Epic Striped Bass on the Fly: Squid Fishing

Every spring, the Atlantic coast bustles with life as millions of longfin squid migrate to the shore, followed by schools of hungry striped bass. This “squid run” is a great opportunity for fly anglers to catch a trophy striper. You need a boat and a suitable location – the rest is pretty simple.

From April to May, squids come to spawn. Around the end of May, after spawning, they congregate in shallow rip currents and are soon followed by striped bass. Stripers use rough water to ambush squid, driving them to the surface with nowhere to go.

Fishing for largemouth bass with squid patterns is popular on the northeast coast. Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Rhode Island and Cape Cod are top spots due to their abundance of squid and easy access to shallow waters where the fishing is best.

– Find the correct breaking current. Look for fast, strong currents moving from deeper water (about 15 feet) to shallow water. In the areas around Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, this type of water is common. When the current reaches the shallows, it forms a wave – this is your target zone.
– Position your boat. Walk upstream of the waves, facing the current. Keep the motor stable. Sometimes you can even anchor if the current is not too strong.

– Use a strong fishing rod. I prefer a weight of 10 or 11. You won’t have to cast far. Get your squid to fly with the current and release the line until it reaches the surf. Give it a pulsing motion as you release the line, but be prepared, the strike can hit hard and fast. As the fly reaches the waves, pump the line in short bursts. You don’t rip the fly off, you make it jump and dance. Big movements are key.
– Wait, this is feeding madness. You’ll see splashing fish, diving birds and squid leaping 6 feet out of the water. If you don’t get any action within 20 minutes, find another rip. Birds and other boats are good indicators of squid and forage fish.

When the squids are tuned for bass, they are not picky about sound realism. A simple fly that resembles a squid in size, shape and color will do.
– Length: 5-7 inches
– Color: white, cream, pink, brown or light orange.

– Material: flowy, light and sinks (unless you are specifically fishing in top water).
– Shape: narrow, like a squid.

There are some beautiful squids. Realism isn’t necessary, but it’s nice to have. Johnny King’s flies come to mind. It’s worth catching them and displaying them on the wall.

– Fly Rod: 10 weight for casting large streamers and fighting strong fish. I love TFO BC Big Fly. It is designed for casting large streamers and has a unique handle that makes fighting fish more effective.
– Fly Reel: The Redington Grande The 10 is a reasonably priced reel that performs at a high level. It features a sealed braking system which is exceptional and essential for saltwater fly fishing.

– Flight line and leader: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Infinity Salt. Attachable tip for 8-10 foot long sink (Sink 3). A simple 6-foot, 30-pound leader will do (40 pounds if there are bluefish in the area).

Catching squid in cracks is an adrenaline rush that can give you the fish of a lifetime. It’s a sight to behold: a squid leaping out of the water with a large grouper right behind it. Twenty-pound fish are common, but up to forty are not unusual. Place the fly pattern in the water and hold on.

“The gods do not deduct hours spent fishing from a person’s allotted time.” – Herbert Hoover