New Experience-- Squid

[Wright Angle]

I had a new experience today. Squid jigging. It was alot of fun. I love to eat them but have always had to buy them, never jigged for them before.

Two fishing buddy's and I Sturgeon fished all day yesterday so we told our wifes that we would work around our houses today, but it just didn't work out that way. About 10:30 this morning buddy one calls and in a low whisper says lets go to Puget sound and jig squid I'm tired of cleaning the garage. Well I've never done this before so I tell him sure as I hadn't started cleaning my garage yet, why ruin a good day. He asks me to call buddy two and see if he wants to go, sure enough he want to go also.

So off we go to the sound, we leave about 2:00 PM and get back about 11:30 PM.. Fun day, can't wait to eat Squid tomorrow for lunch... Oh yes and clean the garage

the big Squid in the pic are about 12" long



[ 01-07-2003, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Wright Angle ]

[Fishplay]

Hope that pic didn't represent the total harvest. Did you have any light on the water? I always take the generator and shine a couple spot lights out front of me. It really brings them in. I fish a multiple jig setup with homemade jigs built from sewing needles. Squiding is simular to herring jigging. A real hoot. Where were you jigging for them? I'm taking a long weekend, this coming, and heading for the Sound. Planning on fishing the Nisqually river for chums, jigging squid off the Des Moines pier, then troll for blackmouth off Pt Defiance. To round it all off I'm jumping the ferry to Lopez Island to look at a couple SeaSport boats for sale.

Now...go clean that garage.

[Wright Angle]

Fishplay, no the picture doesn't represent our whole harvest, just a few to see what they look like. We did have lights over head on the pier we were on. I have jigged herring and anchovies many times but this was my first time for squid.

I'm not sure exactly where we were, somewhere near Seattle, I was not driving and I'm not familiar with the area. my buddy is from there and he was driving. I was just along for the ride. It might be the same place you are going?

I think the jigs we bought at Bob's in Longview W.A.. On our way up there are over priced at $4.00 apiece. I would like to make my own. Is it possible for you to post picture of your home made jigs?
or maybe thur e-mail? I would really appreciate it as I am going to keep Squiding now that I've tried it.

Good luck on your trip. Thanks

Send all that prime strugeon bait to me please.

[Wright Angle]

I'm sorry ****** but I love eating them myself, can't bring myself to let them be used as bait.. :grin:

[JeepMcMuddy]

Dont waste your money on those huge plastic squid jigs that many of the stores in Puget sound sell (they are like an inch thick and topedo shaped) , they are complete garbage...

Just north of Ted's is a Korean super market ( I know there are many of them in that area, just look for the Boat shaped coffee stand out front) They sold the small painted (or fabric covered) lead bodied jigs that the squid will absolutely hammer (for about 1.00 or so a peice!!!) . They werent very hard to find, they were right on the front counter.
They come in two varietys one with the "traditional bent upwards" prongs and another one we call "spider" jigs for lack of a better term. They are a few inches long, body of lead, and usually covered in some kind of sparkly fabric, these ones have aboout 8 or 10 wire legs that stick staight out and up slightly. The hot rig was to use the Spider jig on top, and about 1 foot of leader tied to the bottom of it down to the second jig. Catching squid on doubles (or triples if legal) is a blast!!! Grab a lightweight
trout pole and go get some! A Light source is definately a must. We used to hang propane lanterns off the pier, but many are now outlawing it, do to the fire potential. A small honda generator and a couple of cheap halogen worklights clamped to the railing works best.

The real challenge is trying to undo 2 ink squirting monsters at once with out getting inked!

You can pretty much squid year round in Puget sound, however Cold Winter nights seem to be most productive.

Have fun and why not kill two birds with one stone, and drop a crap pot off while your squidding. (again if legal where your at)

Matt "JeepMcMuddy"

[ 01-07-2003, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: JeepMcMuddy ]

[JeepMcMuddy]

Wright, I will post a pic of the jigs we use when I get home. You should be able to reproduce them. (Ted's did sell the wire blanks to make your own)

[Wright Angle]

Matt, Thanks for the information, can't wait to see the pics W.A.

[Wright Angle]

The $4.00 jigs we bought were very small (3" long) and the hooks don't stick out vary far so we missed alot of Squid that we should of had. The jigs do have a glow in the dark paint on the lower part by the hooks but in playing with it with my flash it doesn't stay charged very long. I need to make a better Jig...

