Squid Pen
A jig from Hayabusa.
How to fish it
Drop-jigged vertically at depth (slow-pitch or speed-jigging), or pitched up-current and worked back through the column. The descent triggers as much as the lift — most jig strikes happen as the lure flutters down through the strike zone, so keep contact with the line on every drop.
Fish over reef, drop-offs, and current-driven seamounts. Targets: Snapper, Kingfish, Squid. Slow-pitch is the AU default for kingfish, snapper, and amberjack; high-speed work suits yellowfin and dogtooth tuna.
Match jig weight to depth + current: 60–120g for under 30m, 150–250g for 30–80m, 300g+ for offshore wrecks and shelf-break work. Run twin assist hooks at the head, not the rear — strikes come from above on the drop, not behind.
Rig direct to 60–130lb fluoro leader, FG-knotted to PE3–PE6 braid. The rod is half the technique — invest in a dedicated slow-pitch or jigging rod with the right load curve, because tip-strike contact is what converts inquiries into hookups.
Rigging
- Weight
- 60–120g under 30m; 150–250g for 30–80m; 300g+ for shelf-break work
- Leader
- 60–130lb fluorocarbon, FG-knotted to braid
- Braid
- PE3–PE6 for slow-pitch; PE5–PE8 for high-speed jigging
- Hooks
- Twin assist hooks rigged at the head, not the tail
Reading BiteCast for this lure
When this lure is in your tackle box, BiteCast's data layers tell you the right conditions to fish it. The most relevant layers:
- SST (sea-surface temperature) →
Match SST to the target species' preferred range; sharp surface fronts often coincide with feeding zones, even inshore.
- Subsurface temperature →
Set depth slider to your fishing depth (50–80m for shelf reefs); confirm temp matches species preference at that depth.
- Chlorophyll →
The green/blue boundary is the food-chain front — fish concentrate on the edge, not the dense bloom interior.
Best months in AU
Effectiveness varies by target species and water temperature — consult the species page or BiteCast SST layer for your local timing.
General guidance for southern + central AU; tropical north runs warm-water species year-round.
Where it shines in Australia
- Sydney Offshore (Browns / Banks)— EAC convergence + warm-core eddies push tuna and marlin within range Nov–May
- South-East Queensland (Gold Coast canyons)— Black + blue marlin, mahi-mahi, and yellowfin on the EAC mainstream Nov–April
- Far North QLD shelf— Year-round wahoo, mackerel, and dogtooth tuna over the GBR shelf and outer reef
Target AU species
About Hayabusa
JP jig specialist; widely available in AU through retailers.
Origin: Made in Japan
FAQ
What is the Hayabusa Squid Pen?
How do I rig the Hayabusa Squid Pen?
When is the best time of year to fish the Hayabusa Squid Pen?
What species does the Hayabusa Squid Pen catch?
Where in Australia is the Hayabusa Squid Pen most effective?
Should I replace the stock trebles with single hooks?
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Where to buy in AU
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