Search for Squid, Catch your own Calamari
Did you know that there are more squid in the ocean than fish? Squid are widely described as “candy of the seas” and are viewed as such by pelagic fish, whales, and other sea creatures that eat them. Research indicates that squid populations are booming with speculation as to why pointing to human commercial fishing pressure on fish that naturally feed and compete with squid. As the old saying goes, when the tuna are away, the squid shall play. Rising ocean temperatures may also be a factor.
To most folks, the fact that squid outnumber fish in the ocean goes against anecdotal evidence. Afterall, whenever we head out on a boat or visit the beach, the odds tend to be very good of seeing some kind of fish, while spotting squid feels like more of an uncommon occurrence. Yet these eight-armed, two-tentacled, alien looking beasties with their gigantic eyes, water jet siphons, psychedelic color changing skin, chomping beaks, ink shooting, and other otherworldly Lovecraftian adaptations are down there in their estimated trillions. We typically don’t see them because they are in the deeps only rising closer to the surface after the sun goes down. Fortunately for humans who could potentially be prey for giant squid which are known to be voracious carnivores and can weigh 600 pounds and be over 40 feet long, direct encounters are rare. While there are estimated to be hundreds of millions of giant squid the vast majority of squid are smaller species that pose no threats to us and we are far more likely to eat them then they eat us—hence the “candy” moniker.
If we are to live on a planet where there are more squid than fish, then, “Let us eat calamari!” I say.
Squid Jigging, Catching Candy, the Budget Newbie (Norris) Way
I gave squid jigging a shot here in my native Puget Sound, Washington from the local public Des Moines Fishing Pier with a couple more seasoned buddies. For us, the fishing began on Facebook. Squid in Puget Sound are a migratory and often mysterious lot that generally start appearing in the fall and move en masse deeper and then out of the Sound throughout the winter. Thanks to “the internets”, anybody with a phone can hop onto specific groups, pages, and accounts dedicated to alerting the public where the squid are biting.
This community vibe is kind of fun and different, as fisherfolk are generally more secretive about this kind of intel. But when it comes to squid, the issue isn’t the amount of the buggers but rather where the mass of them are moving through. When they are on at a public pier, it is a free for all of folks quickly reaching their 10-pound limits with the living mass of squid largely unaffected.
We saw that there was activity at the Des Moines Fishing Pier and chose a chilly evening to go. I snagged a cheapo fishing rod with fast action—the term that describes a rod that bends toward the tip. I threw a squid-specific jig on a leader with some weight, grabbed a bucket, bundled up, and headed to the pier to rendezvous with my pals. The night started promising, largely because there was about 50 mostly chain-smoking Vietnamese guys casting their hearts out.
Oh we are SO set! I thought gleefully as we took spots among them, the secondhand smoke sweet on the biting December wind. If chain-smoking Vietnamese guys aren’t a good fishing omen, I don’t know what is.
We set about casting and jigging, basically letting the lure drift down into the depths and then dancing the jig up and down to attract the squid. This species has the inglorious name of market squid or opalescent squid (Doryteuthis (Loligo) opalescens) and are typically a modest 5” to 10” in length. Their lifespan is less than a year, they die after spawning, but are a vital base of the food web in waters from Mexico to Alaska.
The jigging is important because the squid don’t really bite the hooks like a fish might, rather they dart at the enticing jig and grab it with their two tentacles and eight arms. The sharp little hooks bite them and then the fast action bending of the rod helps tell the angler he has one on the hook to reel it in. Many anglers will attached multiple squid jigs onto one line and even pull up two or three squid at a time.
Unfortunately, despite doing everything right, we and our pals at the Des Moines Fishing Pier got skunked. Nobody pulled up a single squid, yet I caught an extremely tiny fish. I also caught a jig that was snagged on something, then promptly lost a jig on the same snag. The sea giveth, and the sea taketh away.
All in all, it was a good time with friends but no calamari for us. Our post-fishing social media sleuthing found that the squid were further south that night and those who hit the Tacoma pier got their day.
Squid Jigging the Pro Way
Seeing how I didn’t land any squid, it’s probably best turn to an expert who reels in squid professionally for actual guidance. Enter captain Paul Kim, owner of Fish PNW Guide Service based out of Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle. Unlike me, he had a banger season.
“While I can’t speak on behalf of other charters, our season was fantastic!” says Kim. Overall weather was good with ideal water temperatures and conditions that kicked off in late October and went until mid-January 2026. Notably, it’s been a warm winter. “We ran our last squid trip charter a few days ago and we found some nice limits the largest sized we’ve seen since we started targeting them. While there are still some nice winter run squid in Puget Sound, the activity is tapering down.”
Kim uses handmade weighted jigs in various sizes and colors to mimic the prey of the squid. The jigs have both luminous (glow) and ultraviolet (UV) qualities shared with phosphorescent shrimp, fish, and other squid prey.
“While jigging at night can be effective, utilizing our sonography, electronics, and knowing the locations where squid reside are more important,” says Kim. Armed with his boat, tech, and local knowledge, squidding more easily becomes a day time affair even if they are generally deeper. “This past season, we never had the need to run an evening trip with guests. While we have color night vision optics, radar, and top-notch cartography, it’s also safer for our guests to jig during the daytime.”
For Kim, an avid sports fisherman, what makes squidding fascinating is its unique nature.
“There’s never a day that’s the same. It’s more like hunting than fishing,” explains Kim. “Some days it’s like a puzzle to figure out where they are; that’s the part that intrigues me as a captain and fishermen.” When it’s slow or harder to find them, it’s all the more rewarding when they land on the right school and find consistent action. “When all the rods are being worked and the ink is spraying and smiles and laughter are being shared amongst the crew, it’s the highlight of the trip for me.”
His number one bit of advice for preparation is to not overcook the squid. Cleaning the squid is also more easily demonstrated in person or via a video that described in writing. Fortunately for us, he has instructional pinned video reels on his Instagram @SeattleSquid.
If you ever get a chance to chase some squid, give it a chance. The experience varies wildly throughout the different regions of the world and local pros like Paul Kim know the ins and outs of the game. For example, one can chase man-sized Humboldt squid in places like Mexico or jumbo squid off the South American Pacific Coast. Reeling in a squid is a reminder that our amazing planet is home to mysterious, and sometimes delicious, beasts. Wish me luck, next season will be the one I finally limit out candy.
