01What is OmoRig?
OmoRig is a term combining the Japanese ‘omo (weight)’ and ‘rig (tackle)’, distinguished from regular eging by not tying the sinker and jig together on one line but placing them separately. Heavy sinkers (size 15·20·25·30) sink first, quickly anchoring at the target depth, and above them a 1–1.5 m leader with a jig drifts freely with the current. This structure allows the spear squid to explore the bottom while naturally responding to the jig’s movement. Especially during the peak season from June to September, at water temperatures 18–24 °C and depths 60–120 m, in the strong‑current South Sea region, a size‑30 sinker (≈110 g) is used, while in the shallower, weaker‑current Jeju region a size‑20 sinker (≈75 g) provides stable placement.
02Spinning vs bait, when which rig is advantageous
Spinning uses light spoons and jigs to induce bites through rapid rotation. Spear squid are more sensitive to ‘pull’ than to rotational stimulus, so spinning is effective in shallow depths (60–80 m) where the current is weak and the tide is calm, typically during dawn and morning hours. In contrast, a bait (OmoRig) rig relies on the jig’s movement itself as an attractant, so in sections where the current exceeds 0.5–1.5 knot, especially at night (sunset ± 2 h), a glow jig should be used to increase visibility. At this time the ‘pulling’ bite is strongly transmitted, raising the chance that the spear squid will fully hook onto the hook. Therefore, in early June in Jeju·Geoje, use spinning; after mid‑June in the South Sea·Tongyeong, switch to bait (OmoRig) as the main rig for optimal strategy.
03Practical OmoRig setting guide
1) Sinker selection: For depths over 80 m and strong currents, use size 25–30 (≈90–110 g). For depths 60–80 m with weak currents, choose size 15–20 (≈75–85 g). Slim long‑type sinkers minimize bottom snag and increase bottom‑search speed. 2) Jig selection: Apply size 2.5–4.0 in the South Sea, size 3.0–4.5 in Jeju. If the tide is cloudy, replace natural‑color jig with a glow jig to enhance visibility. 3) Main line–leader connection: Attach a 15 lb fluorocarbon leader of 1.2 m to a PE 0.8–1.0 main line to minimize friction loss from wave action while delivering strong pull. 4) Bite detection: OmoRig relies on ‘pulling’ bites, so keep the reel spin speed at 300–500 rpm to feel the bite, and momentarily release the reel brake when a bite occurs to emphasize the pull. 5) Safety points: For night trips minimize lighting, place cushions on seats to prevent seasickness, and, as recommended by the Korea Coast Guard, equip a wireless locator without fail.
- *Underestimating sinker weight* prevents reaching the intended depth, so the jig never contacts the bottom.
- Setting the jig length to ≤1 m in strong‑current sections limits the attraction range.
- Using excessive lighting at night raises the spear squid’s wariness and causes bite avoidance.