Of all the species out there, the Pacific halibut is the largest of them all
Catching one of these big fish is something that many anglers hope to do and some have managed to catch a really big character over the years
In this article, we look into the story behind the current IGFA world record halibut as well as some monster halibut that appear in the record books too
IGFA All-Target World HalibutAtlantic Halibut All-Target RecordCalifornia Halibut All-Target Record About Key Halibut Species Size Distribution Fishing Techniques Eating Quality
Halibut IGFA All-Treat World Record
On June 11, 1996, fisherman Jack Tragis was fishing in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
This is where he landed the largest halibut ever caught and earned his place in the record books
During his record catches, Jack uses a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick, a Senator Penn 4/0 reel, Aimer line, and a Big Bad jig
Before landing the world record halibut, Jack and his fishing buddies had already landed several halibut (although these were much smaller) and were ready to go back to shore after spending the day fishing in 200 feet of water
It was on his last match of the day that Jack managed to catch his record of 459 pounds
Jack had to spend two hours fighting before he could buy the fish in the small boat that he and his friends were using that day
Jack had to spend two hours fighting before he could buy the fish in the small boat that he and his friends were using that day
This giant creature is over eight feet tall and five feet wide
Jack’s catch not only set a new record, he actually beat the old record by nearly 20 pounds
Before Jack landed his biggest halibut, the largest ever caught was a 440 pound fish caught in 1978
This is one world record that will take a long time for anyone to even approach, let alone attempt to break
See also: Alaska fishing licenses: How much and how and where to buy them?
Atlantic Halibut All Tackle Record
Thomas was able to submit all the necessary information 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 that weighed in at an impressive 418 pounds and 13 pounds
Thomas caught his record breaking fish while fishing in Vannaya Troms, Norway
It uses a Shimano rod, Shimano reel, and Dyneema line made from cole slaw
It took more than an hour of fighting for Thomas to land the fish but once he did, he was able to present all the necessary information to the International Fisheries Federation (IGFA) who finally confirmed his catch as a new record for the fish The largest Atlantic halibut ever caught
California Halibut All Treat Record
Rivera was fishing in Santa Rosa Island, California, USA on July 1, 2011 when he landed a 67-pound 5-ounce California halibut that set a new record for the largest fish of this species ever caught
In addition to his fishing gear, Francisco is bottom fishing using live squid as bait
See also: California Fishing License Information: Cost, Where to Buy and Different Types
About Key Halibut Species
If you are looking for Atlantic halibut in the United States, then they are best in the Gulf of Maine
California halibut are mostly found south of San Francisco
Pacific halibut males are usually smaller than females of the species
Although not all will grow to 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 pretty fast growth rate so their true size is not always visible
Although they are usually 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 to about five feet in length and up to 72 pounds in weight
Another important thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while after each halibut hits your line
Another important thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while after each halibut hits your line
Ideally, you can let the fish eat your food before setting the hook
A narrow circle tends to work well for halibut fishing so these can be a useful addition to your fishing gear
Another thing to keep in mind is that a large bait can result in a large fish being caught
Halibut is a delicious white fish with a firm texture
Halibut contains nutrients that are very beneficial for your heart
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