Here is how it works at the Edmonds fishing pier. First, if you want to know if they are catching them there, go for a walk on the pier any time of the day. If you see a lot of large black spots several feet in diameter, then you know they are catching them. The black spots are squid ink from when people flop them on the pier.

November into December is a great time for squidding. If the fishing is good, there will be a lot of people there and many of them bring their own lights. Don't worry about getting your own lights until and if you get into it. I have had my best luck between 10 pm and midnight. I have caught them on all tides, but incoming to high is probably best. A really low tide is really bad.

Use light to medium spinning gear. Get several different kinds of squid jigs. Some jigs are hotter on one night or another. Use two squid jigs, you don't need more than that. Put your heaviest jig on the bottom, the next one 18 inches or so above that.

The squid come through in schools. If you see everyone just standing there then there are no schools. Just keep flipping your jig out every once in a while. If someone catches a squid beside you, then get out there cause a school is there.

People move around a lot on the pier to try to get ahead of the squid. Don't sweat it, you will get the hang of is. I usually don't move a lot, and let the squid come to me.

Flip the jig out, count to about 5 and then start lifting and dropping your rod. Don't rip it, be gentle. When you hook a squid, it is just a dead weight. Keep constant pressure on it, there are no barbs on the jigs. Sometimes you can catch two on the same jig, or one squid each on your two jigs. Vary your routine, but keep track of where you were when you hooked one. Get right back out there in the exact spot as soon as you can. Hang a bucket on the rail to drop your squid into, and also to mark your spot. If crowds aren't your thing, then do something else.

Some nights the squid don't show up. That is fishing