Squid Fishing
The slightest twitch to my line accompanied by the feeling of increased weight prompted me to lift my rod and begin to reel.
In short order, a creature with long tentacles writhed over the dock rail, spitting an inky substance in my direction. The squid are in today and jigging should be fun. When I tilted the jig over my bucket the squid slid off, joining others squirming in the ink covered pail bottom.
December can be a slow month for outdoor activities. Wind, cold air, and rain take the fun out of most days. Gas prices limit some of my other options. There are occasional breaks in the Seattle weather however. The trick is knowing how to have fun on short notice. Squid jigging from saltwater docks and fishing piers near Seattle is perfect for hours of entertainment plus delightful eating afterwards.
Daytime Techniques
Daytime Techniques for squid involve getting to the pier about 45 minutes before high tide and casting luminous squid jigs far from the dock, letting them sink, counting to 10, and pulling up on your rod as you crank in a little slack. If nothing happens, let the jig sink to the bottom and repeat in roughly 10 second intervals until the jig is back at the dock. If no squid has latched on, cast again and repeat until it’s time to go home. Work your way along the dock to see if you can find squid concentrated in certain areas, or watch others on the dock to see who is bringing them in. If veterans are frequently catching some, observe jig color, size, and whether they are using tandem jigs tied one foot apart. It helps to have a variety of jigs in your tackle box to help you match their effort and success. Use at least eight pound test line as the bottom is often full of heavy star fish and other potential snags. Most often either green or pink colors seem to be the hot ones, but squid can be fickle about color as they look for a mate. Jigs tend to replicate the dazzling mating display that they put on for each other and this is why they are attracted and wrap themselves around jigs. Daytime sunlight brings out the jig color but at night holding them under light for a few seconds helps bring out that come hither glow. Squid near Seattle area range from 4” to 10” and weigh a few ounces. California’s Humboldt squid, also tasty, can exceed 20 pounds.
Night Time Techniques
Night time jigging off piers during times of high tide, using high intensity lights to attract the squid, is the most popular way to fish for them, and is the most productive. Although squid fishing is open all year, November and January are usually the best months. Visit fishing piers, such as the passenger ferry dock near Alki, during those months, and you are likely to see people lining the docks with lights targeting the depths nearby. Buckets will be hung from the dock to allow easy squid placement. When squid are in, action can be furious for short bursts of time. Ten pounds is the daily squid limit. On good days you may find a spot on the dock just as those that have limited, are leaving. High tide periods are usually best, but nights lights help attract them during any tide. Lights lure squid near the dock; so long casts are not necessary. Just let your illuminated jig down near the bottom and occasionally twitch. On some days squid could be higher in the water, so watch what others are doing and mimic the winners.
Cleaning
Cleaning involves removing the tentacles, cleaning out insides, peeling off the outer skin, laying squid meat flat on a cutting board and either pounding or using a paring knife cut ¼ inch patterns to help tenderize. Don’t overcook; usually a minute of flash frying will do it. Lots of different seasonings can be used in dinner preparation as squid have a mild taste. How to eat squid, and how many, is up to you. My guess is that you enjoy the outing, the taste, and that the experience will bring you back for more.
