While we're on topic, but this is only about squid or squish, not mack...What I've found about buying squid is this...The type they sell in a regular supermarket ie: Ralphs, Vons etc. either packaged or over the counter in the meat dept.,intended to make calamari with, although it is fresh, is not good for bait at all. Also I've noticed in some bait shops they are starting to sell this squid in a paper box instead of the good old paper tray in a plastic bag brand. Before I remember it saying "Not for Human Consumption" on the package, but with this new brand in the paper box I notice on the side, the daily nutritional values ie: calories per serving, carbs, protien, sodium etc. The conclusion I've come to is that the type for human consumption does not work well for bait because it has been cleaned up somewhat. The white fatty looking mushy guts stuff, the messy ink sacs and that clear plastic feeling inner skeleton structure that holds it on the hook well, inside of them naturally, has been removed so it is fit for human consumption. I've actually tested the good old frozen "not for human consumption" type side by side with the edible type, on a two hook dropper rig set up, alternating each cast each type from top hook and then bottom hook, and vice versa, and would fish heads of each type on each hook at a time, so all factors were as equal as could be and... the market bought fresh but cleaned squid, hooked only 1 fish to the uncleaned type's 7 fish over a 2 hour period. (4 fish on the bottom hook, 3 on the top dropper for "not for human consumption"vs 1 fish on the bottom dropper, 0 on the top for "calimari" type squid. I did this because I used to go out for a sesh when there was no bait shops open when I got the spur of the moment urge to soak a line so I would stop by the only thing open and on my way which was a Ralphs supermarket. After a few skunks at usually productive spots it got me wondering, so I did this test. Now I just have my freezer stocked at all times with 3 to 5 packages of the good ol bait type squid at least so I can go anytime the urge hits me and not be at the mercy of the bait shop hours and skunks anymore.
