A Question on the 'Squid Strike'

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

Hi Raiders,

A bit of a weird one here considering that I have caught myself a number of squid (all land based) over the last few months. However some how I feel like I tend to catch them by "luck" when I'm whipping the rod to impart movement on the jig rather than by feel.

I'd like to hear what you guys think regarding the "squid strike" or "bite". Those that do chase squid, are you actually feeling the strike or is it more of a visual thing for you (i.e.: watching the rod tip bend, line straighten etc)? For those that ask about technique, I tend to hold my rod down towards the water in the 8 o'clock position and whip from 8 to 11 with the occasional sideways whipping motion.

This was none more evident than last night during my first night squid session where the visual aspect was diminished due small amounts of light and not being able to see the rod tip meaning that I had to rely on what I perceive to be the feel. It produced one squid for the night but again, I put it down to being in the right place at the right time and lifting my rod just as the squid was on it. The thing that baffles me is I do think I felt some sort of weight on the line which convinced me that it was the right time to lift but then found it hard to separate that sensation to the tension on the jig when dragging through the weeds down the bottom. There were also numerous moments where I was letting the jig sink and felt increasing tension on the rod tip, yet I would wait 2-3 seconds to let it build then strike for no result.

I guess what I'm trying to ask in my usual long winded way is, can someone help me out with knowing when a squid is hanging on to your jig?

Edited March 10, 2019 by SydneyIsSkyBlue

[Welster]

Are you fishing land based?

On the boat I can usually tell pretty accurately straight away if it is squid or weed.   Sometimes that will be a rod sitting in the holder or one in my hand.   I’m not sure quite what defines the difference but it definitely is a different feel, it must have something to do with the pulsing action of the squid or that on the take it pulls away.   Even the rod action will pretty quickly give it away when I have others with me on the boat that aren’t familiar with squid fishing. 

Anyway when you do have a squid on be sure to set the barbs into the squid rather that just let it hold onto the jig.   Setting it doesn’t have to be a wild strike just firmly raising the rod against the squid.

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

24 minutes ago, Welster said:

Are you fishing land based?

On the boat I can usually tell pretty accurately straight away if it is squid or weed.   Sometimes that will be a rod sitting in the holder or one in my hand.   I’m not sure quite what defines the difference but it definitely is a different feel, it must have something to do with the pulsing action of the squid or that on the take it pulls away.   Even the rod action will pretty quickly give it away when I have others with me on the boat that aren’t familiar with squid fishing. 

Anyway when you do have a squid on be sure to set the barbs into the squid rather that just let it hold onto the jig.   Setting it doesn’t have to be a wild strike just firmly raising the rod against the squid.

Yeah mate - do all of my squidding land based at the moment.

I guess what I'm finding hard to distinguish is the tension of a squid as opposed to the current or dragging through the weeds.

Another thing I find is it's hard to keep significant tension on my line (find I'm constantly slowly winding to try and keep tension). Is this a drag issue or possibly the fact that I'm using primarily braid - more buoyant etc?

Edited March 10, 2019 by SydneyIsSkyBlue

[Welster]

I haven’t done much land based squidding there is probably other raiders more knowledgeable than me in that.

Are you quidding for green eye or arrow squid?   What size jigs are you using?  I’d think it would be harder to stay in touch with the lighter smaller jigs.     I have some smaller ones but rarely use anything below 2.5.   

Also depending on the length of your rod a 45 degree jig would represent a lot of movement at the jig.    Maybe a “slow roll” retrieve and just a slight twitch would work better.    By slow roll you should be thinking it’s too slow.  Again this will depend on the water depth. 

Edited March 10, 2019 by Welster

[61 crusher]

Most squid tend to go for the jig on the drop hence why you’re hooking up when whipping the rod at other times on a very “sloooww” retrieve, mix it up. I’m land based & use braid if I’m winding slow I’ve got a slight bow in the line from the tip & occasionally surge or the bottom will straighten it out in which case move the rod tip slightly & if in doubt strike. The bottom tends to be a clunky  in which case I give a bit of slack & lift, if feeling tension strike straight away to set hooks, not to hard though, at times they wil be aggressive and other times tentative with there candles which are soft & easly break if you strike to hard. At night time they can be higher in the water column especially around a light source. I find when they are shy & feel resistance they tend to drop it in which case let the jig drop down near the bottom & slowly wind, I’m no expert but this is what I’ve noticed, I still come home with zero at times 

[Welster]

9 minutes ago, 61 crusher said:

 I still come home with zero at times 

And here I was thinking I was the only fisho that had turned catching nothing into an art form 🤣

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

52 minutes ago, Welster said:

I haven’t done much land based squidding there is probably other raiders more knowledgeable than me in that.

