Robert's Arm perfect netting grounds for catching squid

A woman in Robert's Arm, N.L.,has found an unusual hobby this year: using a net to catch squid on the beach.

It's a far cry from the traditional "squid-jigging grounds."

As a child, Janice Walsh remembers going out in boat to jigfor squid when she grew up in the Green Bay community.

Sometimes you go down and they're literally on the beach and you just pick them up.- Janice Walsh

When she moved back to Robert's Arm last October, she wanted to try it again, but the squid had changed their habits.

"We've been out in the boat with jiggers. We've been out with rollers. They will not jig, so we get them as they come in the beach," said Walsh.

"Sometimes you need a dip net because they won't come all the way in. Sometimes you go down and they're literally on the beach and you just pick them up, put them in your pocket."

Keeping a detailed record

Since September, Walsh said she's caught over 240 squid and she's keeping a detailed record of the best time to catch them.

"I have a little memo on my phone. I have exactly how many I have, the night I got them and thetype of weather And we've got it figured out that it has to be a cold, brisk night with lots of stars."

Walsh doesn't keep all the catch for herself. She's given many away to family, friendsand her local pastor.

She said it was a hidden talent she didn't know she had.

"I like squid to eat, and I never thought I even liked [catching them]. It was just something I got into and I enjoyed it," she said.

"There were many nights I was the only one on the beach."

Walsh said there's only been one night she's missed going out netting, and that's because she was out of town.

Swimmingv-formation

For anyone who wants to try their hand at catching squid, Walsh has some tips to share about how to tell when the squid are coming into shore.

"There's two ways. If they're very scarce, you just keep looking at the water and they'll come in in a v-form, but this year they don't like the light. If you put your flashlight on them in the water, they'll back up. They won't even turn around. They just go right in reverse," she said.

"If they're a little bit more plentiful, they come in so fast that they actually get stopped on the beach. They can't get themselves back out because they get caught up in the kelp."

Walsh said she's stained several pieces of clothingwith squid ink, but it's much more fun squirting other people.

"If you put them in your net and he's not blown up, and you put him back in the water, he blows back up. So then when you take him back out, you can point your net towards someone and get them to squirt," she said.

"It's quite fun."

Walsh isn't finished catching squid for thisyear, adding a couplemore to the freezer this week alone.

She plans to continue catching squid until the ice forms in the harbour.