I heard the call of the Squid - I couldn't resist...

[drbill]

Now, Billy, you know that's all in the past now... but we should resist hijacking Ken's thread and focus on the squid! By the way, they do not necessarily die after laying the batch of eggs. They may continue for up to several months and lay other legs based on what I found in my research. Imagine just having a brief mayfly-like existence with only a single mating. I hope I never get reincarnated as a squid!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Ken,

Nice pics.

These appear to be the 'normal-sized' squid...

I was watching this Discovery Channel special the other day with a UW videographer filming the large 3'-5' Humboldt Squid coming up out of the abyss off La Jolla (IIRC). Looked absolutely awe inspiring - those things looked huge. (They move so fast it would scare the crap out of a diver it would seem...)

DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving

Have you ever been out to take shots of the Humboldt Squid when they're running?

Doc

 

[Mo2vation]

Ken,

Nice pics.

These appear to be the 'normal-sized' squid...

I was watching this Discovery Channel special the other day with a UW videographer filming the large 3'-5' Humboldt Squid coming up out of the abyss off La Jolla (IIRC). Looked absolutely awe inspiring - those things looked huge. (They move so fast it would scare the crap out of a diver it would seem...)

DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving

Have you ever been out to take shots of the Humboldt Squid when they're running?

Doc

Oh, they are huge and strong and fast - those Humbolt Squid.

The Baja dude that does most of that stuff - all King Arthured up in MotoCross gear and Issac Hayes Chain Mail is a member someplace on SB. Dude leads guided trips to the red evil dead monsters in Baja, or whatever he calls them.

If your idea of "adventure" is getting all medieval with some big pissed off squid, or getting in a steel cube with and "diving" with Jaws, there's always a place to get your mojo on.

I've seen big squid come over the side of fishing boats - never seen one in the water while diving.

Just these "normal" ones...

Its a site to see, the runs. I'm so glad I was here last hear and drove to SD this year for it.

---
Ken

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Heh...cool. When I get back to the west coast I'm going to have to load the van and cruise down there to do some diving! Don't know if I want to get all medieval, etc., but we can do some diving and get our sip on afterwards!

 

[Mo2vation]

Heh...cool. When I get back to the west coast I'm going to have to load the van and cruise down there to do some diving! Don't know if I want to get all medieval, etc., but we can do some diving and get our sip on afterwards!

Claudette and I are dying for you to come down here. We have a scooter and tanks and stuff with your name on them - whatever you need bud, we'll hook you up.

Send me an eMail (Ken@divematrix.com) when you're coming down and we'll make plans!


---
Ken

 

[tltracy]

Awesome pictures.. thanks for sharing!

 

[ShakaZulu]

I missed it..., nice pics indeed.

 

[orangelion03]

Fab pics and report Ken!

Thanks for the link to the video as well!!! Well worth the load time.

 

[drbill]

The guy with the giant squid is gonetobaja if I remember correctly. These are market squid (Loligo opalescens) and there are a number of squid boats that fish for them. In fact, one captain got so greedy about two years ago he capsized his squid boat by overloading it and not balancing the load properly. It sits in about 150 feet of water... unfortunately still rigged wit the nets that are trapping and killing marine life including sea lions.

Back when I was teaching marine biology in Toyon Bay, we used to buy 55 gallon drums of the squid directly off the boats and feed them to our students.

 

[paradicio]

Wow, amazing photos! Is the squid run over, or is there still a chance at getting to see them?