Guide
Squid Fishing After Rain: Dirty Water, Runoff and Jig Colour Choices
Learn how to fish for squid after rain in Australia, including dirty water decisions, runoff, wind-stirred bays, sheltered spots and the best squid jig colours for low visibility.
Squid fishing after rain can be very good or very frustrating. The rain itself is not the full story. The real issue is what the rain does to water clarity, salinity, bait movement and your ability to keep the jig visible.
After rain, stop asking, “Did it rain?” and start asking, “Can squid still see and track my jig here?”
Light rain is different from dirty runoff
Light rain can sometimes be fine. It may reduce glare, cool the surface and keep crowds down. If the water remains clear, you can often fish normally.
Heavy rain is different. It can push dirty freshwater runoff into shallow bays, drains, marinas and shoreline edges. That can make natural colours disappear and reduce the zone where squid can hunt confidently.
The key is checking the water in front of you.
Look for clean edges
After rain, the best water is often not evenly spread. One side of a bay may be dirty while another side stays fishable.
Look for:
- clear water beside stained water
- deeper edges beyond shallow runoff
- protected corners out of the wind
- weed beds that still have visibility
- tide lines where bait gathers
- pier lights that help squid find prey at night
If the whole shallow area looks milky, move. Do not waste the session forcing a subtle jig into water where squid cannot track it.
Colour changes after rain
When water clarity drops, your jig needs to create a stronger target.
Useful after-rain colours include:
- glow body
- white body
- orange belly
- pink belly
- red foil
- UV finish
- dark back contrast
- gold flash
If the water is only lightly stained, start with contrast but do not go ridiculous. If it is very dirty, go louder or move to cleaner water.
For the full colour logic, read squid jig colours Australia.
Size and sink rate after rain
Rain often arrives with wind. Wind and chop create line belly, which makes the jig harder to control. If you cannot feel the fall, size up or use a faster-sinking jig.
Try this:
| After-rain condition | Jig choice |
|---|---|
| Clear water after light rain | Natural or mild contrast 3.0 |
| Slightly stained water | Pink, orange or red foil 3.0 |
| Dirty but fishable water | Glow, white, UV or dark contrast |
| Wind plus dirty water | 3.5 with stronger visibility |
| Deep edge after runoff | Faster sink or larger profile |
The point is not to fish bigger every time. The point is to restore visibility and control.
Avoid dead runoff zones
Some areas look convenient after rain but fish poorly because they are full of dirty freshwater, debris and low visibility.
Be cautious around:
- stormwater outlets
- very shallow muddy corners
- areas with floating debris
- wind-blown dirty shorelines
- protected water with no bait movement
If you must fish those areas, use stronger contrast and slow the presentation. But usually, finding cleaner water is the better move.
Night fishing after rain
Night can still work after rain if lights and cleaner edges are available. The light helps bait and squid locate the zone, and glow or contrast jigs can stand out better.
Fish the edge of the light rather than only the brightest patch. Let the jig fall slowly enough for squid to find it.
Read the night squid fishing guide if you are planning an after-rain evening session.
Use local checks before driving
Around Melbourne, wind direction can decide which side of a bay stays cleaner. Use the Eging Tactical Radar before committing to a long drive, then keep a backup location in mind.
If the first spot is dirty, move to:
- a more sheltered side
- a deeper pier
- a cleaner reef edge
- a location with less runoff
- a bay section with clearer water
Final answer
You can catch squid after rain, but the session depends on water clarity. If the water is clean, fish normally. If it is stained, use stronger visibility colours and better sink control. If it is filthy, move until the jig can be seen and fished properly.