just watched a documentary about these squid in the sea of cortez prettty disturbing scences of them attacking in packs some divers, and where a
fisherman apparently fell out of the boat and was attacked as well. Has anyone had experience with these creatures? Are they found in the shallower
waters around cabo pulmo where folks dive alot. what are the chances of encountering them off shore in a boat while taking a dip. Is it all hype to
make the documentary gory and sensational to put fear into folks or is it a real and disturbing trend that is occurring.Skipjack Joe - 2-27-2015 at 09:36 AM
They are indeed extremely dangerous creatures. Great caution should be used when swimming in the Cortez, especially during early morning and late
evening hours, times when they are most active. They will often attack you from behind or your blind side giving little warning. Their suckers have
sharp claspers that will dig into your flesh once they adhere to it. Their attack behavior is to usually pin your arms tightly to your body making it
impossible for the unwary diver to gain access to a knife or tool to free himself. In such a situation the best thing you can do to free yourself is
to incapacitate it by damaging it's brain. You should bite it's brain mass between it's eyes as hard as possible, a move that can result in freedom.
But should you not be able to free yourself it will use those suckers to imobilize you and they eat your flesh with it's parrot like beak. Some
swimmers have the misfortune of being eaten while still alive. Every year we find human limbs, torsos, and other body parts washed on the beaches with
the telltale signs of those suckers. There is nothing left to do but to bury them. As you drive down you will see crosses all long the highway
commemorating these poor souls.willardguy - 2-27-2015 at 10:10 AM
I wouldn't worry about it but as tasty as they are you might think twice about eating them, you know, what comes around goes around!AKgringo - 2-27-2015 at 10:18 AM
I would not worry about them along the beaches in daylight hours, but I would not want to be swimming with them in the deep and dark!
I wouldn't want to be in a tall tale contest with Shipjackjoe either.Whale-ista - 2-27-2015 at 10:22 AM
Holy kraken! I thought this was a joke until I saw this video.
We saw them in but he had a Los Angeles last June out of the 7 mile reef in the middle of the day. We finally headed south a bit got entitled the
coast before I felt brave enough to go for a dip.Pompano - 2-27-2015 at 11:04 AM
Fair Warning. Never EVER go swimming with the SQUID! It's illegal to let them eat you.
Unfortunately it happens. These are some folks that Humboldt squid have eaten alive after crawling into our boats.
Being inked to death is a possibility if you dance with them.
Although they look flaccidly impotent when laid out dead on the deck, when alive in the water, Humboldt squid are powerful, vicious, meat-eating
predators, and they are very dangerous to swim near. Around Baja, more gruesome stories are told about people getting killed by squid than by any
other sea creature. Imagine a swarm of 50-pound animals capable of swimming more than 20 miles-per-hour, equipped with voracious appetites and over
1,000 suckers, each containing about 20 gripping teeth strong enough to tear human skin (correct, that's 20,000 teeth!). And, surrounded by that
cluster of four-foot long arms is a powerful parrot's beak the size of a small tangerine, snapping and cutting at anything pulled within its reach.
In Baja, the typical "diablo" squid story involves a hapless fisherman who is suddenly caught and pulled overboard while night fishing commercially
with lights. Within a couple of seconds, his entire body is literally covered with clinging, biting squid that quickly pull him down into the dark and
tear him to pieces before anybody can help.
And if they can pull down a sailing ship, imagine what happens to a kayak....
Getting serious, here's a good squid recipe from an old amigo..
"We've caught and cook many of the Humboldt squid, and they are delicious, if done correctly. They are easy to clean, using only the mantle. After the
mantle is removed, the thin, colored layer can be removed. I cut the mantle into steak sized pieces, and remove the rubbery layer from BOTH sides.
This is critical. The meat will curl and have a rubbery texture when cooked if this is not removed. This is best done with a very sharp and long filet
knife.
One of our favorite ways to cook them is to cut into 1/2 to 3/4" wide strips, dip in beaten eggs, and roll in saltines made into small crumbs with a
pie roller (or, Pacifico bottle). Fry in butter, and serve with favorite dips. One favorite is to take a small bowl of mayo, add the juices of a
couple limons, and curry powder. Sit back with a cold cerveza and enjoy."
