Giant squid invade California

2010-02-02 09:04

In this photo released by Newport Landing Sport Fishing two fishermen hold giant squids they caught off the coast of Newport Beach, California. (Newport Landing Sport Fishing, AP)

Newport Beach - Giant squid weighing up to 27kg have invaded the California waters off Newport Beach and are being caught by sport fishermen by the hundreds.

The squid showed up last week and anglers started booking twilight fishing trips over the weekend to catch them.

The animals weigh between nine and 18 kilograms, but a few fishermen have reeled in 27kg creatures.

The Humboldt squid is also called the jumbo squid or jumbo flying squid and squirts ink to protect itself.

They can grow up to 45kg and 1.8m long and follow food sources. The squid have also recently been spotted off San Diego, Oregon and Washington, all on the US West Coast.

Robert Woodbury with Newport Landing Sportfishing told The Orange County Register that anglers in the Southern California county have caught about 400 of the big squid since Friday night.

- SAPA