The first time to participate in night squid fishing, the focus is not to move the tackle shop on the boat, but to distinguish the three things “must bring your own, the team usually provide, not recommended to bring”Cuttlefish fishing is mostly done in the sea at night, and what really affects the experience is often not the fishing rod model, but whether the non-slip shoes are stable, whether the jacket is enough to protect the wind, whether the phone is waterproof, and whether you will be seasick.
I remember the first time I went on a night fishing boat with my friends, the most nervous thing was not whether we could catch it, but “Do I have to buy my own rod?”, “Will the headlamp shine on people?”, “Will the ink dirty the clothes?” In fact, when newbies sign up for a charter or individual tour, many basic equipment has been arranged by the boater or team; you have to prepare to make yourself comfortable in the night wind, sea water, hull shaking and waiting time. The Holimood squid fishing tour page also lists March to August as squid fishing time, May to July is the peak season;View Holimood Cuttlefish Fishing Tours
How should night fishing equipment be distinguished? A table to see self-bring, team provided and not recommended to bring
If you only want to take 5 minutes to pack your bags, look at the table below first. The principle is simple:Bring your own personal hygiene, clothing, medicine and protection of valuables;professional fishing gear, boat lighting and safety equipment are usually arranged with the group;do not bring large or high-risk items on board.
| Category | It is recommended to bring your own | Teams/boaters usually provide | Not recommended for beginners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing tackle | Small towels, gloves can be brought; a small amount of customary cuttlefish bait can be brought | Fishing rods, basic fishing rigs, squid lures, simple tutorials | Large tackle boxes, too many personal materials, unfamiliar sharp objects |
| Safety at night | Small headlamp or flashlight, backup battery | Ship lighting, life jackets, crew instructions | Strong spotlights, flashing lights that affect other people |
| Clothing | Windproof jacket, quick-drying clothes, long pants, non-slip heels | Some teams will remind you of clothing requirements but will not provide personal clothing on your behalf | Slippers, heels, long skirts, heavy jeans |
| Personal items | Waterproof bag, tissues, wet wipes, small amount of cash, external battery | Snacks and drinks depend on product arrangement | Large luggage, fragile glass bottles, too much valuable jewelry |
| Health Readiness | Seasickness medicine, mosquito repellent, personal remedies, drinking water | Basic first aid support depends on vessel and team arrangements | Drink heavily, overeat or board the ship on an empty stomach before departure |
Do I have to buy my own fishing tackle? Novices usually don’t need to buy a fishing rod first
The most common novice misunderstanding of night squid fishing is to think that you need to buy a fishing rod, lure and fishing line before registering. Honestly, if you’re only experiencing it for the first time, it’s more practical to ask the team first if they provide basic fishing gear than to mess around on your own. The lures used for squid fishing are different from conventional lures, usually relying on color, light and shadow and slow pumping to attract squid;
If you already have fishing experience yourself, you can bring a pair or two of lightweight lures as a backup, but it’s best to check with the boater first whether it’s suitable for the waters, boat space and activity schedule that night. When many people are on the same boat, too much private fishing gear can easily become tangled; in the night, small hooks dropped on the deck will also increase safety risks.
Headlamp, non-slip shoes, waterproof bag: night safety three-piece set
The atmosphere of night fishing is very special: as soon as the sea darkens, there are only lights and water sounds by the boat. Occasionally, we hear someone lowly shouting “I’m in!”, so we naturally go around to see. But behind this excitement, the most important thing to pay attention to is the feet. The LCSD’s Water Activities Safety Code reminds people to wear life jackets or floaters correctly and plastic shoes with heels and toes, while being aware of weather and sea changes.LCSD Water Activities Safety Code
Therefore,防滑包跟鞋比漂亮穿搭重要. Slippers and high heels are not suitable as the hull may sway due to waves, steering or other people moving around. Headlights are recommended to choose small, brightness-adjustable, downward-illuminating styles to facilitate organizing fishing lines or finding items; Phones, cameras and external batteries are best placed in waterproof bags, as ink, seawater and drink spills are not something novices can fully anticipate.
Bring a jacket in the summer?海面夜風同岸上不一樣
Many people think that the weather in Hong Kong is hot from May to September, and they only need short-sleeved shorts to board the ship. In fact, the sea surface wind will be more obvious at night than in the city, especially once the boat starts, sweaty clothes meet the sea breeze, it is easy to be hot and cold. The weather data for water activities in Hong Kong also states that Hong Kong will be hot, abrupt, and more thunderstorms, typhoons and heavy showers from May to September; it is important to pay attention to the weather, wind direction and warning signals before departure.康文署本港水上活動天氣概況
It is recommended to wear a quick-drying top or thin long sleeves and a lightweight windproof jacket. Pants, which are convenient for squatting, walking and not afraid of getting dirty, white long skirts, dangling wide pants and heavy jeans are not ideal. Cuttlefish have a chance to spray ink when on the water, dark or easy-to-clean clothing will let you play a little more relaxed.
