German fisherman catches world-record 515-pound Atlantic halibut
Marco Liebenow thought he hooked a submarine while fishing Norwegian waters; fish was so big it wouldn’t fit into the 19-foot boat
August 16, 2013 by David Strege
For the entire story and more pictures click here
This story was forwarded to me by no less than 4 people and while by today’s standards it sure is a huge Halibut I remember my dad telling me stories about our Grandfather routinely landing Halibut aboard the Benjamin C that were as big as the forktuck.
So I don’t know if the world record is for something like a rod and reel record but from what my dad used to say those fish “back in the day” were caught all the time.
Maybe some of the old timers like Ron Gilson or our regular fishermen readers like Joe Testaverde can chime in on this.
Good Morning Gloucester 
In “The Fisherman’s Own Book,” published in 1882 by George Procter, editor of the Cape Ann Advertiser (predecessor of the Gloucester Daily Times), is an article entitled “Large Fish,” which notes that a 600-lb. halibut was “said to have been taken at New Ledge, 60 miles southeast of Portland, Me. in 1807. Twenty years later a dead halibut was picked up by two men near Damask Cove , at Boothbay, Me., that weighted when gutted and gilled, with head on, 637 lbs. This is the largest halibut of which we have any record.”
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Published by the Boston Globe June 12, 1917: A halibut landed at Boston Fish Pier, taken by Captain A.S.Ree about 50 miles ENE of Cape Ann weighting 615 pounds, eviscerated with it’s head still attached, it must of been as heavy as 700 lbs. while alive. Bought by the Shore Fish Company.
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Me personally I remember on the Linda B a few in the 200- 300 lb range. But my Father told my of some Giants when he Dory trawled. And Show my Larger At the Fulton Market in N.Y. City.
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That’s Saw …. no magic fingers. lol
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Does anyone remember the halibut caught by Sookie Sawyer Jr.? It was pretty big and
the Times carried a photo of in the paper.
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I remember reading that the largest halibut ever landed was taken of Thatcher’s Island. 625 Lbs. Don’t remember the date but I think it was the early 1900s.
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I remember stories about landing big halibut on the Benjamin C,my parents were friends with Jack McKay who was the engineer on the boat for many years..Grace Duncan
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did you ever find out the size of the halibut caught on a tub trawl by Sookie Sawyer Jr.??
Bob Quinn
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