Squid Trolling Lures: Anatomy, Techniques, and Best Lures for Offshore Fishing

Understanding Squid Trolling Lures

Squid trolling lures have become increasingly popular among fishermen in recent years. Shaped and colored like squids, these lures effectively mimic the movement and appearance of live squid to attract predator fish like tuna, mahi-mahi, marlin, and more. But what exactly are squid trolling lures and how do they work?

The Anatomy of Squid Trolling Lures

Squid trolling lures feature elongated bodies ranging from 6 to over 12 inches in length. They typically consist of two main parts:

• The head/mantle piece which imitates a squid's body.
• The tentacles/legs piece which imitates a squid's arms and tentacles.

The head portion is usually made from firm plastic or soft rubbery material. The tentacles may be made from soft flexible rubber, vinyl, mesh, braided materials, or feathers to maximize movement.

Quality squid lures have the following defining features:

• Intricate paint details and patterns mimicking real squid skin
• 3D molded eyes
• Shiny flecks or prismatic foil finishes
• Glow-in-the-dark or UV reactive elements

The more a lure looks and moves like a live squid, the more effective it will be at attracting game fish.

Trolling with Squid Lures

Trolling involves slowly towing fishing lures behind a moving boat to keep the lures moving through the water in a life-like swimming motion. The speed at which the squid lure is trolled can be adjusted based on factors like the target species, water conditions, and more.

Most anglers troll squid lures between 5 to 8 knots which keeps them looking like naturally drifting or swimming squid. Going too fast may cause the lure to spin rather than mimic natural movements. Using downriggers, planer boards, wire line, weights, or diving planes can enable getting lures down to desired depths for species like mahi-mahi that feed deeper.

Why Squid Lures Catch Fish

There are several key reasons why squid trolling lures are so effective for offshore game fish:

• Realistic appearance - From detailed paint jobs to 3D eyes, squid lures look incredibly lifelike in the water.
• Tantalizing movements - The undulating flexible rubber tentacles and vibrating heads mimic weak or injured squid that appeal to predators.
• Varied profiles and speeds - Different shaped lure heads paired with different tentacle types allow mimicking different drifting, sinking, or swimming motions depending on trolling speed.
• Strong scents - Many trolling squid lures are scented with attractants like squid, shrimp, krill, or blood to further trigger instinctual feeding responses.

Choosing the Best Squid Trolling Lures

With so many squid lure options on the market, how do you pick the best ones for your target species? Key factors to consider include:

• Size - Match lure size to baitfish sizes predators are accustomed to eating.
• Color - Select colors that best match local squid. Popular patterns are red/white, blue/green, and purple/black.
• Depth - Pick floating, diving, or weighted lures capable of reaching desired trolling depths.
• Tentacles - Vinyl and mesh tentacles impart more action compared to rubber.
• Durability - More expensive lures typically have greater attention to detail and sturdier components.

It helps to test out different styles of squid lures to see what works best on any given trip. Pay attention to factors like water temperature, clarity, weather conditions, time of day, season, and more as these can all impact lure effectiveness.

Catching Different Fish Species on Squid Lures

While squid lures work on many pelagic game fish, they are especially deadly for certain offshore sport fishing targets like:

Tuna

Squid make up a significant part of many tuna species' diets. Drifting, wounded squid imitations trigger instinctual tuna attacks. Yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna can't resist the darting movements of quality trolling squid lures. Try running squid lures behind Islanders or cedar plugs to first attract tuna in close.

Mahi-Mahi

Few offshore game fish feed as aggressively as mahi-mahi. They attack fast moving baits and won't hesitate to smash properly presented squid lures trolled from boat or kayak. Make sure to get squid lures down 15 to 30 feet to reach mahi feeding depths. Add attractant scents and live squid strips for increased effectiveness.

Wahoo

Wahoo feed actively near the water's surface, making them ideal targets for trolled squid lures. Their keen eyesight keys in on the lifelike colors and flashes given off by shimmying vinyl tentacles. Run squid lures at 7 to 10 knots to trigger reaction strikes from any wahoo in the area.

Marlin

While more into bait balls of small tuna or flying fish, hungry marlin may sometimes hit trolled squid lures, especially if other game fish around are actively feeding on squid. Rig squid lures on wire or heavy fluorocarbon for these sharp-toothed aggressive fighting fish. If marlin are seen tailing but not eating, a lively trolled squid can seal the deal.

Tactics for Improving Squid Lure Success

Follow these expert tips when trolling squid lures to improve your catch rates:

• Use fluorocarbon leaders to keep hard to see lines from spooking fish.
• Keep multiple rods out with different lure types to see what's working best.
• Check lures regularly for weeds and change them out as needed.
• Use teasers and dredges ahead of squid lures to get fish fired up.
• Try running squid lure and ballyhoo combos to offer more enticing targets.
• Clean squid scents off lures between uses so they keep producing.

Offshore trolling isn't always easy, so perseverance and actively adjusting methods is key. Pay attention to any baitfish or signs of feeding activity and mimic those profiles and behaviors with your lure selections. With practice, squid lures will soon be leading you to bent rods and screaming drags!

FAQs

What are the best colors for squid trolling lures?

Some of the most effective colors to match local squid are red/white, blue/green, and purple/black patterns. However, testing different colors to see what works best under variable conditions is recommended.

Can squid lures catch bottom fish?

Squid lures are mainly used for targeting pelagic gamefish feeding high in the water column, not bottom dwellers. Bottom fishing requires different lure types that sink and imitate common bottom prey.

How fast should I troll squid lures?

Most anglers find 5 to 8 knots to be the ideal trolling speed range for squid lures. Going faster can cause them to spin and lose their life-like swimming action. Adjust speed based on conditions and if lures are running properly.