Squid fishing is one of the most inexpensive ways to catch fish since you don’t have to be on a boat to do so and be very successful; in fact, you will probably have more successes fishing off a public pier that has artificial light going into the water attracting squid.
How to Fish for Squid
Fishing for squid is done like every other way you would fish out of the ocean—with a rod and reel and a lot of patience. You can go squid fishing either on the shoreline or over the deep waters on a boat. You’ll need a medium action rod that is equipped with a squid jig or lure. You’ll want to have a couple of jigs available to you, since the squid down below can get a bit picky. Pink and green are typically the most successful squid jigs, but you may see that glow and orange work out well for you too. You will also want to rig your lure with fresh baitfish like small herring or yellowtail, in order to have a smell that attracts the squid. Squid will be attracted to lights that are hitting the water, and while they can bop at the top, typically they are deep below the surface which means you will want a light weight on your line as well so you can cast your line and hit the bottom of the ocean. You can either use one of these lures on your line or add as many as you want. Squid fishing is all about experimenting and trying new things out, which also makes this a new adventure every time.
You don’t have to jig or pull the line to attract the squid to your hooks. You can occasionally pull back for some slow movements down below, but you will also have successes if you just like your rod sit still. You will feel a slight tug on your line when you have caught a squid. Jerk your line immediately in order to ensure you will successfully pull the squid ashore. When reeling them up, be sure to not allow your line to go slack, as that will encourage them to swim away if they are not fully hooked on. A squid doesn’t ingest the hook like other fish do—they will wrap their tentacles about the lure and hold on. And right after you pick them out of the water, before reaching out to see if they are a keep or not, let the squid release its ink. Squid can also bite down with their beaks when they are feeling threatened so be careful when unhooking them.
You will have the most successful time if you go fishing during high tides on a cloudy and raining evening. This lets the artificial light that attracts squid to be best seen down below.
The Top Five Places in the World to Fish for Squid
Squid is a great, family friendly, and fun fish to go catch! Typically done on a dock or jetty where there are artificial lights that can catch the eye of the squid underwater, you will have a great and successful day fishing if you go to one of these five top places to catch squid:
New England
New England squid fishing is best in the springtime from April until May, when waters reach about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. About three miles offshore, commercial boats trawl the waters, but they leave enough squid for inland fishers to have plenty of options for their catch. You can also board a charter boat and fish the New England waters, which is known for being a great time for young kids who are just dipping their toes into fishing. Unlike in other squid hotspots, squid fishing in this part of the Atlantic Ocean is done best on the ocean instead of a pier. Once you start to notice that squid are down there, all you need to do is drift for a bit and rack in the catch of the evening!
Maryland
Off the coast of Maryland is Baltimore Canyon. A great place to head to for overnight squid fishing, you will have a great time on the Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic region. This canyon is home to many shortfin squid so going fishing for them is as entertaining as it is fruitful. Since this is an offshore fishing experience, you will need to be equipped with an artificial light attached to your boat in order to attract this fish to your lures. Fishing for squid in the part of the United States is known to be a hilarious and good spirited adventure!
Long Island
Long Island is known for its culture and history with catching fish, and squid is no different! The best time of year to try and get these on the line is from May through August, when they are typically spawning. You will have your best chances of catching squid in the Long Island Sound, which means you don’t have to go as far on a boat trip compared to fishing off the Island’s South Shore—but don’t worry, you can have some great squid fishing in the Atlantic Ocean too! Make sure your boat has artificial light and that your lures and rigs are all done up and have a great time on the water!
Pacific Northwest
From late May until the following February, you need to visit the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca in order to catch many adult squids. These waters are a part of the squid migration patterns so you will have plenty of options to hook one on your line. You need to visit these waters at night and should go to a public pier since there will be artificial lights on the waters. Squid wade in the dark waters just outside of the lights in order to catch baby herring and other small fish—this time though, they will be catching your jig and lure! There are over 60 public piers throughout the Puget Sound, so this is a very accessible option although it may get a bit crowded on the weekends since it’s such a popular activity.
Australia
Australia is also a squid hotspot that is best from a pier of jetty, especially off of Brisbane. As long as you have the right jig set up, you will have bountiful success. Around Brisbane’s piers and jetties is the Great Barrier Reef and a floor of sea grass that attracts these fun fish. You will want to find a spot that you can cast into a water depth of about 15 feet. This is where the squid live away from predators but around a lot of small fish to eat. You can fish all day off of Brisbane due to this type of environment, since natural and artificial light is very easy to penetrate and capture the squid’s eyes. These squids are rarely found away from their homes, so doing some research into what is below first will ensure you have a successful day fishing.
How to Prepare Squid as a Meal
Squid is low in calories and fat and is a versatile protein source that many enjoy. You can sauté, simmer or bake, or even pickle the meat! Squid is found in many different cuisines, from Asian meals, Mexican, French, and Scandinavian, and many more. You want to be careful with your cooking times since there isn’t a lot of natural juices within the meat; this also means you only need to marinade the meat for 30 minutes since it will quickly absorb any other flavors.
There are two ways to clean a squid in order to prepare a meal, depending on if you need strips or cutlets, or whole mantles or rings. The former type of cut, cutlets or strips, is faster to do and this is when you cut through the mantle, or the top part, of the squid and then scrape away the backbone and viscera. You will also want to pull away the clear membrane that covers the mantle. To remove the tentacles, cut in front of the squid’s eyes and pop out the beak. The second method, if you want to cook the rings of the squid, requires you to pinch the mantle and pull out the squid’s backbone and then remove the tentacles. This way you can cut the mantle in rings, instead of strips.
There are plenty of meals you can now make with your cut fish. There is pan fried calamari, a spread, or even stuffed calamari made with the mantle remaining intact. This is a delicate tasting seafood meat, so even your pickiest eaters will be able to enjoy whatever is made for them. A light meal, you can enjoy squid with a glass of wine or a crisp beer as you overlook a beautiful sunset on the water.
You will absolutely love going squid fishing on your next adventure to the coastline. Squid is a tasty meal full of protein and a very rewarding dish at the end of a day spent fishing. An inexpensive activity, this is a very accessible fishing activity all will enjoy.
