Squid Jig Colours for Calamari That Get Bites
A patch of broken weed in two metres of clean water can make squid fussy fast. This is where getting your squid jig colours for calamari right can turn follows into proper takes. Colour is not the only thing that matters - sink rate, size, cloth texture and a natural retrieve all count - but the right jig is easier for squid to find and more convincing once it is in front of them.
There is no single colour that wins everywhere. A pink jig that gets smashed under the jetty at dawn may be ignored over a bright sand flat at midday. Start by matching the jig to the light, water clarity and depth you are fishing, then let the squid tell you what they want.
Squid jig colours for calamari: start with visibility
The practical rule is simple: use a jig the squid can see without making it look wildly out of place. In clear, shallow water, natural and subtle colours often get the nod. In deeper water, low light or coloured water, brighter jigs and glow bodies make it easier for calamari to locate the lure.
Squid are visual hunters. They will often stalk a jig from behind, flare their tentacles or sit beside it before committing. If you can see squid looking but not striking, colour is one of the quickest changes you can make. It is far easier than moving spots, and often more useful than repeatedly changing your retrieve.
Do not overthink it on the first cast. Begin with a proven all-rounder, give it a fair run through likely ground, then change colours with a reason. Randomly swapping jigs every few casts makes it hard to work out what is actually producing.
The best colours for common Australian conditions
Clear water and bright sunshine
When the water is clean enough to see weed beds, sand patches and cruising squid, natural colours are a good starting point. Olive, brown, green, blue, silver and baitfish-patterned jigs suit these conditions. They resemble small fish, prawns and other prey without looking too loud against clear water.
A transparent or lightly coloured body can also work well over shallow reef and weed. In bright conditions, a very flashy or fluorescent jig can still catch squid, especially if fishers around you are getting results on them. But if calamari are following and refusing, downsizing the jig or moving to a more natural colour is usually worth trying.
Clear water is where presentation really shows. Long casts, a quiet approach and a jig that sinks naturally beside the weed can matter as much as the colour hanging from the clip.
Cloud, dawn, dusk and shaded structure
Pink, orange and bright purple are reliable colours when the light drops. They stand out against darker weed beds and are easy for squid to track around pylons, marina edges and shadowed rock walls. Pink is a long-time favourite for a reason: it offers enough contrast to be seen in mixed conditions without being limited to dirty water.
Orange is another strong choice around sunrise and sunset, particularly over brown or dark green weed. It creates a clear target when the sky is dim but there is still enough ambient light for a standard cloth jig to show up.
If you only carry a small selection, a pink jig deserves a place in the box. It is one of the best middle-ground options for anglers fishing changing conditions from the shore or boat.
Dirty water, wind chop and stirred-up bays
After a blow, rain runoff or a busy weekend of boat traffic, visibility can drop sharply. This is the time for bright pink, orange, chartreuse and UV-reactive squid jigs. High-contrast colours help a squid pick out the lure before it drifts past.
In dirty water, do not expect colour alone to do all the work. A slightly larger jig may be easier to find, and a slower sink can keep it in the strike zone over weed rather than burying it in the bottom. Use more deliberate lifts, then allow a proper pause. Calamari often grab the jig as it settles.
The trade-off is that very bright colours can look too aggressive once you move back into gin-clear water. Keep one or two high-visibility jigs for rough or murky conditions instead of relying on them everywhere.
Deeper water and night sessions
Glow squid jigs earn their spot when fishing deeper water, under lights or after dark. Charge the glow material with a torch before casting, especially after the jig has been sitting in the tackle tray. A glow belly, glow stripe or full glow body can make a big difference when natural light is limited.
Full glow is not always the answer. In clear water under marina lights, a jig with a glow belly or small glow accents can look more natural while still giving squid a clear target. Try a full glow jig when it is properly dark or deep, then switch to a subtler glow pattern if squid are following but not taking.
UV jigs are also worth carrying. UV fabric can appear brighter to squid than it does to the human eye, particularly in low or filtered light. Treat UV as a useful visibility feature, not a guaranteed shortcut. It works best alongside the right size, depth and retrieve.
Match the jig cloth as well as the body colour
The body beneath the cloth is only part of the picture. Squid jigs are commonly finished with coloured cloth that changes the lure's overall look. A pink body with a green cloth, for example, presents differently to a solid pink jig, particularly in clear water.
Natural cloth colours such as olive, brown and blue suit clear shallows and weed beds. Brighter cloth in pink, orange or chartreuse offers contrast when the water is dull. A striped or patterned cloth can add flash and definition, making the jig easier to notice during a slow sink.
If you are choosing between two similar jigs, pick the one that provides a visible outline against the background you are fishing. Dark weed can call for a bright cloth. Pale sand may suit a darker or more natural jig that does not disappear into the bottom.
Build a small, useful colour rotation
You do not need a tackle bag full of every colour under the sun. Four reliable options will cover most calamari sessions around Australia:
- a natural olive, brown or blue jig for clear, shallow water
- a pink jig for everyday mixed conditions
- an orange or chartreuse jig for low light and dirty water
- a glow or UV jig for depth, night and heavily shaded water
Let the squid make the decision
Watch what happens at the end of the cast. If squid are attacking the jig, keep fishing it. If they are following closely but turning away, make one considered change. Try a more natural colour in clear water, a brighter colour in dull water, or a glow version if the session is running into darkness.
When nothing is showing, colour may not be the problem. Check that you are fishing over weed, broken reef, seagrass edges, jetty lights or current lines where calamari actually hunt. Slow the retrieve, add two or three sharp lifts, then let the jig sink on a semi-slack line. Most missed opportunities come from rushing the pause, not choosing the wrong shade.
A quality jig with sharp crowns, durable cloth and a dependable sink rate is worth having when the bite is on. Mongrel Fishing Tackle stocks practical squid jigs for anglers who want gear ready for the jetty, boat or local weed flat.
Take a few colours, start with the conditions in front of you and pay attention to the follows. Calamari are usually willing to show you the answer - provided you give them a jig they can see and enough time to grab it.