New Hampshire teen hooks potential record-setting halibut

AT PEASE. KELLY O’BRIEN, WMUR NEWS NINE. A 13 YEAR OLD BOY IS SHOWING OFF THE GIANT CATCH HE MADE WHILE OUT ON A BOAT ALONG THE SEACOAST. 13 YEAR OLD JAXON HAD GONE OUT ON THE OVERNIGHT CHARTER, WAKING UP EARLY TO GET HIS LINE IN THE WATER. HE SAYS HE KNEW HE WANTED TO CATCH A BIG FISH ON THAT TRIP, BUT NEVER EXPECTED IT TO BE A CERTIFIED 174 POUND HALIBUT. IT WAS VERY EXCITING. EVERYBODY WAS SCREAMING AND YELLING AND IT WAS GREAT. SOMETHING REALLY BIG TOOK MY BAIT AND IT TOOK A BIG RUN. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SURFACE, AND THEN I THINK IT SAW THE BOAT. IT WENT RIGHT BACK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT BACK UP. THE MATES GAFFED IT. WE HAD TO OPEN THE SIDE DOOR ON THE BOAT AND LIFT IT IN. WOW. JACKSON SAYS HE SUBMITTED HIS CATCH TO THE INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION TO HOPEFULLY BECO

Updated: 10:44 AM CDT Sep 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

New Hampshire teen hooks potential record-setting halibut

Updated: 10:44 AM CDT Sep 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A 13-year-old New Hampshire boy is showing off a giant catch he made over the weekend. Jackson Denio had gone out over the weekend on an overnight charter, waking up early to get his line in the water.He said he knew he wanted to catch a big fish on that trip, but he never expected to reel in a certified 174-pound halibut."It was very exciting," Jackson said. "Everybody was screaming and yelling. It was great." Jackson said it was clear he had hooked something big."Something really big took my bait, and it took a big run," he said. "I was able to get it pretty close to the surface, and then I think it saw the boat and went right back down to the bottom, and then we were able to get it back up. The mates gaffed it. We had to open the side door and lift it in."Jackson said he's submitting his catch to the International Game Fish Association to possibly become the new junior record holder for biggest Atlantic halibut.

HAMPTON, N.H. —

A 13-year-old New Hampshire boy is showing off a giant catch he made over the weekend.

Jackson Denio had gone out over the weekend on an overnight charter, waking up early to get his line in the water.

He said he knew he wanted to catch a big fish on that trip, but he never expected to reel in a certified 174-pound halibut.

"It was very exciting," Jackson said. "Everybody was screaming and yelling. It was great."

Jackson said it was clear he had hooked something big.

"Something really big took my bait, and it took a big run," he said. "I was able to get it pretty close to the surface, and then I think it saw the boat and went right back down to the bottom, and then we were able to get it back up. The mates gaffed it. We had to open the side door and lift it in."

Jackson said he's submitting his catch to the International Game Fish Association to possibly become the new junior record holder for biggest Atlantic halibut.

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