Are you quidding for green eye or arrow squid?   What size jigs are you using?  I’d think it would be harder to stay in touch with the lighter smaller jigs.     I have some smaller ones but rarely use anything below 2.5.   

Also depending on the length of your rod a 45 degree jig would represent a lot of movement at the jig.    Maybe a “slow roll” retrieve and just a slight twitch would work better.    By slow roll you should be thinking it’s too slow.  Again this will depend on the water depth. 

I'm always chasing green eyes and tend to use 3.0, but sometimes I'm going to 2.5 jigs if I'm mixing it up a bit.

I'm fishing with a 7 ft 6 rod (for further casting purposes being land based).

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

45 minutes ago, 61 crusher said:

Most squid tend to go for the jig on the drop hence why you’re hooking up when whipping the rod at other times on a very “sloooww” retrieve, mix it up. I’m land based & use braid if I’m winding slow I’ve got a slight bow in the line from the tip & occasionally surge or the bottom will straighten it out in which case move the rod tip slightly & if in doubt strike. The bottom tends to be a clunky  in which case I give a bit of slack & lift, if feeling tension strike straight away to set hooks, not to hard though, at times they wil be aggressive and other times tentative with there candles which are soft & easly break if you strike to hard. At night time they can be higher in the water column especially around a light source. I find when they are shy & feel resistance they tend to drop it in which case let the jig drop down near the bottom & slowly wind, I’m no expert but this is what I’ve noticed, I still come home with zero at times 

It seems that the common theme amongst you guys is that the very slow wind is important - I'm guessing for line tension? I tend to give the rod a number of whips and take the slack line then wait (occasionally take line slowly during this period).

[noelm]

I fish land based for Squid all the time and mostly they just grab the jig, I always have it moving, guessing depth to keep it away from weed, never had a Squid bite as such, they just "get on"

[noelm]

OH, and not too sure what you mean by "whip" the rod, I just use gentle kind of lifts, certainly nothing I would call a whip.

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

31 minutes ago, noelm said:

OH, and not too sure what you mean by "whip" the rod, I just use gentle kind of lifts, certainly nothing I would call a whip.

If you go to the 2 minute mark in this video, this is what I refer to when talking about the whipping motion

[blaxland]

For me a squid "strike" feels at first exactly like a snag but it gives then pulses sometimes even takes line. Rod tip high and keep winding. I have lost squid by trying to strike when I get hit have had the jig come back with a little bit of squid mantle in it still squirming. 

[61 crusher]

Re whipping technique after casting out and counting the jig down I’d give it two initial big lifts to get it up off the bottom then wind up slack line & count the jig back down without winding and then start the slow retrieve and occasionally do a double or single lift similar to jigging a plastic and sometimes a slow wind all the way in unless hitting bottom then one light lift, remember mix it up till you find what works 

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

Is there a way to estimate the depth of an area you're fishing if you're land based? 

[Nolongeramember]

7 hours ago, SydneyIsSkyBlue said:

Hi Raiders,

A bit of a weird one here considering that I have caught myself a number of squid (all land based) over the last few months. However some how I feel like I tend to catch them by "luck" when I'm whipping the rod to impart movement on the jig rather than by feel.

I'd like to hear what you guys think regarding the "squid strike" or "bite". Those that do chase squid, are you actually feeling the strike or is it more of a visual thing for you (i.e.: watching the rod tip bend, line straighten etc)? For those that ask about technique, I tend to hold my rod down towards the water in the 8 o'clock position and whip from 8 to 11 with the occasional sideways whipping motion.

This was none more evident than last night during my first night squid session where the visual aspect was diminished due small amounts of light and not being able to see the rod tip meaning that I had to rely on what I perceive to be the feel. It produced one squid for the night but again, I put it down to being in the right place at the right time and lifting my rod just as the squid was on it. The thing that baffles me is I do think I felt some sort of weight on the line which convinced me that it was the right time to lift but then found it hard to separate that sensation to the tension on the jig when dragging through the weeds down the bottom. There were also numerous moments where I was letting the jig sink and felt increasing tension on the rod tip, yet I would wait 2-3 seconds to let it build then strike for no result.

I guess what I'm trying to ask in my usual long winded way is, can someone help me out with knowing when a squid is hanging on to your jig?

Hi. Squid don’t “strike” a lure with any noticeable force. They just reach out and grab hold of it.

A squid will grab the lure on the slack line when you are letting it sink. You won’t feel the take. You will feel the weight of the squid on your next lift or jig flick. This also pins the spikes in. 

Also, from my squid fishing experience, (a lot) the guy that can keep his jig flicking just off the bottom, not going too high and not fouling the bottom will get the most squid. 

[Nolongeramember]

12 minutes ago, SydneyIsSkyBlue said:

Is there a way to estimate the depth of an area you're fishing if you're land based? 

