13-Year-Old Boy Catches 177-Lb. Fish That May Set New World Records

A teen from New Hampshire may have just set world fishing records.

Jackson Denio, 13, of Hampton caught a 177-lb. Atlantic halibut while fishing 100 miles off the New England Coast on Monday, Sept. 1, per the Associated Press.

He was on an overnight trip with Al Gauron Deep Sea Fishing and Whale Watching with about 30 other people. Jackson told the crew he hoped to catch a shark that day, per the outlet. The crew suggested he cast a line to the bottom, and within minutes, he felt a tug.

“I think I screamed, honestly,” Jackson, who weighs around 120 pounds, told the outlet. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was very excited.”

Jackson battled the massive fish for about half an hour before finally getting it on board the boat.

Jim Walsh, the captain of the vessel, told the AP that he was impressed with Jackson’s focus during the intense struggle.

“He did not let go once,” Walsh said. “He never let anybody else touch the rod. And he worked him, worked him. Then eventually, the fish starts to tire out. Even though he’s that big, they got to tire.”

He added, “Then he got it up to the surface. That’s when we looked and went ‘Oh my God.’ We were all ecstatic.”

Jackson and his family plan to send details of the catch to the International Game Fish Association with hopes of setting world records in both the junior Atlantic halibut category and the line class for all fish.

PEOPLE reached out to the International Game Fish Association for comment on Friday, Sept. 5, but did not receive an immediate response.

As for how the event has affected Jackson? He told the AP that the possible achievement makes him even more excited to keep fishing.

“It makes me want to keep fishing even more and try and beat the record if I can,” he said.