Techniques
Squid fishing in Cyprus: how to get eging right
Fishing.com.cy · 6 min read · Published · Updated
Eging is the most accessible serious fishing on the island. You can do it from a harbour wall, with light tackle, in the dark, in winter — and it produces one of the best things you will ever eat.
When and where
Squid fishing is at its best from roughly October through to April, when the water cools. Summer sessions produce, but the squid are generally smaller and further out.
Look for weed beds, harbour lights and mixed rocky-sandy ground in 2–8 m of water. Lit harbour walls at Latchi, Zygi, Larnaca and Paphos are the classic starting points because the light concentrates bait and squid follow it.
Egi sizes and sink rates
Egi are sized in Japanese units — 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 are the sizes worth carrying. Size 3.0 is the workhorse; 2.5 for shallow, clear or pressured water; 3.5 when it is deep, windy or you want a faster fall.
Sink rate matters more than colour. A basic fall of around 3–4 seconds per metre suits most Cyprus shore marks; shallow weedy ground calls for a slower shallow-type egi so it doesn't foul.
- Size 2.5 — shallow, clear, calm, wary squid
- Size 3.0 — the everyday choice
- Size 3.5 — depth, wind or current
- Carry one natural and one bright pattern; change if two drops go untouched
The retrieve
Squid attack an egi on the fall, not the lift. Everything you do with the rod is about setting up a good fall.
Cast, let the egi sink on a semi-tight line while counting, then make two or three sharp upward jerks, then stop and let it fall again for 5–15 seconds. Watch the line: a squid takes as a tick, a slackening, or the line simply moving sideways.
- Cast and count the egi down to fishing depth
- 2–3 sharp jerks with the rod tip high
- Let it fall on a controlled slack line — this is the take window
- Lift into it smoothly; don't strike hard, the tentacles tear
- Keep steady pressure all the way in, no pumping
Tackle
Eging rewards light, sensitive gear. A 2.4–2.7 m rod rated around 6–20 g, a 2500 size reel, PE0.6 braid and a 12–16 lb fluorocarbon leader is the standard setup and will last you years.
Bring a headtorch with a red mode, a squid-proof bag or bucket, and something to sit on — good eging is a patient game.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to catch squid in Cyprus?
- October to April, and after dark. Lit harbour walls and weed beds in 2–8 m of water are the most reliable shore marks.
- What size egi should I use?
- Size 3.0 covers most situations. Drop to 2.5 in shallow, clear or heavily fished water, and go up to 3.5 when it is deep, windy or running current.
- Do squid take the egi on the drop or the retrieve?
- Almost always on the fall. The jerks reposition the jig; the pause afterwards is when the take happens, so keep a controlled slack line and watch it closely.
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