Torrington angler lands giant 180lb halibut in British waters

A Torrington angler is celebrating the catch of a lifetime after landing a monster 180lb halibut in British waters.

Mel Davies was fishing on board the charter boat Oberon out of Yell in the Shetland Islands, skippered by Kenny Graham, when the huge flatfish took his lure.

An epic 45 minute battle followed before the halibut was finally subdued and it took three people to get the large fish aboard.

Above: It took three people to get the huge halibut on board. Credit: Mel Davies

It is not the first halibut for Mel, who works on the assembly line at Atlas Packaging in Barnstaple, but it is a personal best for him and the boat to date.

He caught the fish on a 500g herring lure he was trialling for Bell Rock Lures, using a Daiwa Super Kenzaki Braid Special rod rated 30-50lb and a Fin Nor spinning reel with 50lb braided line.

Mel was on his third trip to Shetland earlier this month on board Oberon and is also a regular visitor to Norway too, so this wasn’t his first halibut, but he knew it was a good one.

He said: “Each year more and more halibut are getting caught. Most are in the 30 to 80 pound range, so this fish is a monster for British waters and the biggest caught on one rod and line for Shetland.

“After many lunges to the bottom, I managed to finally get it to the boat and it took three people to bring it on board. I have caught and lost many halibut but this one was a very powerful fish.

“I knew from past experience it was a halibut and cannot get over how my gear actually won the battle, so elated to say the least.”

The fish was kept but the fillets were shared out among everyone on the boat, so all could enjoy it.

Above: The giant halibut was kept but shared out among everyone on the boat. Credit: Mel Davies

Mel’s next trip will be to Norway in March to target the giant Skrei cod and he is also hoping to have an attempt at the world haddock record.