Market Squid, Doryteuthis opalescens
Market Squid Squid, Doryteuthis opalescens. Traditional product readily available for purchase at most of the of large food markets within Mexico. An exceptional bait utilized for bottom fish and flylinned on the surface. Length: 14 cm (5.5 inches).
Market Squid, Doryteuthis opalescens. An interesting catch with a cast net off one of the piers in Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Baja California Sur. Length: 12 cm (4.7 inches). Very large tentacles, produced an excessive amount of black ink, and underwent a significant number of color changes.
Market Squid, Doryteuthis opalescens. Caught from coastal waters off Long Beach, California, January 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.
Market Squid, Doryteuthis (Amerigo) opalescens (Barry, 1911), is a member of the Lolignidae Family of Pencil Squid that is also known as the Common Squid, Loligo Squid and the Opalescent Inshore Squid and in Mexico as Calamar Comun. There are 24 global members of the Doryteuthis Genus.
Market Squid have cylindrical bodies that taper toward their posterior end. Their bodies are about 4 to 5 times longer than they are wide, and about 2.5 times longer than their arms. Their fins run about half the length of their body. They vary greatly in color, changing from translucent bluish white to gold, brown, or red. Males are slightly larger than females, and have maximum mantle lengths of 19 cm (7.5 inches).
Market Squid are generally pelagic, ranging from the surface to depths up to 500 m (1,640 feet). They make annual runs in large groups to shallow water for spawning. Their egg capsules are sticky and attach to sandy substrates. Larval Squid feed on copepods and other plankton. Mature squid feed on amphipods, euphausiids, fish, shrimp, and other squid. They are preyed up on by fish, toothed whales, sea birds, and the Sunflower Starfish, Pycnopodia helianthoides. They are also highly sought after by commercial and recreational fishermen. They are the mainstay of one of the largest commercial fisheries in California. In 2010, 253,000,000 tons of these squid were harvested in California. Those squid which survive predation and fishing activities will still die soon after spawning with their entire population being replaced every year. Even though they are heavily fished, their high reproduction rates and rapid growth are sufficient to maintain healthy population levels.
Market Squid are a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific being found from Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur, northward along the central and northwest coasts of Baja.
From a conservation perspective the Market Squid is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are sold in all of the major food markets in Mexico being considered an excellent human food. They are also the number one cut bait for bottom fishing by both commercial and recreational anglers when fresh bonito or live bait is not available.
Synonyms include Loligo opalescens and Loligo sternsii .