Cam Maciel stood at the edge of the gas dock in Edgartown, his eyes trained on the water searching for the pale mantles of incoming squid.

“I got ink all over me if you look in the light,” he said as he reeled in another squid, which promptly squirted more ink in his face before he dropped it into the bucket. “It dries there pretty good, but you scrub it, it comes out.”

Longfin squid have returned to Vineyard waters as they do every spring. As the weather warms, the species — which is popular with Island anglers to use as both bait as well as food — moves inshore. When dusk approaches, fishermen all over the Island congregate on the docks and beaches, or head slightly offshore.

The time is right for jigging for squid. — Ray Ewing

At the gas dock, the water shined bright green thanks to an underwater glow light Mr. Maciel had brought with him to attract the squid. He was using two types of jigs: one looked like a fish, the other, a shrimp.

Mr. Maciel is an avid fisherman and said he plans to use the squid as bait; a full squid is best for tuna and stripers, with smaller pieces used for fluke, sea bass and scup.

“I like to fill up the freezers,” he said. “I have a lot of fun. There’s other fishing I’d rather be doing, but you gotta get the bait first.”

At the other end of the dock, Allen Yu was fishing with two of his friends. Mr. Yu likes to eat the squid, serving it in a variety of ways, including stuffed and barbecued. He has gone squidding every year for the past 15 years, ever since he moved to the Vineyard and a friend showed him the ropes.

John Congel, Nat Congel, Dutch Congel and Hutch Kirwin. — Ray Ewing

“I didn’t know how to do it, so he taught me. That’s why I love it,” he said.

Elsewhere on the dock, John Congel let his line drop into the water near the dock’s lights. He had come from Syracuse to visit his uncle, and it was his second night squidding.

“They like the light. My uncle says they like the line between the light and the dark,” he said.

His uncle Hatch Kirwin, stood alongside Dutch and Nat Congel, reeling in a number of squid, dropping them into a canvas bag.

Good for bait or dinner. — Ray Ewing

“We haven’t gotten them really strong yet, but we’re getting some to eat,” Mr. Kirwin said.

He dropped his jig — one that resembled a minnow — back into the water, and bobbed his rod up and down to entice the squid.

“It’s a fun past time, and you get dinner, too,” Mr. Kirwin said.