Squid Jigs

[ashisnothereman]

Hi guys,

Ive been having a massive dry period when it comes to hooking big squid. I have been using orange yo-zuri 1 with clear base, 1 with a red base and one with a polyhedron reflective base (called flash dancer). I also have a yamashita warm jacket in pilchard. I have caught calamari several times before, but i have lost the jigs that did the damage .

There's been countless times when people next to me hook up and I get nothing.

I use braid and a long fluro leader with your average hops, retrieve, sink method. I have witnessed several times people using straight monofilament and hook up.

Lately I seem to be catching octopus and cuttle fish with the odd arrow squid.

Are my jigs blanks? can the squid see my braid? or should i accept that this is what fishing is about and im just unlucky atm.

any tips are appreciated thanks!

[mattyg_16]

There are many factors that could contribute to not getting the squid but personally I cannot get past the orange warm jacket Yamashita's in 2.5g, they are yet to fail me on squid. I think they glow in the dark and also have a UV coating. I have given yo-zuri's a go but I get frustrated and go straight back to the Yamashita's.

Matt

[ashisnothereman]

There are many factors that could contribute to not getting the squid but personally I cannot get past the orange warm jacket Yamashita's in 2.5g, they are yet to fail me on squid. I think they glow in the dark and also have a UV coating. I have given yo-zuri's a go but I get frustrated and go straight back to the Yamashita's.

Matt

cheers mate, yea i have noticed that more people are out using yamashitas rather than yo-zuris. I used to have a bunch, and the exact one you described. may have to go spend some money then.

[Mr Squidy]

There are many factors that could contribute to not getting the squid but personally I cannot get past the orange warm jacket Yamashita's in 2.5g, they are yet to fail me on squid. I think they glow in the dark and also have a UV coating. I have given yo-zuri's a go but I get frustrated and go straight back to the Yamashita's.

Matt

A big +1 for the orange 2.5g Yamashita.

In the end a lot of factors could be playing a part. My first thought is if you are getting a few octopus are your jigs to big? i usually fish between 1.8g-3g depending upon the target squid size and conditions of where you are fishing.

Also, what weight leader? I find 8lb is perfect to not spook the squid but still get your jig back more often than not from snagged ribbon weed/kelp/etc.

At the end of the day though squid more than fish seem to come back to luck on what they feel like going for on the day.

Rich

[ashisnothereman]

A big +1 for the orange 2.5g Yamashita.

In the end a lot of factors could be playing a part. My first thought is if you are getting a few octopus are your jigs to big? i usually fish between 1.8g-3g depending upon the target squid size and conditions of where you are fishing.

Also, what weight leader? I find 8lb is perfect to not spook the squid but still get your jig back more often than not from snagged ribbon weed/kelp/etc.

At the end of the day though squid more than fish seem to come back to luck on what they feel like going for on the day.

Rich

thanks mate. i use from 2.0 up to 3.25 depending on depth. and a 7lb yamashita brand fluro (made purely for egi jigging). Now that I think about it octopus are taking the 3.25 jig but tiny little arrows have no problem going for this jig as well haha. i will give yamashita jigs a go. the warm jacket technology makes sense with the cool water. i did pick up a book when i first started out titled "cephalopod behaviour" and all species are sensitive to heat. yamashita are onto something.

[The President]

Hi ashisnotherman,

I've fished the bay on five occasions during August and caught some seriously big squid compared to my summer efforts. My count was 2, 3, 4, 8 and 0. On all occasions most sqiud were up around the kilo with two being much bigger, nearly two kilo each. I found about 4.30pm to be the peak time, didn't matter if it was high tide or low. I tried many jiggs but found the size 3 in either orange or pink (shimano sephia) to outcatch my other jigs. Violent jerks then sink time.

Cheers The President.

[ashisnothereman]

Hi ashisnotherman,

I've fished the bay on five occasions during August and caught some seriously big squid compared to my summer efforts. My count was 2, 3, 4, 8 and 0. On all occasions most sqiud were up around the kilo with two being much bigger, nearly two kilo each. I found about 4.30pm to be the peak time, didn't matter if it was high tide or low. I tried many jiggs but found the size 3 in either orange or pink (shimano sephia) to outcatch my other jigs. Violent jerks then sink time.

Cheers The President.

thanks mate. i do focus my squidding around sunset. i have not tried shimano jigs apart from one of the "keruma" (spelling) which did take a nice cal, lost that jig tho

[Shannan Nath]

I think more so than the brand of jig you use its the scent you apply and the technique you employ that will get you results.

Just my 2 cents