The Spring Squid Run

A good size spring run squid caught from my local harbour wall

Recreational fishing for squid is something that has recently started getting a lot more attention from the UK sea fishing community. With the 'All England Squid Fishing Competition' now a yearly event down here in my home town of Brighton I was keen to find out a bit more. With a spring run of squid along the south coast occurring around April/May time then it seems to fill a gap in the angling calendar quite nicely before the summer species really arrive. There is of course the added bonus that fresh squid really is rather delicious too!

For the squid to come inshore and be a viable target then settled, calm conditions are required. With this comes a good degree of water clarity that is so important for catching these sight feeding creatures. They are ideally targeted from a pier or harbour wall with access to deep water close in. The squid work the structure looking for small fish to prey upon. 

A squid jig

The best way to catch them is to fish a 'squid jig' under a float and to trot the float down the tide with the jig suspended around 2 to 3 feet off the bottom where the squid can see it. Accurate plumbing of the depth is required to keep the jig in the strike zone at all times - this really is the key to successful squid jigging. If the water is clear then natural coloured jigs are the way to go, however if there is some sediment in the water and visibility is low then brighter colours are the order of the day. If the going is tough then sometimes lashing some fresh fish (mackerel, herring etc) to the jig with bait elastic can give you a real edge.

Simple sliding float rig for squid jigging

Bites are usually a fairly positive affair with the float simply disappearing under the surface. It is important not to strike at this point but to wind down as quickly as possible and tighten up to the squid. Then it's simply a case of keeping the tension between you and the squid whilst retrieving line until it surfaces. A drop net is a handy accessory at this point if fishing from structure high above the water, it will prevent the soft bodied squid falling off the jig as you bring it up to your angling position. 

They can also be caught by using a jig in the same fashion as you would a lure for fish. This technique is known as egging. Simply work the jig slowly near the bottom back towards your casting position. The only problem with this style is that tackle losses can be high due to the many hooks attached to the jig and it can get a little expensive. Using a float to suspend your jig largely avoids this problem.

Fun for all the family!

Watch out for the ink as they frequently have a habit of defiantly squirting it at you as the jig is removed from it's tentacles. A swift blow to the the head will see the squid dispatched quickly and humanely.