When loading up the coolers and tackle for a run offshore few people have squid on their mind. This isn’t a shocker, since the allure of fish like tuna or mahi-mahi is usually what drives us to burn up countless hours and gallons of fuel to get out there. But if you’ll be heading out for an overnighter don’t forget to set up for squid – they bite great when they rise up near the surface at night, and they taste great battered and fried- calamari
While most of us certainly wouldn’t head offshore solely to catch squid, they can provide an excellent diversion when the night bite is otherwise slow and being prepared to catch them is very easy. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Spinning or casting rods in the 20-pound class
- An assortment of squid jigs
- Weights of one to four ounces
That’s it! Well, almost – you also need a light source which brings them up to the boat, but if you’re doing an overnighter offshore it’s safe to assume you already have lights rigged up, because they’re critical for bringing in the bait and thus the pelagics, too. When you see squid in those lights or you see a cloud of bait 10′ to 100′ below the boat on the fishfinder, lower a squid jig down and gently jig your rod so it bobs up and down. You won’t feel a strike when a squid latches onto the jig, but rather additional weight. Start reeling (no hook-set is necessary) and after bringing it up five or six feet the dead weight will turn into jerks and tugs as the squid realizes something unusual is going on.
When you swing a squid over the gunwales be prepared for a mess, because they’ll often send a jet of water and ink flying. Rinse it away quick, because it’s a chore to scrub away if you let it dry. Grab the squid jig at the top, invert it, and shake to remove the squid from the basket-like “hooks” of the jig. If you like calamari, you’ll be glad you came prepared!
TIP: If you have plenty of squid to eat (or just don’t like calamari), slide a hook through the mantle of a live squid and send it over the side. Everything that swims in the ocean enjoys eating squid and free-lining a live one is a killer on those tunas and mahi.