Sea sickness medicine, mosquito repellent and drinking water: Don’t wait until you feel uncomfortable to deal with it
暈船不是「意志力問題」。 If you are prone to dizziness when traveling in a car, boat or sitting in the back seat, you should allow time to consult your pharmacist or doctor before night fishing to understand the timing of taking seasickness medicine and whether you will be lethargic. Don’t eat too full before departure and don’t board the boat on an empty stomach;a light dinner, a small amount of water and avoidance of alcohol are usually more effective than a hard hold on the spot.
防蚊用品同樣值得帶備。 There is a chance of mosquitoes in nearshore waters, docks or gathering points at night, especially more pronounced during the humid and hot summer months. You can choose a mosquito repellent spray that is not too strong, avoid spraying heavily in dense locations on the boat; if the traveler has children or sensitive people, it is best to inquire before using. The Hong Kong Observatory’s May 2025 weather review also recorded that the month was hotter and had been affected by low pressure troughs with showers and thunderstorms, which reminded us that early summer night fishing requires both rescheduling and weather preparation.香港天文台二零二五年五月天氣回顧
Three common misunderstandings: The more you bring doesn’t mean the more professional you are
誤會一：買最貴假餌就一定釣到
釣墨魚有季節、天氣、海況、位置和運氣因素，任何團隊都不應保證釣果。新手最應學會的是聽從船員指示、觀察燈光位置和掌握節奏，而不是把成功全部押在器材價錢上。
誤會二：頭燈越光越安全
安全需要足夠照明，但不代表強光到處照。太刺眼的燈會影響同船者視線，亦會破壞夜釣氣氛。選可調亮度、向下照的頭燈，通常比大功率射燈更適合。
誤會三：短程夜釣不用看天氣
即使只是數小時活動，雷暴、強風、能見度和海面變化都會影響體驗和安全。報名前應確認集合地點、取消或改期安排；出發當日也要留意天文台和團隊通知。
出發前 10 分鐘最後檢查
- 確認集合時間、碼頭位置、回程交通和緊急聯絡方法。
- 穿上防滑包跟鞋，把拖鞋和高跟鞋留在家中。
- 把手機、證件、現金和外置電池放入防水袋。
- 如需暈船藥，按專業建議提早服用，避免臨上船才想起。
- 帶一件薄外套、飲用水、紙巾和小毛巾。
- 向團隊確認魚竿、假餌、救生衣和小食飲品是否已包含。
想少準備一點？選擇有團隊安排的釣墨魚體驗
對第一次夜釣的人來說，最舒服的安排不是自己研究所有器材，而是選擇清楚列明集合、船隻、釣具、領隊或船員支援的體驗。Holimood 釣墨魚團頁面提供釣墨魚包船和散客產品入口，適合想用一晚時間體驗夜海、朋友聚會或親子活動的人。預訂前可先確認人數、上船地點、是否包小食飲品、會否提供釣具，以及惡劣天氣安排。立即查看釣墨魚團選擇
如果你想先了解水上活動裝備思路，也可延伸閱讀 Holimood 的 獨木舟新手裝備及衣著準備清單；若你正策劃生日或朋友聚會，亦可參考 生日／私人派對與維港遊選擇，把夜釣變成更完整的一晚活動。
夜釣墨魚裝備 FAQ
第一次釣墨魚要不要自己買魚竿？
多數新手參加包團或散客夜釣墨魚時，不需要先買魚竿。建議報名前先向平台或團隊確認是否包含魚竿、假餌、教學和救生衣；如已包含，第一次體驗以輕裝上船較好。
夜釣墨魚可以穿拖鞋嗎？
不建議。夜間船面可能濕滑，船身亦會晃動，防滑、包跟、包趾的膠鞋或運動鞋會比拖鞋安全得多。高跟鞋、厚底鞋和不穩定涼鞋都不適合。
頭燈是不是必備？會不會影響釣墨魚？
小型頭燈或手電筒很有用，尤其整理物品和看清腳下時。但亮度要可控制，最好向下照，不要直射其他人或長時間照向釣點。若團隊已有足夠船上照明，也可只帶小電筒作後備。
怕暈船的人還適合參加夜釣墨魚嗎？
可以，但要提前準備。容易暈船的人應先諮詢藥劑師或醫生，了解暈船藥服用方法；出發前避免酒精、過飽或空腹，並選擇較穩定、集合和回程安排清楚的團隊。
References
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