| Ketchikan, located in southeast Alaska, is a good | | | | the ocean. |
| place to fish for halibut. Sally and John Balch live in | | | | After more than an hour the tired Balches were |
| Ketchikan and have a favorite spot nearby to | | | | successful in subduing the halibut, and after |
| halibut fish. It's a secret spot, so don't ask where | | | | another hour were able to bring the halibut into |
| it is. | | | | their boat. |
| The Balches were fishing there one Sunday and | | | | Back in Ketchikan the Balches towed their boat |
| having good luck landing cod and halibut, so they | | | | over to the local lumber yard where John works |
| decided to stop about mid-morning. Sally started | | | | and used the fork lift to unload the halibut from |
| pulling in her gear and felt a tug on the line. | | | | their boat. A crowd gathered to listen to repeated |
| It was more than a tug, really. Sally said that she | | | | tales of the adventure, and the Balches filleted |
| thought she had snagged the bottom of the | | | | the fish and gave away pieces to anyone who |
| ocean. Sally reeled in the line with all her strength, | | | | wanted a piece. |
| tired, and turned the rod over to her husband. | | | | They had plenty. The halibut was 7 feet long and |
| John and Sally fought the halibut over the course | | | | weighed 323 pounds. And Sally caught the large |
| of the next hour. They reeled it to the surface | | | | halibut with a bargain $39 Penn rod and reel |
| three times, but each time the halibut regained | | | | combo. |
| strength and swam back down to the bottom of | | | | |