As the water warms into the fifties, Along the coast of Rhode Island, anglers keep an eye out for squid-boats. Talk of “tubes” — sharpie slang for chunky 12- to 18-inch squid that pounce on jigs — breaks the long winter silence for the saltwater sect. In May or June, the fishing season begins when squid dart through the lights of Newport Harbor. Fishing at night and day, heavy bibs are worn over pants to protect from the cold. Deck boots that are waterproof should also be worn. The foul-weather gear also provides a shield from the stink and stain of the squid’s black ink.
Jessica Haydahl Richardson
The moon is flooded with squid. It’s a good push, and the jiggers slip out into the darkness. Capt. Max Dispoto – fresh-faced, bright-eyed – has eagerly anticipated the arrival of Squid, since he had hung up his offshore equipment a few month earlier. “The squid are the first thing we get every year on the salt side,” he says. “It’s the inauguration of the season. It’s the beginning of a new season, and we look forward to that. It’s what we wait for all winter….
