session 4 - dock overflow

It's been a long time between casts, but weather and water conditions haven't been the best. We darted over to South Australia in the hopes of catching larger Southern Calamari, but wind and wet kept us off the jetties. We could see the potential in Beachport and Kingston, but those squidding adventures will have to wait for another road trip.

Back home, we popped over to Lilli Pilli last night. The dock was teeming with anglers jostling for position. Fishers had taken all the prime squid positions which left us casting in weird places and reeling in very little. One fisherman caught a lucky break pulling in a good-sized salmon. It was the first decent-sized catch that we've seen in the area. The dock spontaneously broke out in a round of applause.

It was a bit quiet on the squid front. We met another duo who, like us, were waiting for the sun to dip and the squid to come. He scooped up a smaller calamari as our rods sat empty. Just as the last sun rays floated across the water, the sky was bright and alive.  Deciding that it was best not to hold a metal rod in a lightning storm, we quickly gathered our things and left the dock empty-handed once again.

Jigs: Rogue Calamar Pink 2.5
Location: Lilli Pilli Baths Wharf
Highlights: Meeting fellow squidders
Session Squid Count: 0
Squid Count to Date: 1

session 3 - one for the books

The sun was shining on Port Hacking. We knew it was a bit early for squidding, but headed out to Lilli Pilli wharf around five o'clock.  The pier was packed to the gills with fishermen - all dropping traditional hooks loaded with bait of every measure. They fished with chicken, sardines, prawn and bread. They could have made a nice picnic with everything they cast out in the waters. Unswayed by the crowd, we stuck to our simple squid jigs.

Empty buckets lined the wharf. No one landed any keepers. Our rod with its squid jig was silent. Someone on the dock hooked Craig. Then my own wayward cast landed at his feet. It seemed like Craig might well be the only action at the dock.

Would Denham would be the first and last squid that we'd see caught? Had we fluked it back on holidays?  Was our teacher some sort of squidding guru? I pled my case to stay until sunset. Fishermen came and went. Squid had yet to make an appearance.

Night finally fell. I aimed our light into the water. We were surprised and elated when a green eyed monster finally latched on. The pier was a bit chaotic as we reeled him in. I get the feeling that happens every time someone lands an ink spraying critter. Being our first catch, it wasn't exactly a smooth transition from rod to bucket. We made it though. Craig removed the hook and no one got inked; that's a win in any book. We landed a Southern Calamari. A big one to boot. We cast out one more time; then sensibly called it a night.

We brought our catch home, and I cleaned him myself. Craig says he is not into cleaning them.  Fair enough, as he is apparently not into eating them either.  More for me, I guess.

It was a good session. One for the record books.


Jigs: Rogue Calamar Green 2.5, Rogue Calamar Pink 2.5
Location: Lilli Pilli Baths Wharf
Highlights: Landing our first Southern Calamari
Session Squid Count: 1
Squid Count to Date: 1


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The afterthought: We didn't think to get a photo of our green eyed monster until after we dispatched of him. The cleaning sink is not the best background, nor was it the best light. We have only this rather grotesque and clunky photo record of our first squid catch.

session 2 - catching the dock

We brought four jigs this time. It was about 9pm when we walked out on the Lilli Pilli wharf for our second squidding session. The dock was empty when we arrived, but a shine of our light revealed a school of squid feeding below. Luck would be on our side. We rigged up a jig and cast out.

No takers.

We cast again. And again. And again. We waited. We bobbled the rod. We changed our jig. They showed interest, but didn't nip. Natural born squidders, we are not.

After losing my first jig the day before, my confidence slowly returned. I was casting like a pro until four strangers appeared on the wharf. Something went terribly wrong. Like a boomerang, the jig returned. I managed to snag the dock. Two men fled in terror. They never returned.

After two hours we packed up and went home. The dock was the only catch of the day.


Jigs: Rogue Calamar Green 2.5, SureCatch Cuttlefish Pink 2.0
Location: Lilli Pilli Baths Wharf
Highlights: Small rays chased our lure.
Session Squid Count: 0
Squid Count to Date: 0

session 1 - finding lilli pilli

Not long ago in Denham, Western Australia, kind strangers taught us how to squid. They gave us the basics, taught us to clean them and sent us away keen to take up the sport. Thrilled at the prospect of catching my own dinner; I invested in a rod, reel, jig and NSW fishing permit. My rod isn't fancy. I bought a junior model at our local BCF. It's orange. Craig sensibly steered me towards the bargain bucket of squid jigs.

Armed with knowledge found online, we headed out to Lilli Pilli reserve. Failing to find the wharf, we decided to cast our lot on rocks at the water's edge. I think I surprised Craig with my casting skills. We weren't expecting any squid to bite at that time of day, but we reasoned that it would be good practice. I cast twice more.  The line tautened. There was a surge of excitement.  I started to reel in my catch.

Disappointment came just as quickly when I realized the jig had ensnared itself on the rocky sea floor. The swift current only drove it in further.  The line snapped. The jig was gone.

In just five minutes, our session was over.


Jigs: Rogue Calamar Pink 2.5
Location: Lilli Pilli Baths Reserve
Highlights: Casting out for the first time
Session Squid Count: 0
Squid Count to Date: 0