Live squid for fingermark

[Scott nthQld]

I've know that live suid is apparently the best bait for good fingers but don't know where to get any or how to get them, or even if they are still around this time of year.

Can anyone give me any tips on how and where to get these little sucker around Townsville so I can get into the fingermark over the next few weeks?

The onlt time I have ever caught a squid up here was by complete fluke in my cast net, to which I was rewarded with a squirt of ink to the chest and later on a good sized grunter. Do I use a prawning light and a squid jig to get them or do people scopp them up in nets etc?

Cheers for you help

Scott

[backhoe]

you can usually get them where you would fish for fingermark. just hang a light over the side of the boat and get them with a scoop net (mono mesh is best) or a spear

[Scott nthQld]

thanks backhoe, I'll give it a go over the next few weeks

[PBass]

Hey Scott mate I used to live in Townsville but have since moved to Brissy.. A mate and I used to catch squid along the casino side of the breakwater.. We just used to walk along looking under the lights that are along there then its just a matter of throwing the jig out to entice the squid.. Try not to land it right on top of them though else they'll swim off.. Throw it past them and retrieve it back.. Good luck with the fingermark.. Sean

[longtail]

live squid is also a dynamite bait for queenies we used to jig them , when i was living in hervey bay , off the pier then float them out in the current under a balloon with a glow stick just above the top hook.


Cheers
Jason.

[jackextracter]

If your fishing from a boat just hang a light in the water and keep an eye out for the squid and when they show up just scoop em up if you cant find any doing that go somewere were there is lights shining in the water (jetties) and wait to you see em and chuck a cast net over them.

[Scott nthQld]

Thanks guys,

Jackextracter, I think thats how I got the last, and only squid I've caught, although it was a fluke,I was using my cast net to get some mullet and herring and ended up with a bonus ink stain on my favourite fishing shirt.

[Stolly]

Scott i have found that most places around townsville (halifax and cleveland bay) has squid. I use to use a 12v fluro from super cheap over the side of the boat to attract them but i have since wired up a 40w auto bulb and float it in the water next to the boat. You dont want the light to strong otherwise they will stay down deep where you cant reach them. The darker the moon the better and get yourself a good strong squid net otherwise you will bend the pole trying to scoop them. Squid jigs work aswell; just cast into the shadows and slowly jig it back in as if it is a prawn.

[Taipan]

I just hung a light over the side and waited. When they did show I couldn't manage to scoop the little suckers, I ended up just using a jig.
I was out at Burdekin rock and they seemed to be in good numbers.

[Willow1]

Ive had them just come up to the side of the boat at Salamander with the reflection from the fluro on the overhead consol. Tricky to try and scoop up in a net. Next time out Ill try the Jigs. Told to get a piece of coolite,cut out a hole and silastic a car light bulb with wires alredy soldered on into the hole. put it in the water, bulb down and jig around it. No reflection back in your face and makes it very easy to spot them (moonless night best time) Cheers Shane

[Fisher4life]

seen it done once when i was out with corey, and as he said, he just hung a prawning light over the back of the boat (no reflection at all then) and they just came up around the light... the cheap $2 squid jig was deffinately easier then scooping them, as they were quite often staying a fair way either behind or below the boat.

I also believe the light acted as a burleying device, atracting the bigger fish around the surface (cobia)

[Scott nthQld]

hmm, I dare say that all the squid attracted to the light would have brought all the cobes around.

Thanks all for you input.

Scott