Which Squid Jig?

Lure selection is critical for squid fishing, or eging, success. However, if you’re just getting into it, the breadth of lure options can be a tad overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to help!

What’s a squid jig?

Squid jigs are small lures that resemble a prawn (or small fish) with a keel-shaped weight at the front, and rows of sharp barbless prongs at the rear. Squid jigs usually have two layers consisting of the underbody and an outside cloth layer, each typically a different colour. 

What colour is best? 

A general rule of thumb is to use bright, lumo colours such as pink, orange, and green in for night or low light conditions, and darker, more natural-looking colours (brown, olive, blue/silver) for brighter conditions. 

Another factor to consider is the clarity of the water. In clear water, the less ostentatious colours can be more effective at fooling the squid into thinking it's a real prey item like a small fish. In murkier water, a brighter, more visible jig, such as one with a fluorescent color, may be easier for the squid to spot and therefore more effective.

Bright, lumo colours are generally preferred for eging in the dark (top nine), whereas natural colours are preferred for daytime fishing (bottom seven).

It's worth experimenting with different colours to see what works best in your local area. Squid can be finicky and may have specific preferences, so it's always a good idea to have a variety of jigs in different colours and patterns to experiment with. For example, on nights when the squid are particularly shy, excessively lumo or brightly coloured jigs may seem unnatural. In these instances, darker and more natural colours might be worth a crack. 

Here's a handy reference for squid jig colour selection: 

• Night (no ambient light) – red and lumo
• Night (ambient light from streetlamps or the moon) – gold, rainbow, clear and silver
• Sunrise and sunset – gold, pink and rainbow
• Day (clear sky) – blue/silver, brown, olive, purple, dark yellow
• Day (overcast) – rainbow, red, purple, lumo

Blue/silver can be an effective option during the day.

Weight

Squid jigs come in a range of sizes, all with weighted keels. The keel on a squid jig will usually have a number stamped into it and/or a number on the packet (usually between 1.8 and 3.5 in NZ stores). The number on the jig is not associated with the weight, but rather the size of the jig. Generally, larger jigs sink faster than smaller ones. However, depending on the brand and type of jig, this can vary. The sink rates are usually written on the packet, too, in seconds per metre. 

In autumn and early winter, the squid are smaller, so jigs ranging between 1.8 to 2.5 are recommended. As squid grow rapidly through winter and into spring, using size 2.5 and up is recommended later in the season as the size of squid increases. Bigger jigs also offer the advantage of casting further and thereby covering more area. 

Most egi anglers will drop down to a smaller jig when squid are being picky or lethargic. In shallow water, smaller jigs (or slow sinking models) can be useful as they give the squid more time to attack the dropping lure.

Dawn and dusk are prime squid-catching times – switching out lures as light conditions changed worked a treat for Aaron Styles around Kawau Island.

A popular theory is that during the day, squid typically take cover from predators around weed and rocks and are less inclined to expose themselves in open water. Therefore, larger (or faster sinking) lures are often preferred for daytime squid fishing to spend more time close to the bottom in the strike zone. 

One theory is that during the day, they are taking cover from predators, so unless the meal is big enough to be worth the risk of exposing themselves in the open, they will generally ignore it.  

Brands

One of the truisms in the tackle world is, “You get what you pay for.”

The price and quality of squid jigs varies considerably, and although any jigs will do the business some days, squid are often finicky and the subtle differences in quality can make a huge difference. 

YO-ZURI and Yamashita squid jigs are renowned for product development and cutting-edge technologies. Warm jacket cloths, rattles, ‘490 glow’ and shift-able internal weights for longer casts and more hang time in the water, are some of the unique features these brands offer that can give you an edge. If you’re lucky enough to catch a few squid, you’ll also notice on some of the cheaper brands that the outer cloth layer gets ripped apart easily by squid beaks. 

Good luck with your calamari catching!

- NZ Fishing News