Squidding, Japanese-style by Andy Smith

The art of catching calamari on prawn style jigs has been around in this country for many years but in the past 18 months a boom has evolved throughout the southern states.

This boom may be due to many reasons, but calamari are very close to the perfect target species for anglers. They are very common in bays and coastal areas with productive weed beds and juvenile fish, especially in sheltered waters such as Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Pittwater and Jervis Bay. They are one of the best fresh baits to use and they taste darn good on the plate!

EGI-STYLE

Like all ocean creatures, they can be tricky at times to catch but the latest Japanese 'Egi' techniques certainly have drawn the attention of many anglers. Egi-ing is the Japanese term meaning 'squid game', consisting of specialised techniques developed on the highly pressured waters surrounding Japan to catch several species of squid.

I was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with two Japanese specialists learning Egi-ing techniques and finding out more about jig design and development. Yasushi Kawahara and Taro Kitamura are employed by Yamashita, a company many anglers would be familiar with for its awesome range of squid jigs, especially the natural coloured jig series.

Yasushi explained that squid jigs were first designed in Japan 300 to 400 years ago. The fundamental design of the jig has remained relatively untouched, with the weight placement, basic shape and position of hooks all enduring the test of time.

From coins inserted as weights into wooden bodies with patterns burnt into the timber, jigs have evolved to the latest polycarbonate bodies, various foil colours and cloth wraps complete with lead or tungsten weights in multiple places to deliver perfect balance and sink rates.

Hooks have remained as prongs on the rear of the jig, as squid attack from behind their prey and are easily caught.

JIG BALANCE

Balance of jigs is important for several reasons. A good squid jig should sink down at a 45° angle, gliding forward as it sinks to cover more water and look attractive.

It also presents well to calamari, with an aggression 'reaction-bite' strike relatively common on the sink. This 'head down, bum up' sink approach also allows the prongs to be exposed away from weed and snags when at rest on the bottom - quality jigs will actually stand on their noses