Overview
Pelagic cephalopod that approaches the coast in autumn and winter. Prefers nighttime hours and artificial lights.
Identification
Diamond-shaped finsArm sizeElongated mantleProminent eyesTwenty total appendagesBroad headSmooth skinSemi-transparent mantle
- Body
- Slender body with triangular fins and well-developed arms.
- Colouration
- Pink-brown with silvery sheen, often lighter on the back.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not very noticeable
- Growth
- Fast, particularly in the early months of life when it approaches the coast.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Ommastrephidae
- Order
- Oegopsina
- Class
- Cephalopoda
Related species
Illex coindetiiLoligo vulgarisSepia officinalisSepioteuthis sepioideaOctopus vulgarisDosidicus gigas
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, pelagic
- Preferred bottom
- sand, mud, gravel
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the Mediterranean, North Sea, and northeastern Atlantic.
- Micro-habitat
- Tends to frequent shallower areas at night, attracted by nearby lights along the coast.
Prefers sandy or muddy bottoms at varying depths.
Presence by sea area
Tirreno NordPeak
Tirreno CentroPeak
Tirreno SudPeak
Adriatico NordPeak
Adriatico CentroPeak
Adriatico SudPeak
Ionio NordPeak
Ionio CentroPeak
Sardegna OvestPeak
Sardegna EstPeak
Sicilia TirrenoPeak
Sicilia Ionio CanalePeak
Eu Mediterraneo OvestPeak
Eu Mediterraneo EstPeak
Eu Atlantico NePeak
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Mare NordPeak
Eu ManicaPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- small fish, crustaceans, other cephalopods
- Secondary prey
- shrimp, mackerel, anchovies
- Occasional prey
- jellyfish, fish larvae
- Feeding behaviour
- Active predator, uses its long arms to catch prey, often at night.
- Natural predators
- tunas, swordfish, dolphins, seabirds, octopuses
Active nocturnal predator, adapted to capture swift prey.
Behaviour
- Activity
- nocturnal
- Social behaviour
- small_groups
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Seasonal migrations, moving closer to the coast in fall and winter.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Tends to be more active in fall and winter when it comes closer to the coast to spawn.
- Juveniles
- Young form schools to protect themselves from predators.
- Adults
- Become more solitary as they grow, though still seen in small groups.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- October, November, December, January
- Spawning depth
- between 100 and 300 meters
- Eggs
- Small, spherical eggs, produced in gelatinous masses, pelagic.
- Larval stage
- Planktonic larvae that quickly evolve into young cephalopods.
- Sexual maturity
- Varies between 1 and 1.5 years
When to catch European flying squid
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Day—
Nightnotte, tarda sera
This species shows peak fishing activity in winter, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in spring and summer, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Approaches coast, very active.
Medium
Regular nocturnal activity.
High
Stays deep, away from coast.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
6°COptimal zone: 11-18°C22°C
Preferred tide: low
Where to catch it
Best spots
open watersnear artificial platformsareas lit at nightriver mouths
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
squid jiggingbottom fishinglight trollingdusk-night fishing
Other applicable
EgingBolentinoPesca A FondoSquid JiggingEging LentoEging NotturnoEging PesanteTataki
Recommended baits
glow baitsartificial minnowsshrimpfish pieces
Baits by pressure
Low
Egi fosforescenteEgi naturale 2.5-3.0Egi rosa/arancioSabiki fluorescenteTotanara piombataEgi scuro/verdePiuma bianca
Medium
Gambero vivoTrancio di sardinaPesciolino vivo
High
Egi fosforescenteEgi naturale 2.5-3.0Egi rosa/arancio
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- When hooked, it can make quick escapes underwater in unpredictable directions.
- Handling
- Handle carefully due to its arms, which can be irritating.
- Release
- Release it quickly after a photo, avoiding unnecessary injuries.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- A popular species in Mediterranean sport fishing, where examples over 4.4 lbs are considered trophy. Frequently caught in Italian seas, especially in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- In the kitchen
- Widely used in Mediterranean cuisine, especially appreciated fried or in stews.
- Cultural notes
- Present in various sea stories as a symbol of mysterious creatures.
- Historical notes
- Squid fishing has supplied the Italian coasts for centuries, particularly on cold winter nights.
