A young angler in a blue beanie holding a pale squid hooked on a jig lure on the deck of the boat

Squid and cuttlefish

Squid and cuttlefish in Sussex waters: how they live, why they bite and how to cook them

Cuttlefish and squid are short-lived, fast-growing and move with the seasons, so numbers and timing change from one year to the next. This is what the research says about both, and what to expect on a light-tackle trip.

By the Kestrel Warrior team · 9 November 2026 · Species

When do cuttlefish come inshore off Sussex?

Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (Sussex IFCA) says cuttlefish enter Sussex coastal waters in spring to breed, and that they die after laying their eggs.

Research on the English Channel population describes the same rhythm. Animals hatch inshore in early summer and feed there, then move offshore to spend the winter in the central western Channel. The spawners come back inshore in spring, and potters who target them work between March and July.

So if you want to meet a cuttlefish off Brighton, spring into early summer is the window, and the exact timing moves with the weather and the sea temperature.

Why does sea temperature matter so much?

The Channel cuttlefish was long described as living for two years. A 2015 paper in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK found that was still true for most animals, but that a small share of males matured at one year. A 2024 paper in Marine Ecology reported that the population now has both annual and biennial groups, with the annual group making up some 15 to 20 per cent of the population, and linked this to rising temperatures.

The Marine Management Organisation's Cuttlefish Fishery Action Plan, published in April 2025, describes the fishery as naturally variable and strongly affected by temperature and weather. That is why a good year and a poor year can look so different.

Is there really a Sussex cuttlefish fishery?

Yes. It is a recognised, regulated local fishery. Sussex IFCA manages it through its Shellfish Permit Byelaw and describes pots and traps as generally a sustainable method. A University of Brighton project with Sussex IFCA and Hastings fishers, which ran in 2018 and 2019, reported that cuttlefish were once a low-value catch and have become an important part of the Hastings fleet's season.

There are conservation questions around it too. Sussex IFCA says eggs laid on pots can be lost when the pots are hauled, and it has backed research into returning egg masses to the sea. Rod-and-line anglers are a small part of the picture, but it is a good reason to treat spawning cuttlefish with care.

When is the squid season off Sussex?

Squid numbers and timing vary from year to year, and we do not publish a fixed calendar. The crew will tell you what is running when you ask about a date, and our fishing reports show what has been coming aboard.

What the research does give us is the life cycle. A study in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK found that the European squid, Loligo forbesii, lives for roughly a year. Whatever squid you meet this year were hatched within the last twelve months and will not be here next year. A bumper season tells us little about the next one.

That short life is also why the fishing can change quickly: a good trip one week does not guarantee the same the next.

An angler in orange and grey waterproofs holding two squid on a rig on the boat — Squid on a rig aboard Kestrel Warrior.

Why do cuttlefish and squid take a lure?

Both are predators. Cuttlefish eat crabs, fish, squid and shrimp, and a Cambridge-led study found a clear preference for shrimp. They ambush prey and snatch it with two hidden tentacles, using camouflage to approach. A squid jig is built to look like a prawn or small fish, which is why it works, and the squid grabs it with its tentacles rather than biting it like a fish does.

That is why the tackle is light and the hooks are a crown of small spikes rather than a single barb. Many squid are lost at the surface if the pull is hard, so the knack is a steady, gentle lift.

On a light-tackle trip, expect a quiet, patient kind of fishing. You work the jig, wait for the tell-tale weight, and wind in steadily. Some trips bring a handful, some bring none, which is why we make no promises. If squid are showing, you will be on a boat full of people sharing the same rig tips, and it suits beginners and children as well as keen anglers.

One practical point: a squid can squirt ink when it is landed. Wear clothes you do not mind marking, and the crew will show you how to hold one safely.

An angler holding up three squid of different sizes on the boat's blue deck — Squid come in a range of sizes.

How do you cook squid and cuttlefish, and what about the ink?

The rule is simple: cook them either very fast at high heat or slowly at a low heat. Anything in between makes them tough. Cuttlefish suit long, gentle braising, and a classic way to cook them is stewed in their own ink.

The ink sac is a dark pouch inside the body, so lift it out gently without squeezing it, then keep it in the fridge or freeze it. We gut and fillet the fish you catch for free, and the crew will show you how to clean a squid if you ask.

If you like the idea of fishing with light gear for these, see our squid and cuttlefish trips, check the Sussex seasons guide for the wider year, and ask about the current run through the contact page.

Sources and further reading

Cuttlefish enter Sussex waters in spring to breed and die after laying eggs; eggs on pots lost when hauled; Sussex IFCA research with Hastings fishers and University of Brighton: sussex-ifca.gov.uk/conservation-research
University of Brighton project: cuttlefish important to the Hastings fleet; fishery managed under the IFCA Shellfish Permit Byelaw; egg return research (2018 to 2019): research.brighton.ac.uk/en/projects/sustaining-sustainable-sepia-stock
MMO Cuttlefish Fishery Action Plan (April 2025): fishery naturally variable, strongly affected by temperature and weather: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f78d456812c7adcf513e94/MMO_Cu
Channel cuttlefish two-year life cycle, small share of males maturing at one year (Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 2015): archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00321/43175/88193.pdf
Annual and biennial cuttlefish life cycles linked to rising temperatures, annual group 15 to 20 per cent (Marine Ecology, 2024): rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2344813
Cuttlefish hatch inshore in early summer, overwinter offshore, spawners return inshore March to July: pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bms-theses/424
Loligo forbesii lifespan about one year (Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK): cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-associati
Cuttlefish diet and ambush feeding with two tentacles; preference for shrimp (Cambridge-led study): sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200208094304.htm

Fancy a day on the water? See the Prices 2027, or get in touch and we will find the right trip for you.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

When do cuttlefish come into Sussex waters?

In spring, to breed. Sussex IFCA says they enter coastal waters in spring and die after laying their eggs. Exact timing varies with the weather and sea temperature.

When is the best time for squid off Brighton?

Squid numbers and timing vary from year to year, so we do not publish a fixed calendar. Ask the crew about your date and they will tell you what is running.

How long do squid and cuttlefish live?

European squid live for about a year. Channel cuttlefish were long thought to live two years, though research now reports that some spawn at one year.

How do you cook cuttlefish so it is not tough?

Cook it either quickly at high heat or slowly and gently, for example braised. Avoid anything in between.

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