Squid Fishing

[Tips Up]

I have been told they spawn in saanich inlet and all the way into Hall's in May/June. I may get out in the inlet this weekend for some crabs and prawns and try for squid while traps are soaking. Will report back if I go.

 

[Tips Up]

Dropped some crab and prawn traps in Saanich inlet yesterday morning. I spoke to the lady at office when launching and she said there were squid caught in front of spectical creek in December but had not heard of any recently. I trolled around the different bays with my sounder and jigged any where I saw bait. Also tried in front of spectical creek. Was ebbing tide so not ideal. Not much bait and no squid today.
RCMP boat was cruising shoreline where accident happened. I avoided that area.

 

[tubber]

My cheap sounder doesn't show squid as a typical bait ball. More like dots. A bird flying by with one in his beak is a good sign.
They often came to the seine boat flood lights when we anchored for the night all up and down the coast.

 

[Fixit]

Got into some on sunday

 

[pescador]

Got into some on sunday

Can you share depth?

 

[Fixit]

I head out into 1100ft of water, look for a return on the sounder at around 300-500ft (hake) and then jig below that. I find most of the time im getting them 3/4 to 1/2 of the way down. but start at the bottom and do tiny jigs for some action, 10 sec pause, followed by a "set the hook. jig" if you dont feel like you snagged something then wind up 10 cranks and repeat. If you feel extra drag when you set the hook, keep reeling and dont stop at all. you must keep tension alll the way up. alllllllllll the way up! Often, just before you hook up you might be asking yourself was that a take?, or oh I think I felt something.... its a very ginger take, soft, subtle.... happy hunting!

oh and I should add, slack tides and no winds. lines need to be going straight up and down. sea anchors or buckets help in marginal conditions.

 

[kaelc]

I head out into 1100ft of water, look for a return on the sounder at around 300-500ft (hake) and then jig below that. I find most of the time im getting them 3/4 to 1/2 of the way down. but start at the bottom and do tiny jigs for some action, 10 sec pause, followed by a "set the hook. jig" if you dont feel like you snagged something then wind up 10 cranks and repeat. If you feel extra drag when you set the hook, keep reeling and dont stop at all. you must keep tension alll the way up. alllllllllll the way up! Often, just before you hook up you might be asking yourself was that a take?, or oh I think I felt something.... its a very ginger take, soft, subtle.... happy hunting!

oh and I should add, slack tides and no winds. lines need to be going straight up and down. sea anchors or buckets help in marginal conditions.

Mid Island?

 

[Fixit]

im out of comox, but the guys in French creek are doing well too. they should be all the way up and down the straight. we usually get one an hour on average.

 

[winephart]

When I lived in North Sannich I used to take my kids to the dock where the boat over to Powder wharf used to land. They liked to catch green stripe shrimp that would show up at dusk. We used a dipnet and they did well . The bonus was that there were often schools of squid that would show up. We could usually several dozen squid per night.
It was always a fun night. We would take the squid home , clean them and make calamari.
I haven't tried to catch them for about 10 years, but I would bet they still show up.

 

[RiverBoy]

The squid have two “feeler” arms that they can shoot out and latch onto their prey. you will feel a subtle poke at your jig.it’s barely anything. if you have mono line just stay home; you’re not feeling this poke .it’s imperative you don’t set the hook yet. using their feelers they pull the jig towards itself. it then hugs or attacks the jig with all its tentacles. you will feel the weight of the squid all of a sudden. this is the time to set the jig and DO NOT stop winding all the way to the surface. your arm will be burning. have a netter ready to scoop the squid. we were getting them in 550-750 fow under the hake.