Jigging squid from a boat?

Omakase · Nov-07-2009, 05:37 PM

Any of you guys ever hang a bunch of light over the side and get a squid attack going? Every once in awhile I get them while jigging salmon daylight hours and have wondered whether anyone targets them away from the piers at night from a skiff with regular squid rigs.

elkruser · Nov-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Never have but I've been wanting to.

Ducttape · Nov-07-2009, 06:48 PM

me too, always wanted to target them/never had. I've got some jigs on the way through ebay that have lights/batteries in them, by the looks of them I think they've got to be able to do the trick.

Omakase · Nov-07-2009, 07:59 PM

I think I'm going to give it a shot one of these evenings . . .

Alaska4me · Nov-08-2009, 10:12 AM

I see no reason why squiding from a boat wouldn't work. Maybe a battery with clips to run a light pointed over the side? Might be able to use a fishdfinder to located them?
I too have caught squid while jigging for salmon.

MikFly · Nov-08-2009, 11:47 AM

Best technique that I've done in the past was to squid under the big lights of the Seattle waterfront piers, where they off load the cargo (the big lights that swing out and point directly down). Squiding gets hot from now till late December into January when they come into spawn or do their thing. Its about 40-60 feet in that area and thus drop anchor. I use my beater trout pole (6-8 lbs) with double squid jigs for best action.

Since they shoot their ink all over the place when they come up, I would use your "beater-boat" as its a bitch to clean ink off of white fiberglass once its dries (same with aluminum). I use my beater 12' valco and launch at Armeni ramp and run across for such purpose. But man, its great fun when a school comes in as the action is nearly non-stop for a while. Read your regs, as the game wardens are out late at night keeping folks honest. Otherwise, stay warm and a great way to get bait for next seasons halibut or bottom fishing. Its a blast!

But yes to your original question, as I've seen folks with generators powering lights hanging over. I've read that some lights (color) work better than others.

yellowjacket · Nov-08-2009, 03:07 PM

Tearing a page from my SoCal days, and nights, am planning to chase the squirts this year. We would just get out to the islands with a couple hours before dawn to jig up bait for the seabass and yellowtail or halibut - it is candy bait but is also excellent table fare.

It works just as has been described. I have a submersible lamp with the aligator battery clips that I drop below the boat then work the jigs, dropping the catch into my live well. Raw water wash down is critical for the inevitable inks. Sometimes I'll zip tie a cyalume stick above the jig for extra attaction, but the effectiveness of this is not proven. It's a good idea to work the areas that already attact them, like the well lit water fronts.

We used heavier sticks down south, as it was not uncommon to pick up gamefish while jigging for bait. I'd probably just go with a bass stick or similar up here.

Can't wait for the first calimari feed!!

Siv · Nov-09-2009, 05:28 PM

The guys at the Des Moines marina do it all the time. They anchor up outside the breakwater, get the bright lights going ( Coleman lanterns ) and jig. I went once and we got a bunch but it makes a huge mess oin the boat with all the ink.

quickfish · Nov-09-2009, 07:15 PM

I work at pier 15 in Seattle we have great lighting being a fuel dock and boats come along side the dock and do very well casting towards the dock and jigging back towards there boat.

**Cornfed** · Nov-10-2009, 07:25 AM

I've done it from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle, Des Moines Pier, and Redondo Pier. I don't think you get any advantage from going on a boat, other than not being shoulder to shoulder with someone you don't know. Let us know how it works out.

There is a local guy that supplies squid jigs to Sportco and Outdoor Emporium. His name is John Colman. Super nice guy and he has some great jigs. He lives in Auburn in case you want to stop by and get some jigs. Also .....HE IS A BLOODYDECKER, SO SUPPORT HIM!

I have bought all my squid jigs and lights from him, including the humboldt jigs...

Squid Jigs - Martinetti Squid Jigs at the Squid Jig Warehouse

MikFly · Nov-10-2009, 12:50 PM

Tommy.. I've never done Humbolt, but i don't see a hint of ink on you or the boat? Did you spray down the boat before taking picture? The little squid we get in the puget sound squirt ink like crazy!

**Cornfed** · Nov-10-2009, 01:20 PM

Miki - I've caught both the Puget Sound Pacifica opalescens and of course the humboldts. You just let them do their thing before you bring them in the boat. There is always a little wash down required, but those humboldts aren't getting off that jig very easily....so I let them ink themselves out before they come over the rail. AND THEY MAKE GOOD CRAB BAIT!