Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: obie1fish on December 10, 2017, 05:32:15 PM
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I was in Everett this weekend, spending time with my missus, and, as "luck" would have it, managed to spend some time talking with the proprietors there. With the fisheries in that area having such low returns and high numbers of closures, they were saying that the vast majority of their sales in the last while were fishermen going for squid. The more popular spots on shore regularly have 200+ people lined up with their jigs. Besides myself, every person who came into Ted's Tackle was looking for squid jigs.
My question is, do we have any places around the south coast where squid are targeted this way?
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Oh c’mon, you gotta be squiddin me!!
Sorry, I HAD to 8)
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I have never heard tell of a squid fishery on the BC south coast (either LML or VI). If there is one, it would seem that it is local knowledge and not widely known.
Your question intrigued me so I did a bit of reading online. The annual squid migration is from the Pacific Ocean to inland spawning areas. The map on this webpage shows how the migration progresses along the south shore of Juan de Fuca to South Puget Sound. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/squid/howto_fish.html
There is also a summer migration in the Victoria area, and a winter migration in Georgia Straight, where they congregate in shallow inlets and bays to spawn. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/Csas/status/1999/C6-04e.pdf
If there is a squid fishery along southern Vancouver Island, Georgia Straight, or the Gulf Islands, it appears to be kept on the QT.
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Learned some techniques and locations here
http://www.squidfish.net/forums/index.php?/forum/17-west-coast/
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Learned some techniques and locations here
http://www.squidfish.net/forums/index.php?/forum/17-west-coast/
I saw that site earlier as well, however per the OP's question, there is no meaningful information re a recreational fishery in BC waters.
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That would be an interesting thing to fish for!
I've been kinda hoping to catch an octopus as my lady loves the taste, but have no idea of how to dispatch it quickly, humanely, and gentlemanly. The quick bit of research I did just led me to a Kiwi biting the face off one :P
https://youtu.be/KhCWrJzgb8Q (https://youtu.be/KhCWrJzgb8Q)
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I have seen squid jigging of the docks in ucluelet. a few years ago.
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I havent personnely fished for squid, but I have heard of people fishing for them around southern Vancouver Island. It seems to be dependdent on the time of year, and I think they are more active at night.
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Try Humboldt squid fishing. There is sizable,apparently, population here . These animals are very curious and love to cuddle with humans ;)
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I have caught a Pacific Staghorn Sculpin with a whole market squid in its mouth off Cates Park last year, at first light. Squid must be around, haven't seen any anglers actively targeting squid tho.
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I thought I gave little bit my experiences in catching these squids. I happen to live both side of border and have pleasure in fishing for these delicious little squids off the pier in Dash Point Washington State. The legal angling way for these squids is you are allow to use up to 4 squid jigs which have about 8-10 barbless wire hooks per jig. The jigs are about 2"-3" in length and I recommend the ones with extra glow jig. I usually rigged 2 jigs on my main line which has less chance of tangling. You just basically lower the jigs to bottom and reel back up about 6-12" and just jigged up and down. Many times I caught up to 2 squids which wrap their tentacles around the jigs. I seen some lucky fisherman caught up to 4 per 2 jigs at once.
I have limit out once and limit is 10 lbs. I Borrowed an fellow fisherman hand held scale to weighted my pail with squids. I found different colour jigs works great on one day and next time it slow. It best to buy different colour of jigs. My basic setup is my old 25 plus year old Berkley 10' 6"steelhead drift rod and old Ambassadeur Five (saltwater) baitcasting reel no longer make.
Season is from October to Jan. I being catching them during morning and sometimes afternoon. Some fisherman comes out during night to fish for them and use a little gas generator to power their flood lights to shine into the water. Thats what the guys at Sportco sporting good store (Fife) told me.
It does get busy on the weekend and rubbing shoulder to shoulder is the norm and I did once and that last time. I found the fisherperson gals and guys are quite friendly because I think it is that everybody are catching them.
