INKU Squid Forecast
Free squid fishing forecast: the best bite times for the next 7 days from tides, moon phase, sunrise and sunset, wind, swell and water temperature, plus the right Inku jig. Built in Melbourne for Port Phillip and Western Port, and works worldwide.
Hour by hour
Today
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Inku squid brief
Reading the water…
Sun, moon and tide
Water and weather at the best hour
What's driving the score
Inku tackle box for these conditions
Tie these on
Inku Squid Tackle
Gear up for the big squid
Founded in Melbourne in 2020. Every Inku jig has a glow body, 3D eyes, natural feathers and sharp Japanese stainless crowns, designed and tested in Australian waters.
Season guide
When the big squid come in
Spot guide
Spot notes
Rules
Bag limits
How the bite score works
- Light (26%). Sunrise and sunset score highest. Darker nights score better than full-moon nights, because squid feed tighter around pier lights. Overcast days help.
- Tide (20%). The 30 minutes either side of a tide change scores highest, then the top of the tide and the run-in. Fast current lowers the score.
- Wind (20%) and swell (14%). Under 10 knots and under half a metre is ideal. Squid go quiet after a strong blow stirs the water.
- Water temp (10%). 13 to 19°C scores best. Big Western Port squid move in at 13 to 15°C.
- Clarity (6%) and pressure (4%). Rain in the last 24 hours and a falling barometer drag the score down.
Squid fishing forecast for Australia
The Inku Squid Forecast is a free squid fishing forecast built by Inku Squid Tackle in Melbourne. Pick any pier, bay or beach and it scores every hour of the next 7 days on light, tide, wind, swell, water temperature, clarity and pressure, then tells you which Inku jig to tie on.
It covers every major squid spot in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, plus spots across Australia and the world. Tap anywhere on the water to check your own spot.
Questions
What is the best time to catch squid?
The 30 minutes either side of a tide change, especially when it lines up with sunrise or sunset. Light winds, small swell, clear water and a steady barometer all help. The Inku Squid Forecast scores every hour of the next 7 days on these factors.
Does the moon affect squid fishing?
Yes. Darker nights around the new moon often fish better, because squid feed more tightly around pier lights. Around the full moon, dawn and dusk sessions are usually the better bet.
When do the big squid arrive in Port Phillip Bay?
The big spawners gather on the seagrass in the south and west of Port Phillip from September to November, around Queenscliff, Lonsdale Bight, St Leonards and Swan Bay.
When do the big squid arrive in Western Port?
Big squid push in from Bass Strait around May as the water cools to 13 to 15°C, and the big spawners move onto the weed around Flinders in early spring.
What water temperature is best for squid?
Around 13 to 19°C scores best in southern Australia. Big Western Port squid move in when the water cools to 13 to 15°C.
How accurate are the tide times?
Tide times are calculated from tide-gauge harmonic constants and adjusted for each spot, and are usually within a few minutes of official predictions for Port Phillip and Western Port.
New to squidding? Read the free Inku Squidding Guide.
Squid fishing forecasts by spot