The Key to Successful Squid Fishing and Jig Selection

Seeing the World Like a Squid: How Their Unique Vision Impacts Fishing Strategies

As ambush predators, squid rely heavily on their sight to hunt. Unlike humans who perceive a rich tapestry of colours, squid are colour blind, experiencing the world in shades of black and white. However, this doesn't limit their vision—in fact, it allows them to excel in low-light environments. Here's how understanding squid vision can turn you into a more effective angler:

Masters of Silhouette: Since colour is out of the picture, squid rely heavily on recognising shapes and contrasts. This means they're particularly adept at spotting silhouettes against the darkness. Focus on jig colours and jig body profiles that create clear silhouettes, contrasting outlines against the water or night sky. 

Glow Champs: Squid have a keen eye for bioluminescence, the ability of organisms to produce light. This makes them especially susceptible to squid jigs that incorporate glow or luminescent materials. Imagine a squid swimming through the dark—a glowing jig suddenly appears, mimicking the bioluminescent organisms they naturally feed on. It's a dinner bell they can't resist!

 Ultraviolet Advantage: Here's a secret weapon most fishermen might not know about—squid can detect ultraviolet (UV) light. Many preys in the ocean reflect UV light more intensely than their surroundings. This essentially gives squid a built-in highlighter to spot their next meal. Consider incorporating UV-treated jigs into your tackle box, as UV-treated jigs can reflect and also absorb UV rays to create a UV silhouette that creates a clear contrasting outline in daytime. While the effect might be invisible to you, it could be a glowing beacon to a hungry squid.

By understanding these unique visual adaptations, you can strategically choose squid jigs and fishing techniques that cater directly to how squid perceive their world. You'll be presenting irresistible targets that stand out from the background, attracting more squid and significantly increasing your catch.

Squid and Sound: A Misconception

Squid Are Silent Hunters

Contrary to popular belief, squid aren't particularly adept at hearing. Their auditory range is limited to low frequencies between 100 and 1000 decibels (dB), with juveniles being more sensitive to sounds around 200-300 dB and adults responding best to frequencies closer to 400-500 dB. This is a stark contrast to humans, who can hear sounds ranging from 20 dB to 20,000 dB.

The Visual Predator

As ambush predators, squid primarily rely on their vision to hunt. Their eyes are highly developed, allowing them to detect prey from a distance. This means that using sound to attract them is often ineffective and can even be counterproductive. While predator fish may associate the sound of splashing baitfish with a feeding opportunity, squid often associate loud noises with danger.

The Futility of the Rattle Squid Jig

The rattling sound produced by most squid jigs is often a mere gimmick designed to attract human anglers rather than the intended target. In the noisy underwater environment, where the constant crashing of waves and the hum of boat engines drown out many sounds, the subtle rattle created by a handful of metal beads is simply too soft to be heard by squid. Not only is the sound inaudible to squid, but it can also be counterproductive. The rattling noise may actually scare squid away, as they associate loud sounds with danger. Unlike humans, who are instinctively drawn to sounds from a young age, squid do not rely heavily on auditory cues for hunting or survival. Therefore, the inclusion of a rattle in a squid jig is more likely to be a distraction than an aid to catching these elusive creatures.

Focus on Visual Appeal

To effectively attract squid, anglers should focus on stimulating their visual senses. This means using squid jigs with colours that create a strong silhouette, based on colour science to target squid's colour-blind vision. Additionally, glow jigs can capitalise on squid's ability to see bioluminescent light, while UV-coated jigs can take advantage of their heightened sensitivity to see UV rays.

A realistic appearance and appropriate sink rate are also crucial factors. By understanding squid's limitations and strengths, anglers can make informed equipment choices and increase their chances of success.