JULY 2008

Largest Halibut landed in Greencastle

The Catherine R was fishing for haddock and monkfish at Rockall Banks about 280 miles north west of Donegal when they hauled in a halibut weighing 97 kilos, 213 lbs or more than 15 stone.

John O'Kane, manager of the Foyle Fishermen's Co-op, said its the biggest halibut he's seen landed in Greencastle. "You'd sometimes see halibut come in weighing 50 to 60 kilos, but I've never seen one this size, said John. "Halibut is an expensive fish and is something of a delicacy. It's not something you would see in a chip shop, it's more likely to be on the menu in a fancy restaurant, he said.

The skipper, of the trawler is Killybegs man Barney Murray. He says halibut are fairly rare in that part of the Atlantic these days. "You don't see many halibut any more, the Spaniards cleaned them out with their gill nets".

The fish, worth more than €1,000 was bought by Starcrest Seafoods in Donegal town and then sold on to the four star Grand Meyrick Hotel in Galway's Eyre Square. It's understood that the fish will be special guest at an upcoming function.

The owner of the Catherine R, Cara Rawdon said. "I've been fishing for over 30 years and it's the biggest halibut I have ever seen".

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