Keith Lusher 02.06.26
Ice fishing and halibut aren’t two words you usually hear together in the same sentence. Atlantic halibut are saltwater giants most anglers associate with deep offshore water, not frozen bays. But that’s exactly what happened in Quebec’s Saguenay Fjord, where Alain Hamel hauled a massive halibut through the ice after a marathon fight.
The fish measured more than 6.5 feet long, weighed 244 pounds, and was later confirmed by scientists as the largest Atlantic halibut ever recorded in the fjord, and one of the biggest ever caught through the ice anywhere.
For anglers, the details are what really stand out.
Hamel battled the fish for roughly two and a half hours before his crew was able to get it topside. According to biologists involved with the project, that fight time is not unusual. Some anglers in the program have spent six to twelve hours connected to halibut that ultimately broke off. These are not quick tug-and-reel fish. They are endurance contests that demand heavy gear, patience, and a coordinated team on the ice.
The record Atlantic halibut was officially weighed, with the meat later shared among fishermen involved in the scientific project. Photo: Musée du Fjord.
This catch was made under a special scientific permit tied to a winter halibut research project run in partnership with the Musée du Fjord. The Saguenay is one of the only places in North America where Atlantic halibut can be legally caught through the ice, thanks to its unique mix of freshwater inflow and deep, cold saltwater beneath the ice.
Only about 35 special licenses are issued each winter, and strict rules apply. All halibut under 33.5 inches must be released. Larger fish are harvested for science, with heads and stomach contents analyzed to help researchers understand growth rates, diet, and movement patterns. Hamel’s fish yielded roughly 170 pounds of meat, which will be shared among the fishermen involved.
One interesting note for anglers who love fish behavior details. Scientists found a crab in the halibut’s stomach, reinforcing what many saltwater fishermen already know. These big flatfish are opportunistic bottom feeders that will crush just about anything they can pin down.
Atlantic halibut are relatives of the Pacific halibut many West Coast anglers are familiar with, but they grow significantly larger. The all tackle world record recognized by the International Game Fish Association is just under 419 pounds, caught in Norway in 2004. A specimen reported off Sweden once weighed more than 700 pounds.
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway for fishermen is what this catch says about the fishery itself. According to project leaders, Atlantic halibut were rarely encountered in the Saguenay a decade ago. Over the last four years, numbers have increased enough that this winter’s scientific quota was reached early and the fishery had to be shut down to avoid exceeding limits.
For now, this remains a tightly controlled research program, not a public ice fishing opportunity. But for anglers who appreciate big fish, long fights, and the science behind healthy fisheries, this 244 pound halibut is a reminder of just how much is still happening below the ice.
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