Squid Fishing from the yak

What started out slow was a great day out in the yak.

With me starting a new job it's not as easy to get away for a fish like it used to be. Other commitments come first but I have managed a few trips with great success chasing squid. This is something quite new to me and I wish I had started years ago.
One recent trip was when I was able to hook up with a mate and head up to one of my favourite places, Wallaroo in SA. Not only do I like fishing there but there is something about the place, the long jetty, the history, whatever it is I love it.
After getting on our way around 4.30am we had an easy drive and arrived to flat seas, always a nice sight after nearly a 2 hour drive.

My previous yak at Wallaroo Beach.

With great anticipation we set up the yaks, launched from the beach and headed to the jetty.
On the way I tried for Snook with no success. After fishing near the jetty with no success I thought I would try for some squid in the shallows - I'm glad I did.

The water was pretty calm at this point and I attached my jag to the my Raider Yak Rod 1-3kg and cast into the shallows. It wasn't long before I had a squid on and landed in the net unfortunately I also had ink over the yak!

A previous 'inking'.

The gear of choice is the Shimano Egixile squid jigs and my favourite colour seems to be Keimura Purple and the other (Keimura Orange I think), they have both served me well catching over 45+ squid between them and only now showing battle scars, they will still be good for a few session yet!.

The rods I use are a Raider Yak rod, 1-3kg, Starlo JungleStix 732L 2-4kg, and a Raider Lure Project (I take a variety of rods, normally 1 with a lure, 1 a plastic and the other a jag). They are matched with a Symetre 1000, Stradic Ci4+ 2500, and a Rarenium Ci4 1000, if you want a super smooth real and something that you can hold all day you can't beat these…

The braid I use is 3 and 5lb PowerPro Bite Motion, I love it because part form being super thin, it comes in a high vis' orange with a bite detecting black marks at one metre intervals. even if you did get a rare wind knot they are easy to get out, just take it slow.

Another squid comes on board.

I found the most success came with long casts and waiting until the jag was near the bottom. To achieve this I did a count back, drop the jag over the side of the yak and count how long it took to reach the bottom. I would then cast out and count the same time before starting the retrieve which was a series of 'flicks' and long pauses.

The Egixile squid jags are wighted correctly they have a great action and a slow drop.

At one point I had 2 in the net as as I caught one and his mate followed him up, I just had to catch him as well...

There are 2 in the net, they just can't resist the orange colour, I caught one and his mate followed him up.

Nice squid caught on a previous Metro Adelaide trip.

Some of the other locations I have had great success is Ardrossan and around Adelaide metro coast also. That being said these would work anywhere in 'Squid Territory'.

I was told a great tip and once you have caught a squid get your hand around its 'neck with a firm hold or it will try to bite you with its beak, then pinch them it the neck until it turns white, this will kill it quickly and also stop it squirting that horrible ink in the esky.

I also find that by keeping the wings attached and not removing the 'skin' until needed is easier as its defrosting as they aren't slippery.

I look forward to a another day off, calm seas and another great feed (and snapper baits).

Flaps left on ready for freezing.

A small rugger was a bonus on an Ardrossan trip.

Another victim to the orange Egixile squid jig.

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Squid Fishing in the Hobie Kayak at Wallaroo

After finally getting a break in the rain and wind I set off to Wallaroo, a 1.5 hour drive from home.
Plans had changed somewhat as 

I was meant to go with a fellow yakker Dave, alias 'Tingles' but the forecast was looking a bit dodgy, then it came good but plans had already changed.
Unfortunately I slept in and didn't get there until 8am so was already behind the 8 ball.
 (normally I like to be on the water at dawn)

After getting the yak set up and taking the car up off the beach I firstly tried for snook or salmon on the way to the jetty, trolling a Squidgy 100mm wriggler and a Shimano sinking minnow, two lures I had used on a previous trip with good success.
Unfortunately this came up blank so I continued toward the jetty. I kayaked up and down both sides and saw heaps on the sounder but they ended up being small tommies, I did manage a couple of just legal St's which I thought I could use as live baits, the idea of going for squid hadn't even entered my head yet as I don't normally target them.

lots on the sounder but just small tommies here.

While heading to the shallows a pair of dolphins swam by, I managed to get some footage on the camera which was cool. See the video here.

Then after catching nothing in the shallows I thought I would try somewhere else so headed on over. I don't normally try for squid but flicked out a squid jag and managed to jag one - mmm this is ok I thought but lost that jag next cast and that was my only good one, The only other one I had didnt have a weight attached. I had also put one of the previously caught salmon trout on as a teaser, making sure I had cut a V shape in the back of the neck as this is how the squid kill their prey and seems to be an attractant as an easy feed maybe.

bait showing the V cut in the back

Showing the jag inserted.

The squid were continually latching on but would drop off as they came close to the yak so I tried some modifications and put a couple of Squidgy resin head jig heads to the line and attached it that way, the squid wouldn't grab hold but were still going for it.
 





Back to the drawing board, ahha! rammed the other squid jag that I had removed the lead from through the ST and tried that - wammo! Ended up bagging out in a very short time, (had to keep tingles notified via sms) and if they fell off I would just let it drop again and wait until they had a good hold, unfortunately had also lost my net so had to bring them up by hand - and got inked!



Couldn't help but laugh at myself....

Sometimes have to think outside the square and try other things, I could have ended up with nothing but came home with my first ever bag of decent squid. Yak was a mess and took lots of hot soapy water and pressure sprayer to get right.



Would have been great sharing that with Dave and others but next time.
See the video here.

Squid trying to squirt ink but all out.

lifting the squid onboard

One messy yak

Some very nice meals amongst that lot.

The days catch, my first squid bag, caught on my trusty yak rod.

Checking the bag to see I how many I had - bad idea... what a mess.

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