An ice fisherman from Quebec spent two and a half hours battling a 244-pound halibut in the Saguenay Fjord over the weekend, setting a new record for the largest Atlantic halibut caught in the area. The president of the basin committee, Marc-André Galbrand, described the fish as a challenging catch that requires patience and leaves anglers with sore arms.
Measuring two meters long, the halibut surpassed last year’s record catch of 194 pounds. The fish was captured by Alain Hamel in the L’Anse-Saint-Jean sector of the fjord as part of a scientific project conducted in collaboration with the local Fjord Museum to gather more information about the species.
Despite fishing for Atlantic halibut being prohibited in the Saguenay Fjord, participants in the project catch, tag, and transport the fish to the museum for analysis. The bones in the halibut’s head provide insights into its migration patterns. The meat from the halibut caught this week will be distributed among the fishermen involved in the project.
Jérôme Rousseau also landed a large Atlantic halibut near Sainte-Rose-du-Nord on the Saguenay River, marking a personal milestone after years of participating in the scientific fishing program. The halibut was taken to the Fjord Museum for further examination.
Galbrand emphasized the challenges of fishing for halibut in deep waters, describing it as an extreme sport that requires expertise and caution due to the fish’s sharp teeth. The fishing activity was temporarily halted after reaching the quota of authorized halibut catches under the scientific fishing permit, with plans to potentially allow a few more fishermen to participate through a lottery system.
The successful catch of the massive halibut showcases the dedication and teamwork of the fishermen involved, who are already planning how to enjoy the prized fish with their fellow anglers.