20th April

Marina squidding -Are neaps the answer?

My single squid, Farmer George's three squid and a cuttlefish.

Popped down to the West arm later than I had intended, with the permission to open up the extension to check it out in advance of the squid competition, currently scheduled for Sunday, as this will be the only area I am able to reserve for the purpose. Walked up to the end peg, and within twenty minutes I was into my second squid of the year, and a decent sized one. Farmer George had also come through onto the extension, and on seeing the squid landed, walked up, cast out, and was also in straight away. He followed this with a further two and a cuttlefish, and a couple of bites not connected to. Alan came out to play for a few hours, before being lured away by recent Stingray catches further west, and was attached to his first squid. All the way to the net, where it managed to diconnect itself just inches away from the lifting point!! The tide dropped away, and a few more bites came to nothing. With the bottom of the tide, the flow increased (a peculiarity of this spot) and I decided to pop over to the east arm, where the water would be almost slack, to see if that is where the squid went.

Third squid of 2009, and a good one!

My hunch proved correct, when within minutes of casting, young Richard missed a good take. Then I missed one, and then I found myself attached to one. Over the net, with Richard hoisting, and all was well. A nice squid too.

A male I think, all coloured up for breeding. Short Spined Sea Scorpion.

I was left looking after Richards rod, which had drifted close to the wall, when I saw a couple of little bobs. Oncloser inspection, this very colourful scorpion fish had taken the mackerel strip flyer!

My bag for the day, and the TRONIX jig that did the damage.

Another bite, and another good squid on. But quite a drama with the netting. Originally well hooked, one main tentacle snapped, leavingthe squid attached by the two long ones. Then, on the surface, the squid began spinning violently, and I am quite sure was atrtempting to sever its own tentacle. One snapped, but the other held long enough to get the squid over the net, and hoisted to the surface. So, finally, some numbers of squid starting to appear. A local netsman also reports finding good numbers of cuttlefish suddenly appearing this week. But it all creates a dilema for the competition, currently scheduled for the high tides next weekend. Are the numbers of squid because of the neaps (and the perfect clear water conditions) or are they just building in numbers, and next weekend will be the ultimate squidfest........???