I remember years back coming across a huge school of squid in the middle of the day about 14km off New Plymouth. Big suckers too, 40cm+ hood easily. They would hit just about anything that you threw in the water.

I've also seen huge schools of something hanging around in midwater in 100m+ depths that wouldn't take a bait, reliably told they're squid too.

I think it's just not something people target that much?

I catch squid in Western Australia and they are southern calamari...we do get arrow squid as well but they are thin and not that big.....biggest ive caught has been a 35cm hood but ive had plenty in the 25 to 30cm hood range.....This one was my 35cm hood ...we also get plenty of cuttlefish too......All the squid i catch have been off jetties both day and night....A mate has caught a 45cm hood and they can go to 50cm no probs.....Its easier from a boat here.........plenty of people squid fish local in Perth but also down south out and around weed beds........There is one lady we call "The squid Queen" ...she just hammers them every time she goes out...huge squid and huge cuttlefish !

Reel Deal wrote: I had a roof topper tinnie with a 15 hp in Aussie and the most squid I caught in one session was at tin can bay. The wind was light and about 10m deep and me and the wha drifted with sinker on bottom and squid jig about a foot up over a channel with sea grass. Took home ten and thought it was a great day till finding all my mud crab pots were stolen....sucked.