This invention relates to a squid jigger or jag and relates both to a method of jigging for squid and also an apparatus for this purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to a jag or jigger for squid which is a cephalopoda mollusk but the invention is not intended to be limited necessarily to this variety of marine animal.

It is known to use a device generally known as a squid jag or jigger which includes an elongate body with a cluster of barbed hooks fixed to a lower end of the body and surrounding its lower end.

This device is used to hold bait and is attached to a pliable line (a fishing line) so that when the squid is considered to be close to the bait, the body as a whole is jigged upwardly hoping then to ensnare some part of the squid and hold this for capture of the animal.

PROBLEM TO WHICH THIS INVENTION IS DIRECTED

I propose an arrangement which will have a higher potential of ensnaring a squid when attracted to bait.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an alternative, the invention could be said to reside in a squid jigger having a body, a hook cluster at one end and a line attachment shape at an opposite end of the body, the loop being arranged to secure thereby the jigger to a line, a bait support slideably supported along the body to be in either a squid-attracting position where the bait support is positioned closest to the attachment shape, or in a jigging position where it is closest to the hook cluster and furthest from the loop, and release means engaging between the body and the bait support to hold the bait support in the first said position but able to be released therefrom to assume a jigging position upon a selected extent of force effected therebetween.

In preference the release means comprise a detent between the bait support and the base portion.

In preference the hook cluster is a group of hooks with ensnaring points aligned to point back along the body toward an opposite end of the body.

In an alternative the release means comprises a frangible element engaging between the base part and the bait support.

In preference the release means comprises a flexible member engaging between the base part and the bait support.

According to a further feature in the alternative, the release means include a frangible element engaging between the base part and the bait support.

My proposal is to have a bait support which is adapted to hold bait and a separately moveable hook or nest of hooks so that in a first state when the bait attracts a squid, the hook or nest of hooks are significantly separate from the bait support holding the bait, and when a squid is felt to be eating or attaching to the bait, means holding the bait support to a base part being separable by effecting a pulling of the body so that with resistance of the squid, the bait support will separate with a result that the hook or nest of hooks will be brought up close to the bait support and effect an ensnaring of the squid thereby.

In a further alternative feature, the frangible element is a rubber band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention it will now be described with reference to an embodiment which should be described with the assistance of drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a squid jag in an initial state in which a body is kept separate from a crown of hooks,

Figure 2 is the same view of the same embodiment of the body released from its upper end so that the crown of hooks is now positioned immediately below the body,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional of the jag according to the same embodiment as in figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 illustrates the jag in a set position with a fish bait and an approaching squid,

Figure 5 illustrates the jag once released, and

Figure 6 illustrates a close to final position in which the nest of hooks has been projected into a catching and jigging of a squid position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring in detail to the drawings, the squid jag has a body including an elongate bait support (1) of elongate shape which is arranged to pass through a typical portion of bait e.g. a fish body or other appropriate attractive organic material which is held thereby.

At an upper end of the bait support (1) there is a portion (2) which projects into a cowl (3) which is part of a base part of the body and there is between the two a resilient detent (4) where a projecting part is resiliently supported to engage within a corresponding cavity which however has sloping sides to allow for a relative release between the two with a sufficient separating pressure. The cowl (3) has further attached to it a an attachment shape being a releasable clip (5) whereby a conventional loop of a fishing line can be secured thereto and thereby hold the clip.

Further attached to the cowl (3) is a pliable line (6) which passes through a hollow passageway in the bait support (1 ) and continues for some distance thereafter as shown at (7) to be attached at its end to a ring of hooks (8)which are directed generally in the direction of the attached line (6). Each of the hooks is barbed.

This ring or nest of hooks is a number of barbed hooks each having its sharp point pointed back toward the bait support.

Within the ring of hooks (8) there is a portion (9) of frustroconical shape and this is positioned and dimensioned so that when it is drawn into a base (10) of the bait support (1) of the body, it will be guided and interlocked with this by reason of the matching frustroconical shape (11) within the bottom end of the bait support (1).

As will now been seen, in use, the bait support (1) is attached subject to selected release pressure by reason of the detent (4) in the cowl (3) which in turn is attached to a support line through clip (5).

When a person feels that a squid may be tentatively holding the bait, a relatively strong pull of the attached line would then be expected with the resistance of the squid holding the bait on the body (1) to then facilitate release of the bait support from the attaching cowl (3). Once released, this will cause the distal ring or nest of hooks to approach with some rapidity relative to the body of the squid and it is found that this catching action improves in trials conducted so far the number of squid caught.

The method of applying abrupt release pressure can be varied and can include simply a frangible element being in one instance a rubber band that is sized and specified to break upon a given release force, or it can be a plastic tab again which is specified and dimensioned to enable a break pressure to be achieved once above a selected force.

As an illustration of the typical force required this has been found to be most usefully within the range of 200 to 500 grams and approximately 350 grams is that found most appropriate currently.

In manufacture thus far the body, cowl and ring of hooks apart from the hooks themselves are from molded plastic material.