This halibut was caught in a salmon seine in the early 1950’s in Chignik, AK. It was 11 foot, 3 inches long and Alaska Fish & Game estimated it to weigh near 900 lbs. They didn’t have a scale large enough to weigh this fish. It was caught by Emmitt Wood and Simeon Petticoft “after the war”. The name of the vessel was “Banshee”.
Photo courtesy of Steve ZawastowskiAvailable at “Picture Alaska”Memorialized in a plaque at the Homer, AK Harbor.
I have always been obsessed with halibut for some reason. As a kid, the fish merchant would show up weekly with a truck load of ice and fish to sell to Dad. Walking into that truck alone surrounded by fish I never saw anywhere else was a profound experience on a hot day. Salmon and halibut in the round were the most impressive.
When going to sea for cod surveys a 50 lb halibut came up in the trawl on the last tow of the project. It was a fluke since the trawl was not designed for them. Seeing one like that alive was confirmation of everything a halibut is. The fish exudes power and presence. I always wanted to catch them on a rod but never have. Apparently the low numbers are starting to rebound a little bit and that is very welcome news. They were pounded by the commercials.