Hunting the Mighty Humboldt Squid
Diablo Roja up close thanks National Geographic
What horrors from below haunt the dreams of Captain Nemo? Diablo Rojo – the Red Devil – stalking fish, man and beast alike in and among our Oregon Coastal Waters, voracious and aggressive sometimes topping 100 lbs and 7 feet long the Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas) is on summer holiday looking for a snack. They can swim up to 20 mph and use their tooth lined tentacles to grab their prey (including divers!) and gnosh on them with an impressive beak. They are called red devil because they flash red and white when attacking or getting hauled up on the boat.
Squid Washing up on Victoria Island
Once confined (more or less) to southern waters near Mexico and the Sea of Cortez these monsters have been moving north over the years following the warm waters associated with El Neno first showing up in Northern California and now more and more in Oregon and Washington waters. On the Harvester we hooked a Humboldt in 2001-2002 albacore season and brought it in to show off and nobody had ever seen one before. What was once rare is now common for us up north. Here they are washed up on the shore up in Victoria British Columbia, which even a few years ago would never have happened.
Video: Night Jigging for Humboldt Squid on The Harvester
A lot of tuna boats and sports boats jig for squid at night, but you can catch them in the day too if they are around. Most people cut them up for bait (which they do make great bait) but they’re pretty tasty too if you prepair them right.
The key to eating a Humboldt is to make sure to skin them really good — that outer membrane is really tough then cut them into strips across the grain (like you would a flank steak). Then I usually put them on skewers and marinate in sweet chili sauce (Vietnamese or or similar flavors) and grill fast and hot. Gotta cook it quick or its tough as nails and cutting against the grain helps on that front too. You could also bread with panco or batter and deep fry like Calamari. Just don’t over cook them or you’ll be eating rubber.
Eating the tentacles is hit or miss. We’ve been meaning to smoke a bunch up with teriyaki or soy sauce mix but haven’t had the time to try that out.
So if you are buying fresh tuna off the docks ask around if anyone has a fresh Humboldt and give it a shot, or maybe catch one of your own!
Keep fishing,
The Harvester Crew
