Fishermen Catch Colossal Squid Weighing Half a Ton

For as long as man has sailed the seas, there have been reports of sea monsters that would attack even the largest of man's ships. The giant squid has always been one of the most widely known of these sea monsters. Fishermen in New Zealand have now caught a Colossal Squid weighing half a ton, making it the largest specimen ever caught.

Reports of giant squid have circulated since the 18^th century. Often depicted in mammoth proportions, these sea monsters were often reported to have pulled entire ships to the ocean floor. Sailors would often treat tales of these creatures with respect and fear, while others regarded them as myth and fantasy.

In 1861, rumors circulated about an encounter between the French Navy and a giant squid. The story fueled the imagination of Jules Verne, resulting in Captain Nemo's encounter with a colossal squid in Verne's famous novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

Over time, evidence began to surface to demonstrate that the giant squid is a sea monster that truly does exist. Confirming that the creatures were real forever changed our view of them, even if very little is actually known of the creatures. One of the few facts about giant squid that is known is that the creatures are hunted by sperm whales, a fact that was revealed when enormous squid beaks were found in sperm whale stomachs.

While we are not certain of exactly how big these creatures can be, we now have a new benchmark after a fishing crew caught a record setting Colossal Squid off the South of New Zealand today. The squid measured in at 39 feet long, and weighs 990 pounds, and is the largest squid specimen ever landed.

It should be noted that these are estimates made by the crew and the fisheries official on board the vessel. Official, detailed figures have not yet been released. If the initial estimates prove correct, it would make this squid 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen to have every been found.