1972 - Cod - 22 -1/2 pounds

Esther with 22-1/2 lb Cod Fish

As a teenager, I went out on a fishing charter from Rockport Mass. The fishing boat went way out in the ocean and when the boat stopped everyone dropped their lines over the side to fish.  I had never "bottom-fished" before so I did not know what to expect.  It  was unbelievable - as soon as the lines reached the bottom, people started catching cod and haddock.  I waited  a few minutes and then pulled up on my line but I couldn't move it.  I tried and tried to no avail so I called the first mate over.  He pulled on my line and said "You must be hung up on the bottom, I'll come back to help you when I get a chance".  So I kept trying to pull my line up but couldn't, and I was frustrated that everyone was catching fish but me. The mate was too busy taking the fish off to help me. Eventually, the first mate came back to my side of the boat and asked if anyone was hung up - so I said I was.  He told me to keep reeling.  The next thing I knew this large cod came to the surface and my line along with several other lines from the other side of the boat were all wrapped around this fish.  The mate pulled the fish up and untangled the lines and determined it was my fish! I couldn't believe it 22-1/2 lbs - this is the largest fish I have ever caught.  I also won the pool that day for the largest fish.  The experienced fishermen on the boat weren't happy with me especially when I said I had never fished in the ocean before.  I guess it was just beginner's luck!