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Giant squid weighing more than 35 pounds surprisingly invaded waters off Orange County a year ago, giving local landings a welcomed winter species to target.
They haven't resurfaced in our area, but the central coast is getting into the action again.
Giant squid, a.k.a. Humboldt squid, averaging 25-30 pounds with some as big as 50 pounds, have given charterboat operators from Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay something to target for the second consecutive winter.
Skipper Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler out of Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center took 26 anglers out Sunday and produced 468 giant squid.
He traveled 21/2 hours to the Cordell Bank. Less than two minutes after metering squid, hook-ups were instant.
"(The squid were) up on the surface attacking everything in sight," Powers said. "One guy held a jig 6 inches out of the water and a squid came out of the water to grab it."
The squid were so thick, anglers could not get a lure through the school without hooking up.
"I've seen wide-open salmon bites, and wide-open albacore bites, and wide-open ling cod and halibut bites, but it's nothing like giant squid when they attack the boat," Powers said. "It's the most exciting fishery I've ever seen."
Boats from Half Moon Bay, Emeryville and Monterey also have gone after the squid, when conditions permit.
Tom Mattusch, skipper of the Huli Cat in Pillar Point Harbor near Half Moon Bay, sampled the squid for the first time Sunday and 12 anglers caught 165, about 20 miles out.
Mattusch said the squid last year "was absolutely a savior." Another skipper called this year's squid invasion an economic windfall, considering the rockfish closures that leave charterboat operators with nothing to target.
In four previous trips since mid-January, Powers has managed counts of 385, 250, 525 and 345 giant squid.
"We haven't missed them yet," he said. "We haven't caught them as quickly as we did (Sunday), but we've had heavy tonnage every trip."
Powers is hopeful the giant squid stick around through February and into March.
Article by Dave Strege O.C.Register
This story reminds me of the movie 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
Posts: 3875 | From: ca. | Registered: Jul 2005
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I guess a lot of people eat them, not me. We use to throw them back when we would catch them by accident,but not this size. They are good for bait for some fish.
Posts: 3875 | From: ca. | Registered: Jul 2005
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It is a sorry azz state of affairs that the Pacific Fisheries Management Council [ PFMC ] has managed, to manage Commercial/Charter Boat Operators out of buisiness, in regards to Ocean Deep Sea Fishing.
I know of what I speak, I was a Commercial/Charter boat owner/operator on the Oregon Coast for many years.
The fact that squid fishing is a target industry for Charter operators is a reflection of the failure of our industry to provide viable fishing opertunities. We over fished, and then we were over managed..
Squid fishing has always been a sideline/night activity up here during Albacore season..People really have fun doing it, but what a mess! They Ink out on everything.
Squid is a main source of bait for the commercial Crabing industry, along with Herring and hang bait [ Bottom fish,the carcass].
With the demise of the Bottom fishing along the West Coast, squid has become even more in demand for bait.
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Until last year I had never heard of sports fishing boats fishing for squid. Somehow to me it does not seem worth the money. Dustoff-- Why to you think we are seeing fish reappear in good numbers that we have not seen in 30 years? It is great to see. I have heard that the Mexican President had put some restrictions on fishing down there 5 years ago. I would think that there has to be restrictiions on fishing down in South America, It's hard to imagine that just restricting US. fisherman would make much of a differance. Hope your health is good, have not seen you posting much, Take Care of yourself Dustoff.
Posts: 3875 | From: ca. | Registered: Jul 2005
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I don't know what the current state of fishing off the NJ/Delaware coast is.
My dad used to go two or three times a year and bring back a couple cooler fulls of weakfish (sea trout) or bluefish. The weakfish more or less seemed to dry up but bluefish numbers went up. This was about 20 years ago and I don't believe he's gone much in recent years. Flounder were always the top fish any time I went out on a charter. Never seemed to catch many though. They did use squid for bait then.
Posts: 559 | Registered: Oct 2005
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Here in Calif. we are seeing the halibut, mackerel and bonito in increasing numbers, they are catching them off the piers which I have not seen since the 1970's.
Posts: 3875 | From: ca. | Registered: Jul 2005
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Giant Humbolt squid are washing up on the shores of the Oregon Coast.
Increase in Halibut season looks promising.
Bag limit on daily bottom fishing limits decreased a bit. But, quality and size is up.
Salmon season for Kings and Coho has not been set yet.
If folks are interested in fishing up here, I can steer you to a very good Port.
It has one of safest Bar Crossings on the Oregon Coast, with exellant fishing when the fish co-operate.
Posts: 10729 | From: oregon | Registered: Feb 2005
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