Of all the species out there, the Pacific halibut is the largest of all
Catching one of these big fish is something that many anglers hope to do and some have actually managed to catch some truly gigantic halibut over the years
In this article, we take a look at the story behind the IGFA world record outdoor shot, as well as some other monster shots that also appear in the record books
IGFA World Record All Tackle Halibut Atlantic Halibut All Tackle RecordCalifornia Halibut All Tackle Record About Major Halibut Species DistributionSize Preferred Range Fishing Techniques Eating Qualities
IGFA World Record Halibut in every way
On June 11, 1996, fisherman Jack Tragis was bottom fishing in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
It was here that he landed the largest halibut ever caught and earned his place in the record books
At the time of his record catch, Jack was using a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick, a 4/0 Penn Senator reel, Aimer line, and a big ugly minnow
Before landing the halibut world record, Jack and his fishing buddies had already landed a few halibut (although these were much smaller) and were preparing to head back to shore after spending the day fishing in waters that were around 200 feet deep
It was on his last cast of the day that Jack successfully caught his record of 459 pounds
It took Jack two hours of fighting before the fish could be bought aboard the small boat he and his friends had used that day
It took Jack two hours of fighting before the fish could be bought aboard the small boat he and his friends had used that day
This huge open halibut was over eight feet long and five feet wide
Jack’s catch didn’t just set a new record, it actually beat the previous record by almost 20 pounds
Before Jack landed his giant Pacific halibut, the largest fish ever caught was a 440-pound fish that was caught in 1978
This is a world record that will likely take a long time for anyone to approach, let alone attempt to break
See also: Alaska Fishing Licenses: How Much and How and Where to Buy?
Atlantic Halibut All record handle
Thomas was able to submit all the necessary details to the IGFA confirming his catch as the new record for the largest Atlantic halibut ever caught
On July 28, 2004, angler Thomas Nielsen set a new world record for Atlantic halibut when he landed a large halibut weighing an impressive 418 pounds 13 ounces
Thomas caught his record fish while bait fishing in Vannaya Troms, Norway
He was using a Shimano rod, a Shimano reel and Dyneema line baited with cod
It took more than an hour’s fight for Thomas to successfully land the fish, but once he did, he was able to submit all the necessary details to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), who eventually confirmed the catch his as the new record for the largest Atlantic halibut ever caught
California Halibut All Tackle Record
Rivera was fishing off Santa Rosa Island, California, USA on July 1, 2011 when he landed his 67 pound, 5 ounce California halibut that set the new record for the largest fish of this species ever caught
In addition to his fishing gear, Francisco was bottom fishing using live squid as bait
See also: California Fishing License Information: Costs, Where to Buy and Different Types
About the Main Halibut Species
If you are looking for Atlantic halibut in the US, then they are most common in the Gulf of Maine
California halibut are most commonly found south of San Francisco
Male Pacific halibut are usually smaller than females of the species
Although not all will grow to extremely large sizes, this species is sometimes referred to as a barn door fish as some can grow to about 500 pounds in weight and more than eight feet in length
Atlantic halibut have a fairly slow growth rate, so their true size is not always commonly seen
Although usually under eight feet long, it is thought that these fish can grow up to 15 feet
California halibut can live up to 30 years and can grow up to five feet in length and up to 72 pounds in weight
A key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while for the odd halibut to hit your line
A key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while for the odd halibut to hit your line
Ideally, you may want to let the fish eat your bait before setting your hook
A circle hook tends to work well for halibut fishing, so these can be a useful addition to your fishing tackle
Another thing to keep in mind is that big bait can lead to catching some big small halibut
Halibut is a delicious white-fleshed fish with a firm meat texture
Halibut contains nutrients that are very good for your heart
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