Giant Squid Invade Southern California
Posted 3/21/05
Written and Photos by Ron Kawaja, President of Pelagic Gear Offshore Clothing

TEAM PELAGIC scored on giant squid less than one mile off Newport Beach
harbor last night. Fishing for giant squid has become an annual ritual
for hard core fishermen off the Southern California coast.

This year, we have had the most epic giant squid bite in recent memory,
it has lasted for over a month now, with huge schools of 20-50 pound
squid ravaging the coastline, eating everything in their path, from the
Mexican border all the way up to the Los Angeles area, which is well
over 100 miles.

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Last night we left the harbor at 7 PM, ran less than a mile and
suddenly the entire sonar went green - which means the squid were thick
under the boat. We turned on the huge halogen deck lights and threw a
few pieces of cut squid out for chum... the next thing you know every
one was hootin' and hollerin' - HOOKUP!!

The action was nonstop, with nothing less than 40 - 80 pound tackle,
these suckers can pull. Using traditional squid jigs or even just a big
old iron with a large treble hook, its full speed, wide open style
fishing... and that's what makes it so exciting...

When you get them up to the surface, the squids often shoot a garden
hose size stream of water up to 20 feet into the air, or if your
unlucky, they can get you with a huge stream of ink... needless to say,
squid fishing can get very messy!

Because the squid have such squishy, delicate skin, if you pull too
hard, you can break off a tentacle or two, but no worries, because
you'll get bit again instantly, these suckers are so mean and ferocious,
its scary!

If you've never seen a six foot, fifty pound squid, you gotta come out
to So Cal and try this... but watch out for their beaks, they are as
big as a large parrot and can crush your bones with one bite!