plus the small ships channel and the Rouse. During winter (may be too late now, not sure) he also catches arrow and squid and cuttlefish in 6-9m of water east of St Helena/Green/Wello Pt, etc. To do so just put a 4 ball sinker directly above your squid jig and flick it up off the bottom, just like in the videos. Could alternatively use a paternoster. Good luck - tasty little suckers!!

ellicat · October 21, 2020

Thanks for your input everybody. I feel a lot more in the know now and more confident to have a go. You will hopefully see some results in future reports.

AUS-BNE-FISHO · October 22, 2020

11 hours ago, ellicat said:

Thanks for your input everybody. I feel a lot more in the know now and more confident to have a go. You will hopefully see some results in future reports.

Hi Brian

Good luck. I hope you can pull some good calamari out of the drink!

Cheers Hamish

Drop Bear · October 28, 2020

On 20/10/2020 at 5:23 PM, jon said:

But every now and then it’s a big cuttlefish

oh my god! I had no idea they got that big!

What a cracker

Drop Bear · October 28, 2020

On 19/10/2020 at 12:19 PM, ellicat said:

When is squid season

My best months for big tigers are Late Feb to early May

GregOug · October 28, 2020

6 minutes ago, Drop Bear said:

My best months for big tigers are Late Feb to early May

They have them all year round at BCF

Ed. · October 28, 2020

Cuttlefish grow to quite a large size, when I was young I speared one down in Victoria off the Mt.Martha rocks and the body was about 60 cm without the tentacles, it lit up like a neon Chrismas tree when I shot it, flashing neon blues and green patterns on it's skin, when I grabbed the spear it was try trying to get to me and I had to squeeze the spear against the gun and pin it to stop it from getting to me. They can be nasty buggers when attacked.

AUS-BNE-FISHO · October 28, 2020

3 hours ago, GregOug said:

They have them all year round at BCF

Now Greg, do you tie them to your squid jig so it looks like you catch them? And if so, is there any fight in this? I may have to try this method of squidding

Cheers Hamish

GregOug · October 28, 2020

Nah Hamish. Just take them straight home and cut out the middle man.

AUS-BNE-FISHO · October 28, 2020

5 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Nah Hamish. Just take them straight home and cut out the middle man.

Nice, but I've heard the issue with this is that often those who consume it (and think it actually came from the bay) will find the bait packages in the bin. You need to stash them on the boat and then bring the squid out of the boat for it to work (or so I've heard).

Cheers Hamish

GregOug · October 28, 2020

45 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Nice, but I've heard the issue with this is that often those who consume it (and think it actually came from the bay) will find the bait packages in the bin. You need to stash them on the boat and then bring the squid out of the boat for it to work (or so I've heard).

Cheers Hamish

Okay. I think I’ve got your drift. Will try it next time.