Each female lays 20 to 30 translucent finger like egg cases in a spawning area, in company with a school of other egg laying females. Egg cases may be attached to solid objects including salmon net pens, or to sand bottoms. Each case may contain 180 to 300 eggs. This may occur in water as shallow as 10 m. Eggs hatch after 2 or 3 months, depending on water temperatures.
Young squid grow rapidly.
They are initially found in the surface plankton until they grow to about 4 cm. Adult size is typically 20 cm. Males are larger. Squid may become mature at 1 year of age and live less than 2 years. Mating consisting of the transfer of sperm from the male to the female may occur throughout the year, principally from February through August.