Now catching winter steelhead in Washington state is different story. More fish and million drift boats. I save that stories another time. ;D
Silex user
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My question is, do we have any places around the south coast where squid are targeted this way?
I have caught a Pacific Staghorn Sculpin with a whole market squid in its mouth off Cates Park last year, at first light. Squid must be around, haven't seen any anglers actively targeting squid tho.
That is some solid local intel from Mesmer. Based on what I have read about timing and techniques, if the Cates Park Pier has a light source, doing some exploratory jigging there right now would be a good place as any to start (local tidal regulations permitting, of course).
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That is some solid local intel from Mesmer. Based on what I have read about timing and techniques, if the Cates Park Pier has a light source, doing some exploratory jigging there right now would be a good place as any to start (local tidal regulations permitting, of course).
Cates Park does not have any light sources on the pier with the exception of a few solar LEDs. fastened to the dock.
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Just got back from my trip to Florida. Their numerous long fishing piers equipped with amble lighting at night just put our local tiny piers to shame.
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Yeah, when fishing is encouraged and access is provided, along comes increased advocacy from the grass roots participant level.
Most governments get that, ours does not. We still have wetlands today basically because of Ducks Unlimited. Hunters lobbying governments for habitat protection and restoration.
Don't even get me started on boat launches...
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Any jurisdiction in the US does not have the public funding challenges that are faced in Canada. Those are caused by factors of population and social benefits. The population of Florida is over 20 million, that is 4 times the population of BC in less than 1/4 of the space.
Florida also has a far better tourist base than most of Canada and better ocean and shore fishing.
It's not just a matter that governments don't care - it that they fund what Canadian consider to be more socially important programs -like health care and have less money to fund luxuries such as fishing piers.
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Any jurisdiction in the US does not have the public funding challenges that are faced in Canada. Those are caused by factors of population and social benefits. The population of Florida is over 20 million, that is 4 times the population of BC in less than 1/4 of the space.
Florida also has a far better tourist base than most of Canada and better ocean and shore fishing.
It's not just a matter that governments don't care - it that they fund what Canadian consider to be more socially important programs -like health care and have less money to fund luxuries such as fishing piers.
Thank you!!! this is always overlooked!
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It's not just a matter that governments don't care - it that they fund what Canadian consider to be more socially important programs -like health care and have less money to fund luxuries such as fishing piers.
Like the $155,000 spent on sending a red couch around Canada for 150 this past summer? I agree we have far less tax money to play with - but our governing bodies blow a lot of money that would be far better spent on things like piers, boat ramps, and other infrastructure that benefits local society and economy.
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/four-bizarre-things-governments-spent-money-on-for-canada-150/ (http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/four-bizarre-things-governments-spent-money-on-for-canada-150/)
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Similar things happen in the states as well: http://www.wnd.com/2000/10/4314/
What really cracks me up is people who buy a boat and expect all tax payers to pay for launches s he can use it, or build fishing piers in a region where we don't have the sort fishery that can support it.
As stupid as it may be just how much on going maintenance $ does a red couch require compared to a boat launch or a 50 to 100 meter fishing pier? Both would be expensive to maintain.
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Similar things happen in the states as well: http://www.wnd.com/2000/10/4314/
What really cracks me up is people who buy a boat and expect all tax payers to pay for launches s he can use it, or build fishing piers in a region where we don't have the sort fishery that can support it.
As stupid as it may be just how much on going maintenance $ does a red couch require compared to a boat launch or a 50 to 100 meter fishing pier? Both would be expensive to maintain.
I think we can agree that both US and Canadian govt's need a good head shaking when it comes to misspending. Those examples in your link make that silly red couch seem like a great deal.
Ah I'm a kayaker so don't really need a launch - but know that there are plenty of people around the LM with boats that need safe and close places to launch them. Hard to think a launch would need much maintenance after it is built - and could generate decent revenue with parking fees as we see at Vanier or Macdonald Beach launches. That should cover maintenance fees and other related expenses - plus add a few bucks to the city coffers I would think.
