How to Catch Squid in Australia: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Short version: catch southern calamari by casting a weighted, prawn-shaped lure called an egi (squid jig), letting it sink, then sweeping it up and pausing — squid strike on the pause as it flutters down. Start with a size 3.0 jig off a pier on a calm, clear evening, and match your jig and timing to the water. This guide walks through every piece of that — and links to a deep guide for each step.

This is the map. Each section is the quick version; follow the links for the full how-to on any part.

1. First, what squid fishing actually is

In Australia “squid fishing” almost always means targeting southern calamari with eging — actively working an egi rather than sitting bait under a float. It out-fishes bait for most people because you control exactly where the jig sits and how it moves.

→ Start with Eging in Australia: the complete method guide. Worth reading early: are fancy squid jigs worth it? and the truth about made-in-Japan egi value.

2. The gear you need

You don’t need much, but the right setup makes squidding far easier:

• Rod — a light eging rod around 7–8ft. → Eging rod guide
• Reel, line & leader — a 2500 reel, thin PE braid, fluorocarbon leader. → Rod, reel & line setup · best line for squid · leader guide
• A few jigs — the heart of it. → Best squid jig Australia
• The little extras — net/gaff, pliers, a UV torch. → Eging tools checklist · best squid gaff

3. Picking the right jig

Most “wrong jig” days are really wrong size, colour or sink rate for the water:

• Size — 3.0 is the all-rounder; 2.5 shallow/calm, 3.5 in wind or current. → Squid jig size guide
• Colour — natural in clear water; brighter, glow or UV as it dirties or darkens. → Squid jig colours guide
• Sink rate — control the fall before you blame the colour, especially over weed and reef. → Sink rate guide

4. How to actually fish the jig

The retrieve is simple and the same everywhere: sink, sweep, pause. The pause is when squid grab it.

• → How to work a squid jig
• → When to strike — lift smoothly, don’t swing hard
• → Active eging vs a float rig — which to learn on
• Fishing weed or reef? Stop losing jigs: → the anti-snag mod

5. Reading the conditions

Squid are sight feeders, so water clarity, light and weather decide your session as much as the jig:

• → How to read the water
• → Squid fishing weather guide
• → Squid fishing after rain (a light drizzle is often great)
• → Night squid fishing

Before you drive, check the live Eging Tactical Radar for wind, swell and water clarity across the grounds — it beats guessing.

6. When to go

• → Best time to catch squid — dawn, dusk and tide
• → Squid fishing season
• → Month-by-month calendar

7. Where to go (Melbourne & Victoria)

Most Australian land-based squidding happens on Port Phillip Bay and Western Port — piers, jetties and weed-edge beaches.

• Start at the hubs: Melbourne squid fishing · Port Phillip Bay · Western Port · land-based squid fishing
• Easy, proven spots to learn on: Rye Pier · Blairgowrie Pier · Mornington Pier · Beaumaris Pier · St Leonards Pier · Queenscliff

The Melbourne hub links every spot guide we have — pick the one nearest you.

8. The rules — measure right, keep legal

This is where a lot of beginners slip up:

• Measure by mantle (hood) length, not the tentacles — that’s why “I caught a metre-long calamari” is almost always a measuring error. → How to measure squid
• Bag and size limits change by state and over time. → Squid fishing regulations Australia — and always confirm the official source before a trip.

9. After the catch

→ How to clean and cook squid — clean it quick, keep it cold, and it’s some of the best eating you’ll catch.

Your first kit (start here)

If you’re buying your first setup, keep it simple: a light eging rod, a 2500 reel, PE braid + fluoro leader, and a size 3.0 jig in a natural colour, a glow/UV, and a high-contrast colour so you can adjust to the water.

Shop a starting kit from the RUI squid jig range — Australian-tuned colours and sizes — then read best squid jig Australia to choose, and check the squid radar before you head out.

Squidding FAQ

How do you catch squid for beginners?

Tie a size 2.5–3.0 egi onto a light rod with PE braid and a fluorocarbon leader. Cast out, let the jig sink while you count it down, then sweep the rod up two or three times and stop. Squid grab it on the pause as it flutters down — watch your line and lift smoothly when you feel weight. Piers on calm, clear evenings are the easiest start.

What size squid jig should I start with?

A size 3.0 is the best all-round starting size for Australian land-based eging. Drop to 2.5 in shallow, calm or very clear water; go up to 3.5 in wind, current or deeper edges.

What is the best time to catch squid?

Dawn and dusk into the first hours of night are prime, especially on clean water after settled weather. Squid feed year-round in southern Australia, with autumn–winter often the most consistent.

Where can I catch squid in Melbourne?

Port Phillip Bay and Western Port piers, jetties and weed-edge beaches — Rye, Blairgowrie, Mornington, Beaumaris, St Leonards, Queenscliff and many more. Check the live squid radar for wind and clarity first.

What do I legally need to know before keeping squid?

Measure by mantle (hood) length, not the tentacles, and check your state’s bag and possession limits — they change, so confirm the official source before you go.

The full squid fishing guide library

This page is the map; these are the deep dives — gear (rod, line, leader, jigs), jig choice (size, colour, sink rate), technique (work the jig, when to strike), conditions (water, weather, night), timing (best time, season), spots (Melbourne), and the rules (measuring, regulations).