[Edited on 3-1-2015 by Pompano]Floatflyer - 2-27-2015 at 11:06 AM
I suppose that if you choose to worry about as many things as possible, these killers could be added to your list. One neighbor will not let his
85#lab swim in the SOC because of shark worries. For me, I wear a helmet to defend against ice falling from airliners. Different strokes!
From Wikipedia=
Humboldt squid are notorious for their aggression. In Mexico, they are known as diablo rojo (Spanish for 'red devil'): local fishermen's tales claim
that people who fell into the waters were devoured within tens of seconds by packs of squid. Wildlife filmmaker Scott Cassell made the documentary
"Humboldt: The Man-Eating Squid" for the Dangerous Waters series of the Discovery Channel.[5]
There is some disagreement on the veracity of Humboldt squid aggression. Some scientists claim the only reports of aggression towards humans have
occurred when reflective diving gear or flashing lights have been present, acting as provocation. Roger Uzun, a veteran scuba diver and amateur
underwater videographer, swam with a swarm of Humboldt squid for approximately 20 minutes, later saying they seemed more curious than aggressive.[6]
When not feeding or being hunted, Humboldt squid exhibit curious and intelligent behavior.[7]
Giant squid[edit]
In 2003, the crew of a yacht competing to win the round-the-world Jules Verne Trophy reported being attacked by a giant squid several hours after
departing from Brittany, France. The squid purportedly latched onto the ship and blocked the rudder with two tentacles. Olivier de Kersauson (captain
of the yacht) then stopped the boat, causing the squid to lose interest. "We didn't have anything to scare off this beast, so I don't know what we
would have done if it hadn't let go," Kersauson said.[8]
We saw them in but he had a Los Angeles last June out of the 7 mile reef in the middle of the day. We finally headed south a bit got entitled the
coast before I felt brave enough to go for a dip.
Note to self, do not use voice recognition software!Marc - 2-28-2015 at 10:21 AM
A few years ago at La Gringa we found several dozen of them washed up onto the beach. All with chunks of flesh ripped out of them. We figured it was
the larger attacking the smaller. I may find images of this and will post later.
BTW we brought one up from the depths near Mulege and had the gals at the El Patron serve it up with garlic & butter. The pounded the mantel like
abalone. Very good.
[Edited on 2-28-2015 by Marc]Pompano - 2-28-2015 at 01:30 PM
Turning the tables on the Humboldts. Great dinner fare!
We had the squid - calamari - many times at Ray's La Habana in Mulege. I'm assuming it is still being served after Ray's demise.
Here it is, along with some lobster. Delicious!
willardguy - 2-28-2015 at 01:42 PM
the key is drop the squid in a hot frying pan with a bit of water in it outer side down for just a second, the thin membrane will peel right off OCEANUS - 3-1-2015 at 12:23 AM
I was free diving off Isla Coronadita in LA Bay last summer and was approached by 6 med. sized Humbolts while underwater. They were swimming by and
changed course to come in and check me out. At first, I could not figure out what was coming at me because they approached head on. Once they banked
left, I could see their profile and made my way to the surface. We continued to investigate each other as I kicked my way back towards the island
(shallower water) The encounter lasted for about 2 minutes before they had enough and they left without incident.
Pompano - I have witnessed Humbollts feeding in an inverted manner much like your photo. They had pushed up bait fish to the surface and were
snatching them up one at a time.
Very cool animals indeed!Whale-ista - 3-1-2015 at 04:27 AM
We saw them in but he had a Los Angeles last June out of the 7 mile reef in the middle of the day. We finally headed south a bit got entitled the
coast before I felt brave enough to go for a dip.
Often good fishing in But He Had a Los Angeles... basautter - 3-1-2015 at 04:52 AM
Any hints on when/where/how to catch them? I want to start working on this problem as soon as possible!Ken Bondy - 3-1-2015 at 07:07 AM
I came across this one right in front of Alfonsina's. Severely attacked, head almost severed:
woody with a view - 3-1-2015 at 07:25 AM
Left coast dinner! 2008
[Edited on 3-1-2015 by woody with a view]Geo_Skip - 3-1-2015 at 09:28 AM
Calamari. Saw another panga fisherman with a 4 to 5 foot one offshore on a visit to Shari & Juan's place. He held it up to show it off as we
motored past. Damn I was jealous, still am. We had a great day with small bottom fish, no yellowtail (very late in the season on that trip) great
weather, fantastic people, but no big squid.
