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Photo: Stockfile/FIS
Illex Squid Makes a Strong Appearance: Record Catches and Optimal Sizes Mark Start of 2026 Season
ARGENTINA
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
The Argentine jigger fleet achieves concentrations of up to 57 tons per vessel north of the 49°S parallel, signaling a high-yield biological and commercial campaign.
After weathering a significant storm that kept the fleet in port, improved maritime conditions have given way to a scenario of high productive optimism. The Argentine jigger fleet—currently consisting of 72 operational vessels and 8 more en route to the fishing grounds—has finally located the first massive concentrations of Illex argentinus (shortfin squid) of the season.
 
Photo: Stockfile/FIS
The Epicenter of Activity: The "Camarones Hotspot"
Fishing activity has intensified in the corridor between the 44°S and 49°S parallels. According to satellite tracking reports, the core of the operation is situated between latitudes 44°40′S and 45°53′S and longitudes 62°30′W and 63°30′W.
This sector, located approximately 110 nautical miles East of Camarones (Chubut), near the northern mouth of the San Jorge Gulf, has once again consolidated its position as the strategic axis of the campaign. Meanwhile, outside the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ), the foreign fleet—often referred to as the "Mile 201" fleet—reports significantly lower catch volumes and smaller sizes, highlighting the richness of the resource within national jurisdiction.
Exceptional Yields and Production Milestones
The quantitative jump was confirmed between the late hours of Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, 2026. Yields per unit of effort have shown outstanding peaks:
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Catch Floors: Minimums of 12 tons per night are being recorded across most of the fleet.
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FV Lu Qing Yuan Yu 286: Reported a catch of 57 tons in a single day.
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FV Hai Xiang 16: Surpassed average yields due to higher processing capacity and a larger number of plant crew members, optimizing the use of its blast freezers.
 Waldo Ahumada, president of the Agrupación Marítima Sudeste, confirmed that the monitoring of crew welfare and vessel operations (such as the LQYY 286) is ongoing, noting the intense labor required on board given the abundance of the resource.
Biological Quality: A Competitive Edge
Beyond the sheer volume, the most encouraging news for the industry is the biological quality. Unlike the preliminary hauls where the SS (extra small) size predominated, current catches show:
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Predominance of Size S: A commercially more attractive size.
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Mantle Thickness: Specimens are reporting wall thicknesses between 3.5 and 4.1 mm, ensuring excellent industrial yield for tubing and processing.
"The appearance of sizes with good mantle thickness at this stage of the year is a key indicator of stock health and ensures a better starting price in international markets," industry experts noted.
Photo: Stockfile/FIS
The "Squid Effect" on the Trawler Fleet
The abundance of the cephalopod is so significant that even freezer trawlers, originally dispatched for Argentine Hake (Merluccius hubbsi), are recording massive incidental catches. Two-day trips have reported volumes of 25 tons of hake compared to 72 tons of squid. This phenomenon positively alters the economic equation for large vessels, given the higher value per ton of squid compared to whitefish.
Political Challenges
Despite the biological success, the business climate in Mar del Plata remains cautious. In recent sectoral meetings attended by Senator Patricia Bullrich, representatives from business chambers (such as CAPA and CEPA) emphasized the need to review fiscal pressure and export duties (retenciones).
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