As for piers - compare how many people use the pier at Jericho or Ambleside for fishing as opposed to just being there taking in the beauty that is our region. The point was not lost on me that we have far less to fish for from these piers (a couple one-arm crabs and maybe a dogfish). Maybe we don't need ones as bright and fancy as the ones in Florida - but I believe they add a lot more value to the areas that have them than just for fishermen.
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Fair enough ... back to squiding!
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Just curious if there are any scuba divers here and if they have noticed any numbers of squid locally.
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I think we can agree that both US and Canadian govt's need a good head shaking when it comes to misspending. Those examples in your link make that silly red couch seem like a great deal.
Ah I'm a kayaker so don't really need a launch - but know that there are plenty of people around the LM with boats that need safe and close places to launch them. Hard to think a launch would need much maintenance after it is built - and could generate decent revenue with parking fees as we see at Vanier or Macdonald Beach launches. That should cover maintenance fees and other related expenses - plus add a few bucks to the city coffers I would think.
As for piers - compare how many people use the pier at Jericho or Ambleside for fishing as opposed to just being there taking in the beauty that is our region. The point was not lost on me that we have far less to fish for from these piers (a couple one-arm crabs and maybe a dogfish). Maybe we don't need ones as bright and fancy as the ones in Florida - but I believe they add a lot more value to the areas that have them than just for fishermen.
We probably have more piers per capita than Florida, they do get about 130,000,000 tourists a year so it is unfair to directly compare the two places. There are piers at every waterfront town in BC-Campbell Rivers is famous, Bella Bella’s not so much-as well as lots of boat launches all over. But I guess you are only talking about Burrard Inlet? Don’t get caught up in the “grass is greener” trap, we have it pretty good here.
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I know there is no squid swimming around White Rock pier or else there be couple hundreds people fishing for them. Plus the water in winter months is quite clear and maybe not deep enough for them. In Washington State Dash Point pier where I fished for them the water is quite murky and deep maybe 20-25 feet deep.
Silex user
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As Silex points out ; I would think that if there was a squid fishery around here anywhere we would know about it.
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As Silex points out ; I would think that if there was a squid fishery around here anywhere we would know about it.
... OR, is that what they WANT you to think..... ::) :P
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Just curious if there are any scuba divers here and if they have noticed any numbers of squid locally.
I'm a diver, and have never seen one during my dives. This includes various locations in Indian arm, off the kits beaches, and on both sides of the Howe Sound. I also dive at night occasionally, and I haven't seen em then either. Seems like it would be a cool thing to encounter.
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Any jurisdiction in the US does not have the public funding challenges that are faced in Canada. Those are caused by factors of population and social benefits. The population of Florida is over 20 million, that is 4 times the population of BC in less than 1/4 of the space.
Florida also has a far better tourist base than most of Canada and better ocean and shore fishing.
It's not just a matter that governments don't care - it that they fund what Canadian consider to be more socially important programs -like health care and have less money to fund luxuries such as fishing piers.
^^^This^^^
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Like a lot of our local marine biota - squid populations may primarily be found very deep, perhaps as deep as 1600 feet:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/squid-video-glass-cockatoo-salish-sea
Opal Squid: http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/331769.pdf
Opal squid are primarily fished with seines in B.C., although the use of dipnets, frame nets and jigs are allowed.
Squid are attracted to the vessel at night by bright lights, and a seine set around the aggregated squid.
This paper is old ('94) but states there are spawning populations near Victoria in the Summer and in the Straight in winter.
Squid jigging near Seattle(2004): http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2002106593_fish02.html
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Nanaimo gets some Humboldt squid. Did a quick google and came up with this:
http://www.harbourchandler.ca/fishing-report/nanaimo-halibut-and-squid-up-date
Looks like summer time.
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I used to catch lots years ago over on Vancouver Island. Fished night time at a pier using squid jiggs.