Got Bait?

[SM]

Out here in SoCal we've been having a nice run of Humboldt squid, the same ones the swords were chewing on last September/October right off the beach. Now they'e back and some have been beaching themselves. These have been ranging from 2' long and 5 lbs on up to one I heard of that went 74 lbs. Not sure the swords are on them as the surface temps are 56 to 58 degrees right now. Here's a photo of one that someone caught on rod and reel:



I still have a load of the 24" type in my freezer, but Robbie was suggesting that those were too big. I'm tempted to reload on these, but they'd only be good for strips to attach to lures we troll at night. However, if there was a sword out there that would take one of these whole and it had my name on it, it just might silence that guy from NZ.

[FinalPoint]

mmmmmmmmmmm, calamari

[Darkside]

Rig that thing up with a couple 14/0 and hold on cause your probably going to need a BIGGER BOAT with the one that eats that bait. I caught a fish this weekend that had a 5lb escolar in its stomach and the sword was only 215lbs. That bait would draw the attetion of probalby bigger fish.[/i]

[kai akua]

damn. you might get a sperm whale with that thing!

i say 10" to 18" inches is a good length.

to bad the SST's are on the low side. any word on the stick boats down thier SM?

R

[INSPECTOR]

I reckon if you talk to our fishin partners in New Zealand, this is the size squid they'd claim they catch their monsters on!!! Of course those chaps over there might embelish just a little, LOL.

[abobis]

I just saw a show on Discovery Channel about those squid. They call them "Killer squid" and are extemely agressive :shock:

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by abobis

I just saw a show on Discovery Channel about those squid. They call them "Killer squid" and are extemely agressive :shock:

Thought those kiwi panzies took a powder

[santinitube]

I bet you would get a 500 lb plus sword on a whole squid Or at the very least a big black marlin Last year off puerto vallarta we were anchored up on el banco about 50 miles out it was midnight and we were catching 50 lb cuberas like they were going out of style ' I had one by the boat when what looked like a polaris missile come out of the water ate my 50 lb snapper that missile was a huge black marlin that stole my cubera. whos to say you won't get a huge swordfish on that whole squid

[Litetackleredneck]

good luck finding a big enough hook.

[koko]

Just use the hook from a flying gaff. That should be about the right size.

[J.P Freeman]

speaking of bait, how is the bait situation offshore south florida?

[hannaman]

Pleny of Tinkers JP.

[SM]

Robby, no stick boat activity. Heard from my source that the drift gillnetters are getting them 30 miles out on the ridge. Water temps out there are 61. Been very foggy and there's tons of floating debris in the channel to take out props. So I'm not inspired to go and check things out.

So how many chem sticks would you need to stick in or strap around that thing to light it up? I've caught them that big down at the East Cape and the flesh of the mantle is thick (a least an inch). No light would get through if you stuffed sticks up inside. I can't imagine the drag from towing that around on a down rigger.

[FinalPoint]

SM, no need to stick lights inside. I have never done it that way. Light up the baits from the outside.

[SM]

I've never put them inside the mantle either. I was just teasing. What I have done is run the squid up a shell squid skirt with a red light up in there to light up the skirt. I've also run it outside the mantle, but covered by a hubless skirt. I believe that you need the skirt over the squid to prevent them from blowing out and to keep them intact if/when they're bill whacked while trolling.

[FinalPoint]

why not try the hot dog/skirt method...note: the hot dog must be run along the leader just above the hook and the skirt must be long enough to cover hot dog and hook.

[cubanpuerto]

WOW, that is the biggest squid i have ever seen in my life. :shock:
Have fun putting that on a hook.lol