[Wak]

Is there anywhere to do this around Sequim or Port Angeles?

[Captain and Marie]

Squid this size makes real nice Halibut baits! Can I have some? like a case of them?


Captain Dennis

[JeepMcMuddy]

W.A.
Here is the jigs that are best to use. There are two types, like yours and the "Spider" type jigs. They seem to tangle the squids legs better.




Matt "JeepMcMuddy"

[Jettin' Fool]

Do Squid put up a fight at all?? Just curious as I have never heard of such jigging before...

[Wright Angle]

Not much fight, about like a small trout, they do make some noise squirting water and ink as you take them out of the water.

[Dipnet]

How do you clean and cook them? Just curious! I've never eaten them, but the sturgeon sure do love them pickled!!!

Thanks,
Dipnet :grin:

[Wright Angle]

Well on the cleaning question I'm not sure I'm capable of explaining it , I will say that I would rather clean Squid then Clams. Squid are very ease to clean. I clean them with scissors. You cut the tentacles off just above the eyes, set aside, Then spit the body of the Squid up the side full length open it up and remove everything thats inside and discard. There is a clear thing A feather-shaped blade, or gladius that helps support the body and serves as a site for muscle attachment. It is made of chitin, like your fingernails that gives the squid body some rigidity, this need to come out, it's in the back, just bend the body and you will see it, it's shaped like a feather remove. Now remove all the skin from the outside of the body, just pull it off under running water.

Now take the tentacles and cut the eyes off between the eyes and tentacles, inside what's left of the tentacles there is a beak that needs to be removed, just squeeze and the beak will pop out , cut it off. I don't try to remove the skin from the tentacles just rinse well.

As for cooking don't over cook it or it gets tough. Just like Clams you cook it hot and fast..
I cut it into strips 1/2" wide ,bread and deep fried, that's how I like it best.. :grin:

[ 01-07-2003, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Wright Angle ]

[Slow Roll]

Wright Angle,
Your killin' me!! [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]
I love eating them little buggers. Specially if you do a light tempura on the tentacles and then fry them. Call em' crowns and they are tasty.
Best way I have ever had squid was to clean the tubes and then stuff them with a crab/fish/clam and bread stuffing (light on the bread, sometimes just used Ritz crackers).
Bake and then smother with a light cream sauce. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
I gotta stop, getting way to hungry to go on......must get smoked fish.................................
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Ah, much better.

Try that recipe sometime, kinda like cantalonie (sp?) and really good.

Paul B.

[Dipnet]

Wright Angle, thanks for the detailed instructions. I'll have to try them sometime,they sound really good! Plus, it's that gladius thing that keeps them on the hook so good! This is no lie, I used one squid for a whole day of fishing. I caught many shakers and a 48" keeper. That's what I call getting your money's worth out of a bait!! :grin: :grin:

Dipnet :grin:

[Fishplay]

WA
The jigs I make are designed after the ones JeepM is calling spider jigs. They are killer. An asian fella gave me a couple years ago and I just duplicated them. At a buck apeice though I'd rather buy them. I can't make them that cheap!

north of Ted's is a Korean super market ( I know there are many of them in that area, just look for the Boat shaped coffee stand out front)

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">JeepMcMuddy,
Where is this? What city? Please give directions!

Wak
I have jigged them off the pier at Port Angeles. I beleive it was late November.

[JeepMcMuddy]

Fishplay, Ted's sport center is on Highway 99 just north of Edmunds.
(Ted's does carry the jig wire to make your own)
Ted's Sport Center
15526 Highway 99 North
Lynnwood, WA 98037

The Korean Market was a couple of miles north of Ted's on Highway 99. Maybe someone who lives up there currently can shed some light on the cross streets???
(my inlaws live up there and I only get up there every so often) We bought them last summer, and they were a buck or a buck-fifty apeice. I was going to make some of my own, but at that price I bought a ton of them!

[ 01-08-2003, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: JeepMcMuddy ]

[Fishplay]

Wise choice Jeep. Thanks for the specifics on Ted's.

[Walleyed]

Never seen it and not shure I get it.
Is this a snag them thing and If your out of state do you need a lic.
Sounds like the kid would have a ball at this.

[bait boy]

The squid try to attack the thing and their tentacles get all wound up in the hook parts. you bring'em up and shak'em off trying to not get inked.

[dampainter]

JeepMcmuddy....dude, what is up with that avatar of yours!! LMAO!