Squid??

I have read a few coastside reports of people catching big squid (one reported 6" 2') They are in really deep water though 600' - 1200'. Any chance they are reachable from Moss landing? Would you even want to tangle with one on a kayak?

Yup... it seems like there's an invasion of giant squid for entire west coast... north and south.

If you're gonna try to catch one a kayak, you better not wear white , I hear big squid have a lot of ink and great aim.

Did you guys see these pics from the K4F board?


http://forum.kayak4fish.com/viewtopic.php?t=3294

Looks like fun.  We'll have to stay tuned to Coastside.

Just be careful handling Humboldt squid.  From what I've been told they can be fiesty and some of the suckers have beaks.

They had a discovery channel show about the Humbolt a couple weeks back.  There were interviews with several pangueros who had been attacked, the wounds looked like someone had slashed them with a dull machete.  The lunatics diving with them had to wear special body and tank armour cause they were very aggressive.  I didn't catch the whole show, still waiting for it to re-air.

I have helped fish for them (Squid 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 ft) for bait.  Big Tuna love them on a kite.  Real fun to catch.  Put up a pretty good fight even on 30 to 40 lb. mono.

But, the Humboldt Squid are not suppose to be the best tasting.  Durning the end of the Salmon season at Santa Cruz and the start of the Albies.  These guys got them on megabaits (I think?).

They were showing them off at Bayside Marine and I do not know how much ice they had in the cooler.  But, they smelled real bad and they had them out of the cooler for only a few mins.  Enough time to take some pictures.

Ken

I don't know what kind they where catching but the coastside guys said they where excellent.

We can get Chuck to try them first!    

We sometimes buy what I think are the same squids at 99 ranch, panko and fry the rings and it's really good...

Squid's so cheap it's not really motivating to go after em unless it's really easy.

Ikayaki baby!

japanese style - grilled squid with triyaki sauce (with a side dish of rice)    YUMMMYYY!

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=10021&sort=2&cat=500&page=1

http://www.oceanfootage.com/stockfootage/Humbolt+Squid+Dive/

Check out the tentacle pics

I was thinking giant squiding might be fun to try on a kayak.... but now, after seeing that tentacle pic... I don't know anymore.

Can you imagine that thing grabbing your face after hauling it aboard?

Like I said, they can be fiesty!

From reading the posts that some of the guys put up at Coastside I think there are alot of unforseen hazards especially chasing them from the yaks.  Obviously having that tentacle of death latching onto bare skin is one of em.  Having a squid hangin off the side of the boat will draw the rest of the school up and possibly attack the hooked squid.  One guy said he'd cut the head off the first one to chum up the school and some would breach the surface.  If we do hook up with one he'd have to quickly go from the gaff to a cooler.  I still think its doable but its gonna take some teamwork to keep it safe.

I thought I read that these squid were bustin up some of their gear. Must be some strong fighters!
I don't even have a rod w/ that much line, can we chum them up?
What's the pool for the biggest squid?

Yes, they do have tetacles.  But are not as strong has Octopuses.  After you get them up out of the water.  Let them squirt in a safe direction.  They can not squirt again, unless you let them get back into the water.

You can peel off the tetacles off you arm or whatever it has a hold to.

Main thing are their beaks (inside of the base of the legs and where the main body starts).  Just grab hold of the main body.

And have plenty of ice.  I would use 20 to 25 lb. test or braid.

Ken