Squid Fishing Rigs Explained

October 31, 2026

Most squid anglers tie a jig to the end of their leader and cast, and that works well most of the time. But there are days when a rig will catch you more squid. Here's how the main setups work and when to use them.

The Basic Setup: A Single Jig

For most land based squid fishing, keep it simple: braid main line, a metre or two of fluorocarbon leader, and a snap to clip on your jig. It casts well, lets the jig dart naturally and means you can change jigs in seconds.

Paternoster Rigs: More Than One Jig

A paternoster rig holds two or three jigs on short droppers. It lets you fish several depths and colours at once, and it's handy from wharves, jetties and boats where you're dropping straight down rather than casting a long way. Our handmade Squidink rigs come in single, double and triple versions, tied on 14lb line, with two rigs in every pack.

The tradeoff is action. Jigs on a paternoster don't dart as freely as a single jig, so they work best when the squid are happy to grab a slow or still jig.

Assist Rigs

An assist rig pairs a small jig with a second jig on its own leader. The Yamashita Naory Assist Rig Set comes ready rigged on a 65cm leader, so you just clip it to your main line and go. It's a great setup for arrow squid.

Bait Spikes

Some days squid ignore jigs but will happily eat a dead bait. A squid bait spike holds a pilchard on stainless prongs. Fish it under a float or on a slow drift, and once a squid starts feeding on the head of the bait, a firm lift sets the prongs. Keep your line tight all the way in.

Tip Run: Fishing Deep Water

Tip run is a technique for deeper water and current, usually fished from a boat. You add a sinker to the nose of your jig, drop it to the bottom, give it two or three hops, then hold it still on a tight line while you drift for 10 to 30 seconds before you repeat. Our tip run sinker heads fit onto the nose of a normal jig to convert it.