This quick squid rig offers an irresistible meal to night time swords
Swordfish can't resist a well-presented squid, and this quick squid rig
only requires a few crimps and a glow bead to make a tasty offering for
nighttime swords. Purchased squid are often frozen and void of the
bright colors they have in nature, so the baits used in this rig were
dyed with food coloring prior to rigging.
Materials include a 9-inch squid, 9/0 to 11/0 big-game hook (sized to
match your bait), 10 feet of 250- to 400-pound mono leader, 300-pound
double crimps, 10mm glow bead, heavy-duty crimpers and red or green food
coloring. Another great tool to have on hand is a section of 1/8-inch
OD copper tube (found at hardware/hobby stores or online). Not shown:
freezer bags for storing extra rigs and a bucket to dye your squid in.
Slide two crimps onto the end of your leader followed by the hook. Leave
a little slack at the hook loop and run your tag end back through the
second crimp. Use your crimping tool to make two equally spaced crimps.
The crimps should be placed away from the edge of the leader material so
you don't nick your leader.
Hold your leader up to the bait to determine where to place the second
crimp. This crimp will keep the bead in place inside the tip of the
squid. Then, use a knife to make a slit in the squid where the bend of
the hook will exit. Slide the copper tube in the slit, through the body
of the squid, then use it to pierce the tip of the squid.
Slide the bead onto the free end of the leader and feed the leader
through the copper tube. After feeding the leader through, you can
remove the tube.
The slit you cut in the body of the squid should be just large enough to squeeze the bead through.
Pull on the free end of the leader to seat the bead at the tip of the
squid. The bend of the hook should now seat against the cut you made in
the body of the bait.
Use a double crimp to make a loop in the free end of the leader. This
loop will attach to the snap swivel rigged to the main line.
The finished squid is ready for action. You'll want to rig up a number of baits before heading to the sword grounds.
Rigged squid can be bagged and frozen for later use. Wind your leader
material in an organized loop and use a freezer bag to keep the bait
fresh. If you are really working ahead, you can use a vacuum sealer to
store prepped baits in the freezer for up to six months. For tips on how
to deploy this squid rig, check back soon for Part II in this swordfish
rigging series. Text and photos by Meli Brock.
