Squid Spawn in Casino Point Dive Park

[drbill]

In all my years diving Casino Point, I can't remember such a great spawning event in the dive park. Usually the squid respect the dive park boundaries and spawn just outside the park in Descanso Bay, at greater depth or in Avalon Bay. Saturday I filmed them during the day and MANY more that night.

 

[fnfalman]

It has to be the day that I'm not diving there.

 

[drbill]

Cousteau/IMAX film team went out in Descanso Bay last night and had a great swarm to film. I'm heading out on the boat with them today. Despite a common belief that they only spawn at night, I've filmed them spawning during the day several times.

 

[tracydr]

One of my bucket lists things to see is a squid spawn. My husband saw one years ago, I think it was at La Jolla. He still talks about what a great dive that was.

 

[fnfalman]

Dr. Bill, two years ago, at Santa Rosa Island, I saw them spawned during the day about 8 AM.

 

[drbill]

Had four great days on the dive boat with Jean-Michel and team... filmed everything except eggs hatching. Plenty of daytime spawning as shallow as 45 ft and fantastic night spawns with thousands of squid engulfing us. Will be posting pictures once I get finished editing the footage and extracting the stills.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've also witnessed spawning during the day on many occasions. Last month we had several dives with them along the White Point outfall pipes. They set their eggs in sixty feet and continued spawning for a couple of weeks in good visibility, so there was no confusion as to whether or not it was daytime.

 

[drbill]

Love the detail still imagers can get, Phil. Even my HD camera can't come close.

I've seen daytime spawning on a number of squid runs over the years. So much misinformation on this species and its natural history. I've posted more stills on my Facebook page for those who belong to it:

https://www.facebook.com/bill.bushing.1/media_set?set=a.10101188591145611.1073741842.11616&type=1

 

[Areprobate]

How long do the squid traditionally spawn?

 

[drbill]

I remember one year that the squid began spawning on the West End of the leeward side of the island, worked their way down to the East End, turned the corner and went up the windward side to the West End. I believe that incredible spawning occurred over nearly 10 months! Most of the events are about 4-6 months generally from October to March or April depending on water temperature, etc.