A NEWSOME fisherman caught the catch of the day – a giant 56lb 12oz halibut.

Peter Strickson made the catch off Whitby’s waters last week.

And it’s been confirmed as a port record for Whitby, beating the previous best by more than 6lb.

Peter caught the huge halibut using squid, although landing it proved a challenge.

It took around 15 minutes to land the fish as it started to peel line off his reel, but his persistence paid off with a catch worthy of winning any competition.

But Peter’s caught bigger fish before – a skate weighing in at more than 70lbs is his record to date.

Peter, who fishes with Meltham and District Sea Angling Club, said: “It’s difficult to know what the average halibut is because only one or two are caught every year round the coast.

“It was a bit of a surprise and it is a port record.”

Fishing is a hobby for Peter and he’s due to go back to Whitby over the weekend if the weather holds off.