Squid would have to be one of my favourite creatures of the sea. Giant eyes and brilliant colours glowing through translucent skin, changing in a second. Some types of these curious creatures reach lengths of up to 18 metres in deep ocean environments, but what we will look at here are the common and smaller species of squid available to inshore anglers around Australia.

Most anglers recognise the value of squid as a great bait for a huge number of fish including mulloway, kingfish, snapper, bream, flathead and a host of others. It is easy to catch, freezes well, and will stay on a hook very well due to its dense, tough flesh.

These days many Australians enjoy fresh squid as a table fare.

The best place to find these critters is in shallower bays and inlets of up to about 30 metres deep, and they prefer a mixed seabed of rocky reef, sand and especially kelp.

This allows them to blend into their surroundings and find cover in daylight hours. Squid are also attracted to lights such as those along jetties or wharves. Fishing these places at night is usually a sure bet to success.

These critters are very aggressive and it can be very exciting to watch them attack a lure or bait from both the shore or boat.

Artificial jigs are the most popular way to fish, varying from basic coloured plastic tubes, through to very refined prawn imitations, weighted towards the front so that the jig sits horizontal in the water.

Also popular are the jig 'spikes'‚ which is a metal rod with prongs at one end inserted into the body of small whole fish.

Jigs use barbless prongs lined up in a circular pattern to catch the soft flesh of the squid's tentacles.

Casting the jig into likely areas and retrieving with a slow and erratic retrieve gives the best results. You can also fish jigs a metre or two beneath a large polystyrene float, so any swell will cause a very natural bobbing action. This is the way to go if you are fishing shallower or very snaggy areas.