Southern calamari are available from jetties, kayaks and boats across the southern half of Australia, and they are one of the few targets where a beginner can reliably out-fish an unfocused expert.
The variables that matter are water clarity, weed bed quality, jig size and sink rate, and retrieve cadence. Get those right and results follow quickly.
Finding squid ground
Squid hold over broken ribbon weed and seagrass in 2–8 m of clear water. Continuous thick weed is less productive than weed broken by sand patches, because squid ambush along the edges.
Clarity is the single biggest factor. After heavy rain or strong onshore wind, move to a sheltered bay or wait — dirty water shuts squid down.
Jetties with lights hold squid after dark year-round, and are the easiest starting point for anglers without a boat.
Jig selection
Size 2.5 jigs are the all-round default. Move to 3.0 in deeper water or strong current, and down to 1.8–2.0 for shy squid in shallow, very clear water.
Carry three colour families: natural brown/green, bright orange/pink, and a luminous jig for night and low light. Change colour before you change location.
Sink rate is more important than colour. In 3 m of water a shallow-sink jig keeps you in the strike zone; in 8 m you need a faster sink or you will spend the session mid-water.
Retrieve and hook-up
Cast, count the jig down until it is just above the weed, then two or three sharp upward whips of the rod tip followed by a long pause of five to ten seconds.
Squid grab on the pause almost every time. Keep a slightly tensioned line so you feel the extra weight.
Once hooked, keep steady pressure and never pump the rod. Squid jigs have no barbs and slack line loses fish. Lead the squid away from the boat before lifting so it inks away from you.
Handling and eating
Bleed and clean squid soon after capture and keep them on ice. Quality drops fast in warm conditions.
Score and flash-cook hot and fast, or cook very slowly — anything in between goes rubbery.
Squid heads and wings make outstanding snapper and mulloway bait, so keep the offcuts and freeze them flat.
Key takeaways
- ▸Fish broken weed edges in clear water.
- ▸Size 2.5 jigs cover most situations; adjust sink rate for depth.
- ▸Squid grab on the pause — leave it long.
- ▸Steady pressure, no pumping, or you lose them.
This guide is general information only. Fishing regulations differ by state and change regularly — confirm current rules with your fisheries authority before you fish.