You will feel snags or the bottom touching your lure (when you next lift it) when you let it sink too far. Remember how long you let it  sink for in that spot. 

[Rob81]

Some days I whip it hard, some days soft and others just gotta work it much slower. The action, colour & speed changes. Each time you're out, you will need to work out which is working and also depends on the conditions you are fishing.

I say this because there's been a few occasions where I have gone out, and a quick action in a green coloured squid had been very successful however the very next day in the almost the exact some conditions in the same locations it didn't work, turned out the brown jig in the same speed with a slightly less aggressive action was working best.

To work out the depth you just have to test. You must remember the faster the water moves, the longer it will take for your jig to hit the bottom.

Regarding how do you know you've got a strike, it's actually quiet difficult. I've only ever felt very few strikes, one time was obvious as it hit the jig very hard and took off (turned out to be a 32.5cm calamari), and others felt soft, but in most cases I didn't know I had a squid on until I started to retrieve, sometimes they may feel like snags (and you only know this when you see you've got a candle on your jig). Not always will you feel the pulsing of the squid and may feel like you've caught a ball of weed or something. So always treat every retrieve with load in case you do have a squid on.

Regarding slack line whilst being out, I'm not actually fussed about this. I don't mind the slack like but again depends on swell and speed of current as I wouldn't want to snag the line onto the rocks or other structures.

If you do snag, you can always whip your rod aggressively and there is a chance of retrieving your jig. doesn't always work, but increases you chances of getting your jig back. But again, all depends on conditions.

Also, if you want to be a little safer, you don't always have to drop it all the way to the bottom, sometimes they like the chase and will come for it mid water. They have very good eye site and can see from a distance. Sometimes I see it chase my jig at the very end when i decided that the cast wasn't all that great and wanted to recast.

Everyone starts somewhere and I guess when I first started squiding I had lots to learn and lost many jigs along the way. Hope this information helps, good luck with the hoods.

[DerekD]

Hi SSiB,

Believe we were discussing a squidding session one day. Offer is still open.

Most of my squid fishing is done with braid on a 2-4kg rod so if I strike the shock is taken up by the rod tip. As one or two people have mentioned above when the squid grabs the jig because they don't really have any hard body parts you generally won't feel the strike. My usual retrieval technique is short sharp flicks to get their attention followed by a pause to allow them to grab it the next set of flicks will hook them up. If they are really skittish then for anything less than a short sharp jab they can let go before you hook up. The time between the flicks is dictated by the area I am fishing (snags) and the sink rate of the jig I am using. Within reason the longer you can leave it the better chance you have of getting them. Just remember to watch behind the jig as it comes in close to see if they are hesitent but still following and interested. You have to then use small movements to keep them interested and time your flick when they have grabbed the jig.

Once in a while I notice the line straightening as the squid moves off with the jig and then the short sharp jab sets the jig. Currently with the exception of a few tubs of ice cream my freezer is packed with bags of squid from multiple sessions so to date it has worked for me. If you think you have been getting touches then check the tines for a very small ball of white from the cephlapod. Note that in some areas it may actually be cuttlefish grabbing the jig but with their smaller tentacles they are a little harder to hook up.

Regards,

Derek

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

3 hours ago, DerekD said:

Hi SSiB,

Believe we were discussing a squidding session one day. Offer is still open.

Most of my squid fishing is done with braid on a 2-4kg rod so if I strike the shock is taken up by the rod tip. As one or two people have mentioned above when the squid grabs the jig because they don't really have any hard body parts you generally won't feel the strike. My usual retrieval technique is short sharp flicks to get their attention followed by a pause to allow them to grab it the next set of flicks will hook them up. If they are really skittish then for anything less than a short sharp jab they can let go before you hook up. The time between the flicks is dictated by the area I am fishing (snags) and the sink rate of the jig I am using. Within reason the longer you can leave it the better chance you have of getting them. Just remember to watch behind the jig as it comes in close to see if they are hesitent but still following and interested. You have to then use small movements to keep them interested and time your flick when they have grabbed the jig.

Once in a while I notice the line straightening as the squid moves off with the jig and then the short sharp jab sets the jig. Currently with the exception of a few tubs of ice cream my freezer is packed with bags of squid from multiple sessions so to date it has worked for me. If you think you have been getting touches then check the tines for a very small ball of white from the cephlapod. Note that in some areas it may actually be cuttlefish grabbing the jig but with their smaller tentacles they are a little harder to hook up.

Regards,

Derek

Would definitely be keen Derek. Will be overseas for the next month but once I'm back I'd love to tee something up if you're free. 

A lot of this makes sense and I feel I can relate to when squidding. It seems as though my retrieval technique may be a little be too aggressive (and probably too fast) as well as not really trying to gauge the depth I'm fishing.

