squid 101?

[rogersmith]

Hey, quick questions, I am sure that with any bait fresh/live is better than dead/thawed. Hold true for squid or will dead work as well?
Second, whats the best way to catch live, I assume the squid jigs sold in most tackle shops?
thanks for handling a squid rookie's questions

[m1k3midg3]

for rockfish you can get away with dead but for wsb/yt go with live

[Iceman]

I have better luck with sabiki and an iron than squid jigs

[Billy V]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I have better luck with sabiki and an iron than squid jigs

Very true.
A white/glow, or scrambled egg/glow back are my 1st choice if over a productive bed.
....and you just might nail a quality fish in the process.

Its just easier to deal with as compared to a squid catcher rig. On average you will still only be making the squid one or two at a time.
------------------------
A sabiki rig when used with a sabiki rod is another good choice, and relatively easy to deal with. You can use a Good Iron as a weight.
....again, you just might nail a quality fish in the bait making process.
-----------------------
I still carry and sometimes use a candy catcher to make bait.

[PescadorPete]

Roger, good advice above. I'll add that I use a squid jig like this. I put a small glo torpedo sinker (or maybe a glo yo-yo iron) to weigh it down. I'm finding that the sinker needs to be on the bottom and then pivot the rod up in a quick jerk. I like a light sinker and a bendy rod because I can really feel the extra weight when the squid grabs on. Or I can feel them banging on it so I know I'm in the right place and need to jig a little more. Keep winding when they grab on because if you let up the squid can float off. Last week I found a mother lode and had 4 or 5 on each drop.
No fish for me today but I absolutely plugged the bait tank with squid so my freezer is full of fresh frozen. I've hooked a lot of fish on popsicles.

[cowboybill]

I clip a squid rig to the end of the sabiki, then add wieght....

I was getting hit about 50/50 sabiki/squidrig....

sabiki holds em better (barbs), squidrig was easier to pop em off...

cowboybill

[-scallywag-]

good advise above, especially using the iron...on most days i will find the sqiud and make one or two pieces using the candycatcher then put one out and go strait to making squid with the iron...glowback sumos work well, i've caught alot of very desirable "by-catch" using the iron to make squid while everyone else is plugging their tanks.

kinda a mute point now as the seiners have left the ground and the squid bite is officially over!!!

Here's a short video from last week while everyone else paddled by trolling finbait to go fish the corner....sometimes it just takes some metering around...

[Billy V]

I like the casual tutorial.
Very nonchalant.

Your next Vid should be of you pinning on the squirt and sending him down.

Something like.....

Alright...How to catch a Yellowtail in La Jolla

[rogersmith]

thanks to all, appreciate the advice!