The best thing about squid fishing tackle is you can easily get away with using any rod and reel if you don't want to get to to serious about it. You can simply buy any cheap allrounder rod/reel combo and a few of jigs. If you want to get more serious you can specialise with a nice 9-foot Japanese style rod that will get your jig moving exactly like a prawn would in the water.
For the ideal squid jigging setup, you’ll want a long, slow-action graphite rod in the 8 to 9 foot range. This is how the pros do it (the Japanese) – it will give you the ‘whip’ action needed to really get the jig working hard – and make it look exactly like a prawn in the water. The other benefit is it will also enable you to cast the jig along way, so you can cover more water which is really important when squidding. Another option is a lightweight 7 to 8 foot trout rod, although it wont get the same level of action out of the jig.
Pair any spinning reel that is correctly weighted for your rod and it will work well for catching squid. However, the ideal squidding reel would be a lightweight saltwater spinning reel in the 2500 to 3000 size range. You don’t want to go too small as it will make your retrieve take longer, giving the squid time to free itself from the jig.
When it comes to line, you’ll want to go as light as possible while still being strong enough to pull your lure out should you get snagged in the weeds. This will help with working the jig and feeling when a squid is on your line. Both braid and mono can work, but many squid fishermen prefer 8 to 10 lb. braid due to its lack of stretch and bite detection capability.
Line colour may be an issue during the day in really clear water, but most of the time even high viz line will work fine. You’ll generally want to use a 3 – 4 foot fluorocarbon leader, especially when fishing around rocky or reefy environments.
Here's a few of our best deals on squid tackle:
MASTERPRO Squid Jigs – 3 Pack Red Foil Blue Back | Sizes 2.5–4.0
$12.90
Short Description: 3-pack of MASTERPRO squid jigs with a red foil belly and sparkle blue back, available in sizes 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0. Designed for squid fishing from jetties, piers, rocks and boats.Key Features 3 squid jigs per pack… read more
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