Bumper Squid

[slabslinger]

Hi all,

Not my first post, but my first report...and with photos, wow!!!! Have been reading for a while but hadn't wet a line in ages.

I checked out my bait stocks last weekend and saw I was out of everything.

Had a free night on Wednesday so headed to Palm Beach wharf. When I arrived there on dusk, it was an hour or so to low, there were a couple of guys fishing, another collecting yakka, and another pair chucking squid jigs. Pretty busy!!

I walked the wharf a few times with a squid jig before the two guys jigging packed up and headed off. I asked them if they had any success. They said they had a pair of squid curious but just not interested in striking.

I went to the spot I saw them working and soon had the squid curious for my light charged jig. Sure enough they were keeping there distance. I tried another couple of jigs, then 2 jigs together, then a chem light in front of the jigs, super slow retrieve, jerky active retrieve, the works!!!! They just weren't going to have a bar of it.

After a frustrating hour I moved to a different part of the wharf and cast long, letting my jig dive quite deep. Bang!! First cast in the new spot and I hook onto one of these guys. As he came in I saw at least 3 more curious buggers lurking in behind. I netted and bucketed my first and quickly worked the same area for instant success again.

After bucketing two they disappeared. There was a fair bit of ink in the water so I moved and started collecting yakka.

Tried the same spot after about an hour going by. I got my 3rd after a couple of casts and the guy that was collecting yakka when I arrived spiked one of his yakka and scored a squid in pursuit of my chem light as I was bringing mine in.

Once again all quiet so back to yakka catching. The guy fishing was pulling in some stonker bream, one went 44cm on his ruler, and so thick. He was using the best 'bait' prawns i'd ever seen. Massive green king prawns. If he wasn't catching anything he could've gone home and stuck those in the pan.

Another hour or so passed and I thought i'd try again for some squid. Same spot again. No interest for 4 or 5 retrieves then a timid one follows me in before retreating back to the darkness. Next cast, on a nice slow deep retrieve I've hooked him. He is the biggest so far and tests me on my 'probably too light for this size' gear. He peels a bit of line off but I wrangle him to the top and he is soon in the bucket with the others.

Straight away I hit my 5th of the night.

I put my jig away. Very happy with 5. A couple for the table and a trio to hopefully convert into something a little bigger off the beach.

I spent a little longer catching a few more yakka before calling it a night.

It's amazing how it works sometimes. I meant to get to the shop to buy a couple of fancy $20 jigs that afternoon but ran out of time so I used my El cheapo $5 for a twin pack jigs. Mind you they have had a number of previous outings for nil return. They are back in the good books now though.

Got home about 1.30am and managed to not disturb the . Great night all round.

Have a good weekend peoples. Hope they're biting.

Slabslinger

PS Where do you get those fishraider rulers I see in some photos?

PPS Thanks Hodgey for tidying up and for the tips

Edited February 20, 2009 by mrsswordfisherman

[Hodgey]

PS Where do you get those fishraider rulers I see in some photos?

Click here mate:

Fishraider merchandise

Congrats on some terrific squid mate.

Cheers

Hodgey

[mmarkich]

hi,

just wondering if you ate any of yours. i kept mine for bait but i was temped to eat it.

see you down there next time but this time im going to start with the yakkas on a spike not the jig

[Basil D]

sounds like a good night, well done, did you get any yakkas

[slinkymalinky]

Nice squid

Great way to spend a night.

Cheers, Slinky

[squid hunter]

beaut inkers there mate

regards

Squid Hunter

[slabslinger]

hi,

just wondering if you ate any of yours. i kept mine for bait but i was temped to eat it.

see you down there next time but this time im going to start with the yakkas on a spike not the jig

I did, just one of them - the smaller one, the others are bait. Did you convert yours?

Thanks again for your netting skills.

sounds like a good night, well done, did you get any yakkas

yes they were pretty hungry and happy to oblige

Edited February 21, 2009 by slabslinger

[austwave]

Nice run of squid there, Good effort.

[Bent_Rod]

nice pictures there, good stuff

When you freeze squid for bait, is there a limit for when it becomes useless? or can you even use it after 1 year??

[slabslinger]

nice pictures there, good stuff

When you freeze squid for bait, is there a limit for when it becomes useless? or can you even use it after 1 year??

G'day Bent,

I go by the thinking fresher is always better. If you can ice before you get home too all the better. Preferably don't let them sit in fresh water though.

I also dont wash them even in saltwater. I think the ink must give them a bit more attractant. Straight into a ziplock bag and squeeze out as much air as you can, or better still, if you are going to stock up seriously invest in a vacuum sealer.

Just in the ziplock bags I try to use them within the week. Have stretched it out to a month on occasions.

Anyone else with other ideas, methods or theories?

Slabslinger

[Piss'n'Broke]

Hey if you maintain the squid you catch straight after pulling them outa the water, ie bag and seal in a quality esky with heaps of ice your squid can last a long time. Im still using the squid Greg left me before he moved to Qld 3 mnths ago, and some of this squid is at least 6mnths old.

Dan