You can catch a squid using a range of different rigs made of a hook
and a prawn. If you are using a prawn for bait, then you have to imitate
the movement of a retreating prawn with your squid jig. This creates
maximum chances that the squid will take the bait because it is greatly
attracted to prawns swimming away from a danger. But before this, you
must know how exactly a prawn behaves while escaping from a threat. This
retrieve should be kept in mind whether you use squid baits or
artificial squid jigs.
Squid Baits
A prawn follows a backward burst, halt, burst, halt pattern of movement
while facing a potential danger. You can create a similar movement if
you achieve the right buoyancy and counterweight in your squid jig. Make
use of the weight and buoyancy of the lure by jerking it forward with
the help of you rod, then pause it and repeat the same sequence over
again to imitate the swimming pattern of a retreating prawn.
However, you can always get better success catching squids using a live
squid for bait. Unlike a prawn bait, a live squid bait need to be
affixed to a hook but to a fan of straight barbs. This is because a
squid can provide you enough weight in itself to cast it out without any
sinker, swivel or floats. However, you could keep a collection of
different squid lures with you each of a distinct color.
In fact, various squid jigs are available for testing the water to
detect the presence of any squid. Also, you could use differently
colored squid jigs to suit various shades of water you are fishing in.
It would be wise if you keep at least three differently colored jigs
with you to try out which one works best because it is possible that a
particular movement pattern of the bait fail to lure the squid.
The best lure for squids is fresh or living squids. If you are familiar
enough with a squid, you will notice that a freshly caught or live squid
has a transparent body as opposed to a long dead or frozen squid that
has a whitened flesh. Now, squids prefer to prey upon live squids or
transparent parts of a freshly shopped squid. For best results, you
should never skin your squid bait because the skin has a certain gloss
over it that tempt squids to take a quick bite.
Squid on Jigs
Video
of a squid taking a jig
Squid readily take squid Jigs such as those made by made Yazori.
These are much simplier to use and cleaner than baited jigs. These are
balanced so that a jerky retrieve will imitate a prawn in distress. I
always keep a couple of these in the tackle box just in case.
