Steve O'Shea;87532 said:
You're getting these squid quite shallow in what looks like daylight? That's pertty remarkable, isn't it? (Excuse my ignorance.) I've just had a conversation today with someone to the effect that they're normally deeper, like ~ 300 feet, and found at this relatively shallow depth during the night (otherwise, during the day, they are considerably deeper).
I'm a tad confused. Can you shed any light on this? Much appreciated if so.
VERY NICE pics by the way!
Me
Steve,
We dive and see squid in the day time feeding and in shallow water. I have found Humboldt squid in shallow water hunting (under 3m) and I have seen them numerous times in under 40 feet of water. If there is a feeding stimulation or other type of interest that can attract them they will come over and invesigate. In some areas they can be pretty agressive, in any event if you are diving looking for them armor is a must.
To be totaly honest the more I dive with them the more stuff I thought I knew....
From my experiences the Humoldt squid is a totaly oportunistic feeder. In the day, or night. Most of the areas we see them have a bottom of 600 feet or more, but they can be found anywhere between the surface and the bottom. Anywhere there is food, of any type.
I was told once by a person that the reason that the panga fishing fleet goes after them at night is because thats when they feed at the surface. Thats not entirely true. The main reason they are fished at night is because its too freekin hot to fish all day in the sun, and a cooler that can keep 1000 lbs of squid fresh in the baja sun is far too expensive and big to be a consideration. So, the fishermen work at night. The wifes of the fishermen work in the plant during the day processing the catch from the night before. Thus breeds the idea that they hunt only at night and then thats when they are shallow. They come up shallow because of stimulation that they can sense from the fisermen, and from following up other squid or following up a food source. just like a tuna following up a bait ball.
We always dive in the day with our guided tours. We have never had a dive where we couldnt find some squids. (I just jinxed myself....)
GTB
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