The RockOn Squid Rig

RockOn Products • 12 Blackburn Center • Gloucester, MA 01930 • www.rockonproducts.com • Telephone number 1-978-828-9993

By Ron Powers

Until this year, recreational anglers in search of the high-octane thrill of a tuna were divided mostly into two camps: the casters and the trollers. The difference in tactics would almost exclusively parallel the size of the boat that the fishermen had at their disposal. Those fortunate enough to have an expansive ride equipped with a wide beam and outriggers invariably dragged squid rigs astern while others attempted to cast from smaller craft. Despite the merits of casting or jigging with lightweight gear, this was a shame for the small-boat guy; in order to consistently put sashimi on the menu, you should have a squid rig at the ready.

   But what was the small-boat angler supposed to do? Squid rigs pose problems for boats without outriggers. Because they sink, it takes an alert captain just to keep them from tangling. Your only hope was to gently drop one or (if you dare) two spreads back and plot an unwavering course. Dramatic changes in speed, direction or sometimes even sea conditions often resulted in a sorry tangle of leader, teaser, stinger and bar. Efforts and time better spent fishing were hopelessly devoted to sorting out the mess. It was enough to make the small-boat angler think, why bother? Many chose not to and instead stuck with jigging, casting and other methods.
   Captain Rich Burgess and Paul Murray of RockOn Products conspired to somehow create a better squid rig designed for every angler, from the guy at the helm of a 100-foot super cruiser to the fisherman aboard a mid-20-foot center console. They knew the way to do it was to somehow get the contraption to float. The idea of crafting a buoyant squid rig is nothing new, but previous attempts to mass-produce a version have failed miserably. So what qualified Team RockOn to produce this offering? First and foremost, these Cape Ann boys obsess about all things tuna; they spend an inordinate amount of time pursuing the pelagics from Stellwagen Bank to Jeffreys Ledge. In fact, Captain Burgess has tallied some titanic tuna during his 30-year addiction, including a bruiser bluefin of 1000 pounds.
   The search for the ultimate squid rig hinged on creating one that would not only float but also tolerate the abuse that tuna can dish out. It took two years of tinkering to get it right, but once they did, the guys knew they were into something special and promptly patented their design.
   The first time you spool out a RockOn squid rig into the wash, you’ll notice that the spread rides high in the water column with a distinctive profile that makes a good deal of tuna-attracting commotion. And when you stop or turn, instead of creating a massive tangle, the rigs just lie there on the surface as if waiting for the prop to start the motion again. The flexibility that this allows is unique. Suppose that a school of tuna takes to the air 50 yards away and you would like to take a few casts into the melee – no problem! You can cut the wheel abruptly and motor off in that direction and not worry about crossing the squid rigs in the process. Or if you are trolling and you spot a bunch of bluefin under a bait ball 70 feet down, you can simply cut the engines and drop a butterfly-style jig onto the noses of the tuna. When you are done, you can resume trolling the RockOn squid rig without fanfare.
   No matter how well a squid rig behaves, when presenting your offering around giant bluefin, your gear had better be made of the right stuff. The RockOn rigs are giant-grade. The components are exclusively American and made with bars composed of titanium, which is lightweight, flexible and tough, albeit expensive. The squids are a super sturdy nylon/plastic composite with alluring action and luminous colors. For leader material, they’ve opted for high-quality Momoi Diamond tuna line. Rich and friends outfit the rigs with 150- to 500-pound-test line depending on the size of the rig and the customer’s preferences.
   The RockOn guys avoid using a swivel between the spreader bar and the teaser and stinger squids. The result is a cleaner profile that looks more natural and is less likely to pick up weeds. It is also one less potential weak link in the chain. The squids are attached to the leaders with just enough play so that they revolve when trolled. The hooks are sharp and sturdy Mustads. Rich will build a RockOn to satisfy your fishing needs with a 2-, 3- or 4-foot spreader bar and squids ranging from 18 inches to 13 inches; the 11-inch and 9-inch versions will be released shortly. You can order from just a few squids per bar to more than 40. Although retrieving a rig with 40 squids attached sounds daunting, the reduced resistance of the floating RockOn squids makes it a lot easier.
 There are other unexpected advantages to the RockOn design. If disaster should strike and a monster tuna breaks off with the typical squid rig, you have a lost rig as well as a doomed tuna. But there have already been instances where tuna have busted loose and anglers have retrieved the RockOn squid rig bobbing on the surface – with the expired tuna still attached! And should you be harassed by marauding bluefish, you can simply stop the boat and the blues will quickly lose interest in the static squid rigs. Once the bluefish have slunk away, you can resume your troll.
Captain Rich Burgess provided a few tips to help you wring the maximum enjoyment out of your RockOn squid rigs. Keep your trolling speed at about 3 knots, which is ideal for the motion of the rig. This pace also drives bluefin bonkers. Also, if you have a boil but no crash on the spread, weed may be the culprit. And it doesn’t take a big chunk to spook a tuna; sometimes the smallest strand will keep bluefin from pulling the trigger on the stinger.

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