wonder what these are like to fight

[BH1]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...squid_invasion
bh1

[lifesaflyin]

squid is one of my favorite foods. and im not just talkin about the "rings" you can buy frozen anywere. i like the whole thing eyes, brains and tenticals deepfried in a ginger sause. grand cayman had the best squid I have ever eaten. i would love to catch one of those!

[The Elkster]

Apparently the humbolts aren't suppose to be as tasty as their squid relatives. I was reading a California fishing website where guys were talking about them. I guess they have an iodine taste or something to them that many don't like. Man do they get big and aggressive though! Sounds like it'd be a battle.

[jjstar]

They are also super aggressive and voracious feeders. When the water is warm they even make it up to Vancouver Island. They are actually real worried that if they keep coming up it will affect the salmon as they eat anything that they can catch. Would be interesting to catch them but they are like an infestation and I hope they stay south.

[walking buffalo]

I caught a mess of these guys a couple of years ago in the sea of Cortez. The school covered over a square mile that we could see breaking the surface. Looking down in the water column, there were squid everywhere. Everything in their path was eaten, first come first served. Drop anything down, and the first squid to see it would latch on, then other squid would grab the one that was hooked. Some were up to 6' long, most were 3-4'. They put up a strong fight, with short pulsating runs.

When they are in the area, there is nothing else to fish for. Everything else gets out of thier way, or is eaten. I mean everything! Dolphins, tuna, marlin, all the little fishes, disssapeared for miles around where we were fishing.

I found them to be great eating. One calamari ring per plate, 3/4' thich and 12' diameter! In that area, a Japanese company buys every one they can get.

My photos are on film. I'll post some if I get to a scanner.

[The Elkster]

I have heard you don't wanna fall in the water in one of those schools. Did you guys get warned about not going swimming?

[Dr. Fish]

That would be really cool to catch something like that!

[spopadyn]

It's true. They are maneaters. In Mexico a couple of fisherman fell overboard at night, the squid killed and ate them in minutes. Ugg. They are also apparently very good eating. Saw a national geographic special on them - they have no real predators and are spreading everywhere.

[walking buffalo]

No one needed to tell me not to swim with the squid! Basic survival instinct!

Divers use shark chainmail (sp?) suits to swim with them.

[goldscud]

Lots of Humboldt squid were caught off Port Alberni last September