[61 crusher]

6 hours ago, Rob81 said:

If you do snag, you can always whip your rod aggressively and there is a chance of retrieving your jig. doesn't always work, but increases you chances of getting your jig back. But again, all depends on conditions.

I used to lose at least one jig off the ocean rocks every session until a guy next to me told me to stop whipping the rod & came over & grabbed the line from the tip and without to much tension used his other hand like a bow & arrow technique and flicked the line several times & the jig came free. Since then I’ve saved a lot of jigs from a watery grave, I still lose the odd one probably due to being wedged on the bottom or fishing line. I hope this helps 

[SydneyIsSkyBlue]

8 hours ago, Rob81 said:

Some days I whip it hard, some days soft and others just gotta work it much slower. The action, colour & speed changes. Each time you're out, you will need to work out which is working and also depends on the conditions you are fishing.

I say this because there's been a few occasions where I have gone out, and a quick action in a green coloured squid had been very successful however the very next day in the almost the exact some conditions in the same locations it didn't work, turned out the brown jig in the same speed with a slightly less aggressive action was working best.

To work out the depth you just have to test. You must remember the faster the water moves, the longer it will take for your jig to hit the bottom.

Regarding how do you know you've got a strike, it's actually quiet difficult. I've only ever felt very few strikes, one time was obvious as it hit the jig very hard and took off (turned out to be a 32.5cm calamari), and others felt soft, but in most cases I didn't know I had a squid on until I started to retrieve, sometimes they may feel like snags (and you only know this when you see you've got a candle on your jig). Not always will you feel the pulsing of the squid and may feel like you've caught a ball of weed or something. So always treat every retrieve with load in case you do have a squid on.

Regarding slack line whilst being out, I'm not actually fussed about this. I don't mind the slack like but again depends on swell and speed of current as I wouldn't want to snag the line onto the rocks or other structures.

If you do snag, you can always whip your rod aggressively and there is a chance of retrieving your jig. doesn't always work, but increases you chances of getting your jig back. But again, all depends on conditions.

Also, if you want to be a little safer, you don't always have to drop it all the way to the bottom, sometimes they like the chase and will come for it mid water. They have very good eye site and can see from a distance. Sometimes I see it chase my jig at the very end when i decided that the cast wasn't all that great and wanted to recast.

Everyone starts somewhere and I guess when I first started squiding I had lots to learn and lost many jigs along the way. Hope this information helps, good luck with the hoods.

Thanks mate, really appreciate the detail. It's funny because I've caught myself a fair few calamari in recent months but I guess my initial question was generated on the basis of wanting to improve returns and thinking I was missing something when it came to the feel/lack of sight during my first night session where I felt there was a much greater reliance on feel. From what everyone has said, it seems to confirm that what I've labelled as "luck" is purely lifting the rod and setting the jig!

[Nolongeramember]

1 hour ago, 61 crusher said:

I used to lose at least one jig off the ocean rocks every session until a guy next to me told me to stop whipping the rod & came over & grabbed the line from the tip and without to much tension used his other hand like a bow & arrow technique and flicked the line several times & the jig came free. Since then I’ve saved a lot of jigs from a watery grave, I still lose the odd one probably due to being wedged on the bottom or fishing line. I hope this helps 

Can you explain further how this bow and arrow technique works to free snagged jigs? I usually just continually yank and yank with the rod until it rips free. 

 

[61 crusher]

1 hour ago, Hateanchors said:

Can you explain further how this bow and arrow technique works to free snagged jigs? I usually just continually yank and yank with the rod until it rips free. 

 

I’m using 10lb braid & about 2m of 12lb fluorocarbon & have had the fluoro break with the yanking of the rod. Loosen the drag a bit grab the line near the tip while keeping light tension to the snagged jig & slip the rod under your arm with slack line between the tip and where you’ve grabbed the line, now with the other hand grab the line about 600mm down & create a slight vee & start plucking on the line (like pulling on a guitar string & letting go) don’t have the line to tight though, usually after 3 to 6 plucks the jig releases. I think jigs being barbless and a shock wave travelling down the line helps to free it, react quickly when the jig is free & wind it in you don’t want it to re snag. I’ve had the barbs loaded with that tough red short fibrous weed that grows on rocks come in a few times & fishing line once but never kelp. When sqiuding around ribbon weed I tend to just put a bend in the rod as it tears quite easily. I hope my explaination is easy to understand 

[Rob81]

Yeah I used to do the bow and arrow thing before but I realised I can do it with whipping the rod as well, and if that fails skull drag. Well since I've upgrade my rod about 8 Months ago, I've only lost 3 jigs (last one being two weeks back). This is a huge improvement for myself given the fact I also prefer to squid a bit more often.

I think depends on the rod, with the more stiff rods the whipping wont help, also if its too soft I find. My current rod is somewhere in between