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You’ve got to be squidding
  |  First Published: October 2014



In the colder months fewer anglers hit the water because the fishing is usually a lot slower. It doesn’t stop me though because I have an older brother who is keen as I am to get out, even in the coldest of conditions.

Recently my brother and I moved from flathead, kingfish and mulloway to targeting squid around different Sydney waterways. Fishing for squid is very different, where patience and persistence is the key to gathering a delicious feed of calamari. The great thing about squidding is that anyone can do it. You don’t need a boat, you can just go down to a jetty and have a go.

SQUID SPOTS

There are many spots around the Sydney region where people can fish for squid. Locations such as Bare Island and Yarra Bay are great spots to start in Botany Bay. The Spit Bridge and Middle Harbour are also great places to try in Sydney. Cronulla is another area which offers plenty of land-based spots. There are many wharves along the Port Hacking where people can try.

If you have access to a boat you can try Jibbon Beach, Jibbon Bombora or Shark Island on very calm days.

Conditions

I usually fish with my brother on a 4.5m tinny which gets me to all the areas mentioned. We don’t need to use the GPS, we just look for broken sand and weed grounds where the squid love to hide. Fishing either early morning or late afternoon usually delivers the best results as this is the time when squid love to hunt. We generally head out when it’s high tide. High tide brings a big flush of fresh seawater, making the water more clear, and this makes it a lot easier for a squid to see your jig.

Gear

You don’t need expensive gear when fishing for squid – you can use handlines or any rod and reel you have in the garage. I prefer to use a small 2500 reel with 8lb braid matched up with a soft graphite rod as you can feel the strike of the squid. You can usually find these combos in your local tackle shop for under $100.

Always fish with light fluorocarbon leaders as the squid can sometimes be fussy. I reckon 10lb fluorocarbon leader is a great size to start with.

I like to use Yamashita jigs because these are very high quality and don’t break easily. Any of the natural colours work a treat, with the natural blue being my favourite. I have seen people catch squid on cheaper ones but these tend to break and rip. I guess it all depends how serious you are on catching squid.

When it comes to working your jig, all you need to remember is to retrieve your jig slowly with a lift of the rod tip, as this represents a live prawn. On those bright, sunny days, pick jigs that have a natural lighter colour. On dark days, pick jigs with bright colours.

Lastly, please remember to only take what you are going to eat so our waterways keep producing.

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