I should have made him a generous offer and had a garlic butter calamari steak for dinner/breakfast and tried it in a taco too.
Ah, those missed opportunities we gather over time....Pompano - 3-1-2015 at 10:40 AM
The collage below shows the squid we would commonly come across almost every time we were deep-water fishing....like
yo-yoing for yellowtail (jurel) or with bait. We always kept a couple squid for the table, and also to use for cut-bait. Cut bait from squid is some
of the best bait you can use for just about anything finny...and also other squid! Very prolific and active, they can also wear you out if you let
them.
Hah..it's always a hoot to take out novices for their first squid catch and initiation. It's a 'right of passage'. You cheer your friend on while he
is pumping and reeling the big squid to the boat..knowing full well he wll soon be squirted with a jetting pailful of water from the thrusting squid
that's trying to pull away..and then right at the boat...your buddy wil give that last pump and reel... and..Whoosh!..a
surprise and a quick shower.....and if you are lucky, nobody gets inked!
Never being suicidal, we intentionally avoid swimming with them!
Here's another way to catch Humboldt squid...wrestle them on the beach?? Hey, why not. This is from a post by Nomad Airmech ..BOLA in 2008. Great
job of barehanding a live squid!
[Edited on 3-1-2015 by Pompano]woody with a view - 3-1-2015 at 10:42 AM
when life gives you squid, make calamari!
imagine surfing right as the sun is going down and noticing what look like small seals zooming past your feet while you sit there waiting for a wave.
after catching one and seeing a few squid beaching themselves you start to question the wisdom of sitting on your board with you feet dangling! more
dinner options!
SOC Swimming
BajaBreak - 3-3-2015 at 01:34 PM
Just when I was thinking it would be a good idea to spend some time swimming every day around Gonzaga or Bay of LA to rehab from a leg injury, I find
this out.
Damn it. Where can I find a shark suit?!
Then again, if that's how I am to die, I guess it was just my time...hahPacifico - 3-3-2015 at 02:25 PM
One day we stopped to explore on a beach near El Barril and found many squid cruising along in about 2' of water. We grabbed a few and tossed them up
on the beach for bait and dinner. I grabbed a really big one at one point and it slipped out of my hands and fell back in the water...it then squared
off with me and had it's tentacles spread out and facing me! It jetted forward (toward me) and I fell back in the water while trying to get away!
Scared the hell out of me for a few seconds!!! They can move just as fast forward as backward... JohnMcfrog - 3-4-2015 at 07:52 AM
I used to spend a month a year in Korea on business. I ate local and my favorite dish was fried squid. It was about 5 or 6 dollars in the place a
block from my hotel. I tried this recipe last night and it was close to the real thing: http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/ojinguh-bokkeumdurrelllrobert - 3-4-2015 at 09:05 AM
On my first trip out of San Felipe on the Tony Reyes the first mate gave us a lesson on why you must wear closed toed shoes when a Humbolt is on deck.
He cut off a tentacle and placed it in front of the same squid. It was completely devoured in less than 15 minutes.baitcast - 3-4-2015 at 09:26 AM
Over the years I have used squid for bait both dead and aliveand eaten some as well but these were little guys ,seen some at BOLA that were fair
size but nothing like we ran into while drifting one morning,things were a little slow and we were in the channel between Danzante and Carmen, I drop
some iron over the side deep, while yoyoing I hook this thing felt strange,get it along side and my god its a sea monster,first its the fountain
effect,then the ink attack,Poor Dave grabs the thing and it grabs back!!!!!!!
The people in Loreto I,m sure could hear us first thing you know its in the boat with us and Dave is yelling get this #$%^& off me, now keep in
mind the boat is 12 ft long two grown men 5 or 6 fishing poles tackle boxes life jackets and one very stressed out monster squid, its grabbing
everything in site, looked like it was trying to eat Dave,s face,I had to laugh,wish I had a tape of the whole thing.
With only a foot or so of freeboard its eye ball to eye ball with that thing,my bud had never seen a squid up close and personal so it was a whole
new thing for him,he,s yelling looking for help from me,no thanks but I do tell him to look out for the beak " what beak" we were most lucky to get rid of him without sinking the boat.
Rob
Squid disable research submersible
Whale-ista - 3-10-2015 at 01:42 AM
Yikes! Yet another scary squid story... This one from the Bering Sea.
we were most lucky to get rid of him without sinking the boat.