Of all the species out there, the Pacific halibut is the largest halibut of all.
Catching one of these large fish is something that many anglers hope for and some have actually managed to catch a truly huge halibut over the years.
In this article, we’ll look at the story behind the current IGFA Halibut World Record, as well as some other monster halibut that are also in the record books.
IGFA Halibut World RecordAtlantic Halibut All Tackle California Halibut All Tackle RecordAbout the Key Halibut SpeciesDistributionSize RangeFavorite Fishing TechniquesDietary Characteristics
IGFA world record halibut
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 a place in the record books.
At the time of his record catch, Jack was using a Shakespeare Sturdy Stick, a Penn Senator 4/0 reel, an Aimer line and a Big ugly 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 that were about 200 feet deep.
Jack successfully caught his record weight of 459 pounds on his last cast of the day.
It took Jack two hours of fighting to get the fish aboard the small boat he and his friends had been using all day.
It took Jack two hours of fighting to get the fish aboard the small boat he and his friends had been using all day.
This large halibut was over eight feet long and five feet wide.
Not only did Jack’s catch set a new record, it actually beat the previous record by nearly 20 pounds.
Before Jack landed his giant Pacific halibut, the largest fish ever caught was 440 pounds, which was caught in 1978.
This is one world record that will probably take a long time for anyone to even come close to, let alone attempt to break.
See also: Alaska fishing licenses: How much 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 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 an impressive 418 pounds, 13 ounces.
Thomas caught his record fish while bait fishing in Vannaya Troms, Norway.
He used a Shimano rod, Shimano reel and Dyneema line with cole fish bait.
It took Thomas more than an hour of struggle to successfully land the fish, but when he did, he was able to submit all the necessary details to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), which eventually certified his catch as a new record for the largest Atlantic halibut ever caught.
California Halibut All Tackle Record
Rivera was fishing on 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 the species ever caught.
In addition to his fishing gear, Francisco fished on the bottom using live squid as bait.
See also: California Fishing License Information: Cost, Where to Buy, and Different Types
About the key halibut species
If you are looking for Atlantic halibut in the US, then they are most commonly found in the Gulf of Maine.
California halibut are most commonly found south of San Francisco.
Male Pacific halibut are usually smaller than females of this species.
Although not all of them grow to extremely large sizes, this species is sometimes referred to as a barn fish because some can grow to around 500 pounds in weight and more than eight feet in length.
Atlantic halibut have a relatively slow growth rate, so their true size is not always commonly seen.
Although these fish are usually under eight feet in length, it is believed that they can grow up to 15 feet.
California halibut can live up to 30 years and can grow to about five feet in length and weigh up to 72 pounds.
One key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while for any halibut to hit your line.
One key thing to remember when fishing for halibut is to be patient and wait a while for any halibut to hit your line.
Ideally, you should let the fish eat your bait before setting the hook.
Circle hooks tend to work well when fishing for halibut, so they can be a useful addition to your fishing gear.
Another thing to keep in mind is that big bait can lead to big halibut being caught.
Halibut is a delicious white-fleshed fish with a firm, meaty texture.
Halibut contains nutrients that are very good for your heart.
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