Of all the species out there, the Pacific halibut is the largest halibut of all
Catching one of these big fish is something many anglers hope to do and some have actually managed to catch some truly giant halibut over the years
In this article, we look at the story behind the current IGFA world record halibut as well as other monster halibut that also appear in the record books
IGFA All-Tackle World Record HalibutAtlantic Halibut All Tackle RecordCalifornia Halibut All Tackle RecordAbout Key Halibut SpeciesDistributionSize RangeFavoured Fishing Techniques
IGFA All-Tackle World Record Halibut
On the 11th of June 1996, angler Jack Tragis was bottom fishing in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
Here he caught the largest halibut ever caught and earned his place in the record books
At the time of his record-breaking catch, Jack was using a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick rod, Penn Senator 4/0 reel, Aimer line, and a Big ugly jig
Before landing the world record halibut, Jack and his fishing buddies had already landed several halibut (albeit smaller ones) and were getting ready to head back to shore after a full day of fishing in waters around 200 feet deep
It was on his last cast of the day that Jack successfully caught his 459-pound record-breaker
Jack fought for two hours before he was able to buy the fish in the small boat that he and his friends used that day
Jack fought for two hours before he was able to buy the fish in the small boat that he and his friends used that day
This large halibut is over eight feet long and five feet wide
Jack’s catch not only set a new record, it actually beat the previous record by nearly 20 pounds
Before Jack landed his giant pacific halibut, the biggest catch was a 440-pound fish caught in 1978
It’s 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 do they cost and how and where to buy?
Atlantic Halibut All Tackle Record
Thomas was able to submit all the necessary details to the IGFA confirming his catch as a new record for the largest Atlantic halibut ever caught
On the 28th of July 2004, fisherman Thomas Nielsen set a new world record for Atlantic halibut when he landed a huge halibut that weighed an impressive 418 pounds 13 ounces
Thomas caught his record-breaking fish while bait fishing in Vannaya Troms, Norway
He uses Shimano rod, Shimano reel, and Dyneema line with cole fish
It took more than an hour of struggle for Thomas to successfully land the fish but when he did, he submitted all the necessary details to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) who finally confirmed his catch as new record for the largest Atlantic halibut ever caught
California Halibut All Tackle Record
Rivera was fishing in Santa Rosa Island, California, USA on July 1, 2011 when he landed his 67-pound 5-ounce California halibut, which set a new record for the largest fish of its kind which has since been obtained
Aside from his fishing equipment, Francisco fished on the bottom using live squid as bait
See also: California fishing license information: Costs, Where to Buy and Different Types
About Key Halibut Species
If you are looking for Atlantic halibut in the US, then it is usually found in the Gulf of Maine
California halibut are usually found south of San Francisco
The males of the Pacific halibut are usually smaller than the females of the species
Although not all grow to extremely large sizes, this species is sometimes called a barn door fish because some can grow to about 500 pounds in weight and more than eight feet across height
Atlantic halibut have a relatively slow growth rate so their true size is not always visible
Although usually less than eight feet in length, it is believed 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
An important thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a little while after any halibut hits your line
An important thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a little while after any halibut hits your line
Ideally, you can let the fish eat your bait before setting your hook
A round hook tends to work well for halibut fishing so it can be a useful addition to your fishing gear
Another thing to remember is that big bait can lead to some big halibut being caught
Halibut is a delicious white-fleshed fish with a firm, meaty texture
Halibut has nutrients that are very good for your heart
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