Getting Squiddy with It: Chasing the Spring Squid Run in Hyannis, Massachusetts

A modest cooler stacked with Squid and PBR

Every May, I start the angling year with an empty freezer. No food. No bait. Just a few sad bags of ice waiting for a purpose. By this time, I’ve eaten or given away all the game and fish from last season—and I’m eager to feel the pull again.

Luckily, here in New England, one of the best sources of bait and table fare begins showing up right on time: the Atlantic Longfin Squid.

The Squid Run: Short, Sweet, and Delicious

Squid fishing is one of the most accessible, efficient, and downright entertaining ways to fill a freezer fast. It’s simple, cheap, and wildly productive when you hit the window right. While you can target squid at night throughout the year from docks using bright lights, Hyannis in the spring is something special. For a few short weeks—late April through early June—these tasty tentacled creatures swarm the shallow waters just outside the harbor during the day.

Boats, kayaks, and even jet skis flood the area, all hoping to capitalize on this brief but glorious daylight bite. If you’ve never been, picture the squid armada: anglers bobbing on calm Cape waters, hauling in squid two and three at a time, while dodging ink jets like extras in a seafood-themed action movie.

How to Catch Squid (and Keep Your Sanity)

Let’s get this straight—squid don’t eat bait. They hunt with their tentacles and their eyes. You won’t tempt them with a piece of clam or a worm. Instead, squid are caught using squid jigs—weighted lures designed to mimic shrimp or smaller squid, often in bright colors and topped with barbless prongs to snag the tentacles when they strike.

Your best bet is to rig multiple jigs vertically along your line using dropper loops. I usually go with three: pink on top, green in the middle, pink on the bottom. Squid are curious by nature, and they often show a clear color preference on a given night. Start with a variety and adjust based on what they’re hitting.

A few pro tips to avoid frustration:

• Space your jigs out. Too close together and you’ll be dealing with tangles all night.

• Keep your weight a foot or two below your lowest jig—close enough to stay vertical, far enough to avoid spooking them.

• Fish the tide. Outgoing tide after dusk is typically prime time.

• Don’t wear white. Seriously. My first time out I wore a white tee and sneakers and came home looking like a Jackson Pollock experiment gone wrong.

Night Fishing vs. Daylight Bite

Night fishing is the standard, and it’s a whole vibe—LED lights glowing on the water, squid flashing in and out of the beam like ghosts. But the daylight run in Hyannis is where it’s at. This rare phenomenon makes for an easy, comfortable, and wildly productive experience, especially for folks new to squid fishing.

During the run, squid congregate in tight schools, so if you hook one, there are usually plenty more in the area. Some anglers even drift with lights during the day to increase their odds, though during peak season, they’re so thick you hardly need the boost.

Why Bother? Bait, Food, and Culture

Squid isn’t just fun to catch—it’s also one of the best multi-use species in the ocean. If you’re a bottom fisherman, fresh squid is a game-changer. Strip it up for fluke and black sea bass, or run whole squid as teasers to tempt that personal best.

But bait aside, I squid fish for the table. Growing up, I celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and squid was always the highlight. Stuffed squid. Linguine and squid. Seafood salad. And as a kid, you couldn’t keep me away from a plate of crispy fried calamari.

These days, I fish for squid with friends, on the dock, from a kayak, or wherever I can reach the ink zone. It’s cheap, easy, social, and rewarding—and it connects me to New England’s coastal tradition in a hands-on way.

Recipe 1: Stuffed Squid (Calamari Ripieni)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb medium squid, cleaned (reserve tentacles)

• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tbsp parsley, chopped

• 1 egg

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• 1 cup marinara sauce

Instructions:

1. Mince squid tentacles and sauté in olive oil with garlic for 1–2 minutes.

2. In a bowl, mix tentacles, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper.

3. Stuff each squid body with the mixture and secure with a toothpick.

4. Brown the squid in a hot pan with olive oil, then pour marinara over them.

5. Cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or over pasta.

Recipe 2: Italian Seafood Salad with Squid

A healthy bowl of Seafood Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb squid, cleaned and cut into rings

• 1/2 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 1/2 lb bay scallops

• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• Juice of 2 lemons

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Optional: black olives, red pepper flakes

Instructions:

1. Boil a pot of salted water. Blanch shrimp and scallops for 2–3 minutes, and squid for just 1 minute. Drain and cool.

2. Combine seafood with celery, onion, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Chill for 1 hour before serving. Serve cold with lemon wedges.

Final Cast

Whether you’re slinging jigs off a dock or chasing ink plumes from your kayak, squid fishing in Hyannis is a New England rite of spring. It’s fast, fun, messy, and deeply rewarding. Fill your freezer. Feed your family. And take part in a seasonal ritual that connects generations of coastal anglers.

Just don’t wear white.

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