jlloyd

Looking forward to an inker session this weekend, nice haul there.

I find there are more squid around in summer/autumn but they are smaller whereas the winter squid are bigger but you catch less of them so I think it evens out weight wise. The season doesen't seem to matter what does seem to impact squid sessions is choice of squid jig (and its movement in the water), timing (ie tides and morning/day/evening which can change at each site) and most importantly rainfall (and resultant turbidity of water which turns the squid off instantly). Caught my largest jig caought inker recently at aorund 2kg in Middle Harbour (two meals for us of calamari which was better than a )

I agree with Jewiehaven I use a 11 or 12 foot for all my pelagic fishing off the rock, beach or wharf as I feel I can control the fish once it is near the wharf/shoreline. Obviously you will get dusted by bigger or smarter fish but this is going to always occur. Best bet is to have a decent sized reel with good quality drag and give the fish hell straight up or you will be dusted regardless of rod length. I like at least 20lb (usually 30lb mono) oof wharves and rocks whch might be overkill in a boat simply because kings especially fight dirty.

In light of the excellent weather on Saturday the our son (11 months old) and a mate (first try at squdding) went for a squid session in Middle Harbour which was firing prior to the rainfall over recent months but since has not been any good (or more likely I am crap at eging as the Japanese call it). Nothing happened for an hour then I got a felt the standard tug and pull and reeled in a thumper 35 cm hood southern, interestingly and even bigger southern accompanied them to the surface. So I imemdiately cast out again and within 3 minutes I was on and carefully wound in a 40 cm hood southern. After this it was all over for me but my mate after an extensive Q/A about catching squid hooked into a 45 cm hood southern which was landed. Overall this site, whilst not catching the quantity of squid observed in autumn is still producing some thumper winter squid which went down a treat on the BBQ marinated in olive oil, garlic, lime and white wine and of course a Sorry no pics as we forgot the camera and then devoured the squid.

Considering I just busted my big rock fishing reel (my stupid fault, I dropped it several metres) shakespeare tidewater with 30lb mono so looking at a Spinfisher 7500 or 8500 is in the pipeline once the tax return is in and if any money is left after the gets her hands on it. Other than that getting a kayak outfit for next summer (already working on rapala lures etc)

Basically I would not touch anything around Homebush Bay or Duck River (Camellia) or in between. I work in the contaminated site industry and can advise the crap from there is not good (Dioxins). There are metals in the harbour sediment everywhere even east of the bridge mainly from stormwater inlets so I tend to stay away from bream unless from a beach (Bream seem to have high dioxins) other than that if it swims and can catch a hook in it's mouth it is suitable to eat.

I would be interested but again no boat

That old reliable North Narabeen has also been firing lately with Tailor and Jewfish particularly now that the beach has started to recover from those recent big seas and some nice gutters are forming.

Hope those inkers find a hungry jewies mouth!!

Finally we get to see the real nocturnal habits of cuttlefish. You have obviously caught this guy out in bed!

Only comment is to use a light rod and 8-10 lb mono and get good quality jigs (Yamashitas etc) in 2.0-2.5 size and several colours (gold/brown naturals work well)

I have a 6500SS J (spinfisher jigging reel) which I find perfect for what you are after. Go for the 750/850 as first option or an Alvey. I might get laughed at but I have a Shakespeare tidewater spinning reel running 30lb mono which has been indestructible and caught some good fish, not in the same ball park as the spinfisher but I saw last years model for under $70 recently.

I only see good news from here, a few less LJ for next time

Nice drummer there looking at some DRUMMERTIME myself this weekend

wow, can't wait for the weekend to get into some of that action.

I have two set ups A 12 ft Shimano Technium 6-10 kg with either a Shakespeare tidewater spinning reel rigged with 30 lb mono (also my rock fishing unit) or a Penn SS6500 J reel with 20lb braid (my wharf fishing unit also) for Jew and other pelagics and yes I have been smoked on this set-up or a 12 foot penn cronulla light action rod with a 4000 size Penn (or the above spinfisher) with 10 lb mono. For smaller pelagics (tailor,salmon and bream, whiting etc). I have mutliple rigs from light to heavy paternosters, snapper rigs, weighted and unweighted gang hooks (prefer with swivels or snelled) to live bait rigs (one and two hook) and simple running sinkers for bream and whiting) I have yet to land a jew but did cut off a presumed school shark (was a shark of some sort) earlier this year after a 6 minute fight Leaders vary from 60 lb penn to 15 lb mono or even 10 lb for the smaller fish.

nice dolly there, what did she measure up at?

wow thats some nice reds there bet there was a party afterward

Nice squid there, seems that time of year when squid are easily spooked

A.Dawg I generally run a 2-4 kg spin rod with 8 pound line on a reel that is a bit big (4000 penn), I amin the process of finding a smaller reel (say a 2000 Penn), when I lift the rod I first do it very softly to see if I have a strike then do a second harder lift to move the jig such that the squid thinks the jig is trying to ascape (as it was explained to me anyway), this worked over summer and caught plenty of squid (5-12 squid in a session). Since the rain and cooling weather the squid have changed tactics and definitely appear less aggressive. I also do agree that deeper water during the day holds the squid while shallower water holds the squid at night.

Thanks for all the advice (and sympathy), I was catching the inkers regularly (6-10 a session) until the recent rains about 6 weeks ago, mostly southerns with the occasional arrow thrown in. I have a range of yamashitas fom 1.8 to 3.0 and tried most of the techniques mentioned above and on several occasions even had squid pieces on the jigs after hits. Of other interest I managed to catch a decent leatherjacket on a squid jig several months ago (I thought it was a squid on ecstacy)

This guy must like the smell of you, might be wedding bells in the future if it is third time lucky

I use various methods, double hooks are good for when tailor is around otherwise you will get a lot of half yakkas which are pretty useless and annoying, you can try to bridle rig the yakka (through the eye socket) with an elastic band. Or for trolling or kingie baiting try through the the lower lip and let the yakka swim away from the boat (not so good for land based). When using a double hook is the rear hook on the back of the yakka or on the fishes lower half, I find yakkas struggle if the line is too short between the hooks (can happen with sliding snells) or if the second hook causes the yakka to struggle against the line (or get tangled up), I am experimenting with placing the hook on the back of the yakka which appears to work

Went for a session yesterday at my favorite squid spot in Middle Harbour LB as I had a pass out from the , although it was low tide and not dusk the weather looked favorable and the water was not as cloudy as I thought it would be but still pretty messy. I used multiple jigs and had at least 20 hits but couldn't convert to squid on the wharf. All of my jigs were hit hard with damage done to them (on the sides) but away from the spikes. I have noticed the squid go very tentative during the cooler months and also after rain but I also noticed fresh squid ink on the wharf so maybe it is just my retrieving method or poor timing that is the cause at the moment. Regardless it was a beautiful time out after the Melbourne weather we have been getting and was further enhanced by the sight of two fairy penguins observed at the wharf trying to grab prawns a family had out to catch LJ (which are everywhere) even chasing my squid jigs.

leather gloves anyone, hold on and hang on for the ride, now that's old school fishing