A routine deep-sea fishing trip turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment for 13-year-old Jackson Denio of Hampton, New Hampshire, when he reeled in a colossal 177-pound Atlantic halibut. A fish that outweighs him by nearly 60 pounds.
Fishing aboard a charter from Al Gauron’s Deep Sea Fishing and Whale Watching, Denio was about 100 miles off the New England coast at a famed marine fishing hotspot, Cashes Ledge, when he hooked the fish that could land him in the record books.
“I think I screamed, honestly,” Denio told AP News in an interview. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was very excited.”
(About the Photo: Young angler Jackson Denio with his 177-pound Atlantic halibut. Denio submitted his catch to the IGFA for consideration as the new junior world record. Photo courtesy of Al Gauron’s Deep Sea Fishing)
A Shot at a World Record
Weighing just 120 pounds himself and standing 5-foot, 9-inches tall, Denio was certainly outsized by the massive flatfish. What makes this story even more impressive is the angler’s age—and the fact that the current junior male class record for Atlantic halibut is vacant, according to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
Denio and his family are currently compiling documentation, including photos, video, and tackle details, to file for a junior world record and a line-class record for the catch.
“Before the fish was carved up, Denio officially got it weighed and took photos and video of the fish, and he has provided other information about his fishing gear that will go into an application for a world record,” The Guardian reports.
Not a Shark, But So Much More
Initially, Denio told the crew he wanted to target sharks. The captain and crew advised him to fish deeper, near the bottom, using pollock as bait. Just minutes after dropping his line, he got a strike.
“I’m standing there watching him. Then all of a sudden the fish took off … and started pounding away,” recalled Jim Walsh, captain of the charter boat, told the Associated Press. “I looked at him and I said: ‘Were you on the bottom?’ And he goes: ‘Yes.’ And I said: ‘You don’t have a shark.’”
The epic battle lasted about 30 minutes. The fish dove repeatedly and fought hard before Denio finally brought it to the surface, cheered on by a boat full of passengers. Walsh said Denio showed composure and grit far beyond his years.
“He did not let go once. He never let anybody else touch the rod. And he worked him, worked him … then he got it up to the surface. That’s when we looked and went: ‘Oh my God.’ We were all ecstatic,” Walsh told The Guardian.
As per IGFA rules, only one angler may battle the fish for it to count as a record. So Denio’s grit should be rewarded with a certificate from the organization — and a memory that will last forever.
Cashes Ledge: A Hidden Gem in the Gulf of Maine
The catch occurred at Cashes Ledge, an underwater mountain range known for its ecological richness and biodiversity. Located in the Gulf of Maine, the area is popular among scientists and seasoned anglers alike. While it’s not unusual to catch large fish here, a halibut of this size is a rare prize, especially for a teen angler.
Future Fishing Goals
While many 13-year-olds would be content basking in their moment of viral fame, Denio is already thinking ahead.
“It makes me want to keep fishing even more and try and beat the record if I can,” Denio told AP News.
That’s the kind of attitude that defines great anglers—not just a love of the sport, but a drive to push boundaries and aim higher (or deeper) every trip out.
