Autumn Eging for Young Aori-ika: Catching More Squid in September and October

Autumn is the best season to start eging. The reason is simple: the year’s young aori-ika (bigfin reef squid), called shinko, are plentiful in the shallows and not very wary. Unlike spring, when one adult squid a day is a good result, autumn gives honest numbers. But use spring tackle and spring jerks and you will struggle — autumn has its own approach.

What is different about autumn squid

Autumn squid often follow but do not grab. That is usually not wariness — they are simply too small to hold the egi. So the fix is not “avoid being seen” but “go down to a size they can hug”.

Start with 2.5 egi

Use size 2.5 in early September and 3.0 once squid size up in October. When in doubt, go smaller; if they keep following without grabbing, drop a size.

Jerk to show, not to rip

1. Cast and let it reach bottom (count it down).
2. Jerk lightly 2–3 times — no big spring-style jerks.
3. Let it fall for a full 5–10 seconds.
4. Watch the line: if the slack stops or the line moves, set the hook.

In autumn, the fall is 90% of the game. Jerks make squid notice the egi; they hug it on the fall. A soft rod suits this style well.

Finding bigger squid

• Fish dawn and dusk — bigger squid come into the shallows in low light; daytime gives numbers.
• Fish outside the school and deeper — small squid stay close and high; long casts to the offshore drop-off raise the average size.
• Try the surf when piers are crowded — less pressure means bigger squid.

What not to do

Do not keep too many small squid. Autumn squid are so easy that a cooler can fill with tiny ones — and since aori-ika live one year, taking too many now means fewer adults next spring.

• Release squid with a mantle of 15 cm or less.
• Do not let them ink too much — it weakens them.
• Release with wet hands, gently, in the water.

Tackle

To use it all year, go PE 0.6 and add size 3.5 egi for spring.

Summary

• Autumn gives numbers — the perfect eging debut.
• Start with 2.5 egi; go smaller if they will not grab.
• Light jerks, long falls.
• For size: dawn and dusk, offshore drop-offs, quieter spots.
• Release small squid for next spring.

Read next

• Aori-ika (bigfin reef squid) guide
• Yamashita Egi-Oh K guide
• Daiwa Emeraldas X
• Shimano 26 Sephia BB

MINAGIMAN

JAPAN ANGLER

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Born in 1994. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, I moved to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture in search of the sea. I am an Enshunada surf angler who enjoys surf fishing. I am also active on YouTube, and my fishing grounds range from Irago to Iwata.