Guide
Squid Fishing Monthly Calendar Australia
A practical month-by-month squid fishing calendar for Australia, covering seasonal patterns, water clarity, wind, bait movement and jig choices.
A squid fishing calendar is useful only if you treat it as a planning layer. It tells you what is more likely. It does not replace water clarity, wind, tide, bait and local structure.
Use this month-by-month guide to plan sessions, then check the real conditions with the Eging Tactical Radar before choosing the spot and jig.
January
Summer sessions can be busy, bright and pressured. Early morning, late evening and night are usually more comfortable than the middle of the day.
Look for:
- clean water away from stirred sand
- pier lights after dark
- deeper weed edges
- less crowded access points
Jig starting point: size 2.5 or 3.0 in natural, pink, orange or glow depending on light.
February
February can still fish like summer. The better sessions often come from picking a clean-water window rather than forcing a spot because the calendar says to go.
Good signs:
- small bait holding near weed
- gentle wind that does not dirty the water
- dusk tide movement
- quiet night sessions under lights
If squid are cautious, slow the retrieve and let the jig pause longer.
March
March is a transition month. Some locations begin to feel less pressured, and more comfortable evening sessions can open up.
This is a good month to think about:
- size 3.0 as your base jig
- natural colours in clear daylight
- glow or contrast at night
- slightly deeper edges as water and bait shift
April
April can be a strong planning month in southern regions because cleaner water windows and cooler changes may begin lining up.
Start checking:
- wind direction
- post-front clarity
- weed condition
- bait movement
- dawn and dusk windows
This is where a simple all-round jig box becomes useful.
May
May often feels like the start of more serious cool-season planning in Victoria and other southern waters.
The best sessions are usually not random. They come from clean water, manageable wind and structure that holds squid close enough to reach.
Useful jig direction:
- natural baitfish in clean water
- pink or orange in low light
- glow at night
- size 3.0 first, then 3.5 for wind or deeper edges
June
June can be a strong squid month when the water is clean and the wind lets you control the line.
Avoid the mistake of fishing only by temperature. Cold dirty water is still dirty water. A clean, fishable angle matters more than the calendar.
Good pages to pair with June planning:
July
July rewards patience. You may have fewer comfortable weather windows, but the good windows can be worth preparing for.
Focus on:
- water clarity after wind
- protected sides of bays
- pier lights at night
- broken ground and weed edges
- slower retrieves with longer pauses
If wind creates too much line belly, increase jig size or move to a better angle.
August
August can continue the cool-season pattern. In southern locations, clean water and low light can make squid more catchable from shore.
Carry enough colour range to avoid guessing:
- natural
- glow
- pink
- orange
- dark or high-contrast
This month suits anglers who check conditions before leaving home rather than just driving to the same pier every time.
September
September is a changeover month. Conditions may start shifting quickly, and some regions have seasonal restrictions that must be checked.
Use September to watch:
- cleaner water after stable weather
- squid around weed and spawning structure
- baitfish movement
- pressure around popular land-based spots
Before travelling interstate, check the squid fishing regulations guide.
October
October can be productive, but it can also bring windier, changeable days. Do not let a good-looking month override a poor local forecast.
Good October approach:
- fish early or late
- use natural colours in clear water
- use glow or contrast in low light
- choose locations with a backup wind angle
For Melbourne planning, start with Port Phillip Bay squid fishing and Western Port squid fishing.
November
November often pushes anglers toward dawn, dusk and night again as light, wind and crowds change.
Look for:
- clean-water shorelines
- reef and weed edges
- night lighting
- current that is moving but not ripping
- a jig that reaches the zone without dragging bottom
This is a good time to use the squid jig size guide before automatically changing colour.
December
December brings holiday pressure. The easiest mistake is fishing the most obvious spot at the most obvious time with the same jig as everyone else.
Try:
- early starts
- later night sessions
- quieter structure
- smaller natural jigs in clear shallow water
- glow or white around lights
- a backup spot if parking or water clarity is poor
Month-by-month quick table
| Month | Planning angle | First jig idea |
|---|---|---|
| January | Dawn, dusk, night, clean summer water | 2.5-3.0 natural or glow |
| February | Clear-water windows, less pressure | 2.5-3.0 natural, pink or orange |
| March | Transition month, deeper edges | 3.0 natural or glow |
| April | Cooler changes, better planning windows | 3.0 natural or contrast |
| May | Stronger cool-season focus | 3.0 natural, pink, glow |
| June | Clean water and low light | 3.0-3.5 glow or natural |
| July | Patience and protected wind angles | 3.0-3.5 glow, pink, contrast |
| August | Cool clean-water pattern | 3.0 natural, glow, orange |
| September | Changeover and rule checks | 3.0 natural or pink |
| October | Wind-aware spring sessions | 3.0 natural, glow, contrast |
| November | Early, late and night windows | 2.5-3.0 natural or glow |
| December | Holiday pressure management | 2.5-3.0 natural, white or glow |
Final answer
The best squid month is the month when season, clean water, manageable wind, bait and reachable structure all line up. Use this calendar to plan the pattern, then use live conditions to choose the actual spot and jig.