Of all the species that exist, 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 managed to reel in 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 some other monster halibut also making it into the record books
IGFA World Halibut Record Atlantic Halibut All Gear Record California Halibut All Gear Record About Key Halibut Species Distribution Size Range Preferred Fishing Techniques Food Qualities
IGFA World Record All-Tackle Halibut
On June 11, 1996, angler Jack Tragis was bottom fishing in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
It was here that the largest halibut ever caught landed and earned its place in the record books
At the time of his record catch, Jack was using a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick rod, Penn Senator 4/0 reel, Aimer line, and an ugly Big jig
Before landing the world record halibut, Jack and his fishing buddies had already landed several halibut (although these were much smaller) and were preparing to return to shore after spending the day fishing in waters around 200 feet deep depth
It was on his last pitch of the day that Jack successfully caught his record 459lbs
It took Jack two hours of fighting before he was able to buy the fish aboard the little boat he and his friends had been using for the day
It took Jack two hours of fighting before he was able to buy the fish aboard the little boat he and his friends had been using for the day
This large halibut was over eight feet long and five feet wide
Jack’s catch not only set a new record, but surpassed the previous record by almost 20 pounds
Before Jack landed his giant Pacific halibut, the biggest fish ever caught was a 440-pound fish that had been caught in 1978
This is a world record that will probably take a long time for anyone to come close, let alone try to break it
See Also: Alaska Fishing Licenses: How Much Do They Cost and How and Where to Buy?
All-tackle record for Atlantic halibut
Thomas was able to send all the necessary details to the IGFA to confirm the catch of him 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 a whopping 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 a Dyneema line baited with cole fish
It took Thomas over an hour of fighting to successfully catch the fish, but once he did, he was able to send all the necessary details to the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA), who eventually confirmed that his catch was 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 halibut of this species ever caught
In addition to his fishing equipment, Francisco practiced bottom fishing using live squid as bait
See Also: California Fishing License Information: Costs, Where to Buy, and Different Types
About Keystone Halibut Species
If you are looking for Atlantic halibut in the US, then they are more common in the Gulf of Maine
California halibut is most commonly found south of San Francisco
Pacific halibut males are usually smaller than the 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 around 500 pounds in weight and over eight feet in length
The Atlantic halibut has a rather slow growth rate, so its true size is not always seen frequently
Although they are generally less than eight feet in length, it is believed that these fish could grow as long as 15 feet
California halibut can live up to 30 years and can grow to around five feet in length and up to 72 pounds in weight
One key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a little while after any halibut hits your line
One key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a little while after any halibut hits your line
Ideally, let the fish eat the bait before setting the hook
A circle hook tends to work well for halibut fishing, so it can be a useful addition to your fishing gear
Another thing to keep in mind is that a large bait can cause a large halibut to be caught
Halibut is a delicious, white-fleshed fish with a firm, meaty texture
Halibut contains nutrients that are very good for the heart
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