New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed, a fisheries official said Thursday.

The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs and about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.

The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have not been made. The date when the colossus was caught also was not disclosed.

Colossal squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.

If original estimates are correct, the squid would be 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen ever found.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology. If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, he added.

Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are extremely active, aggressive hunters, he said.

The frozen squid will be transported to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be preserved for scientific study.

Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," Anderton said.

Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, but are not as heavy as colossal squid.

AP News

By RAY LILLEY

22 Feb 2007

That one Captain Nemo got made this one look like a pup.

Who's for Pha-Mook-Tort-Krateim, you could feed my local village for a week!

Who's for Pha-Mook-Tort-Krateim, you could feed my local village for a week!

you mean Bplarmuek tord kratiem?

ok, you bring the nam jim seafood :-)

Yet again, Kiwis come up with the goods.

Who's for Pha-Mook-Tort-Krateim, you could feed my local village for a week!

you mean Bplarmuek tord kratiem?

You mean plaamyk thccd krathiam?

(This can go on for ages... )

ปลาหมึกทอดกระเทียม

Who's for Pha-Mook-Tort-Krateim, you could feed my local village for a week!

you mean Bplarmuek tord kratiem?

You mean plaamyk thccd krathiam?

(This can go on for ages... )

ปลาหมึกทอดกระเทียม

Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni actually.

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed, a fisheries official said Thursday.

The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs and about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish

Add in a few of these Patagonian toothfish:

[Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) Unknown Thai script]

and it'll be a really BIG seafood feast...

Edited February 23, 200719 yr by sriracha john

Impressive! Where did they catch that leprechaun??

Luckily these squids don't make their home in warmer waters, imagine swimming along and encountering one of these bastards?

Impressive! Where did they catch that leprechaun??

Leprechaun!!! how dare you looks like a Willy Mason clone too me Nignoy

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid

I trust it wasnt a Sheep in Sqids Clothing....

Who's for Pha-Mook-Tort-Krateim, you could feed my local village for a week!

you mean Bplarmuek tord kratiem?

You mean plaamyk thccd krathiam?

(This can go on for ages... )

ปลาหมึกทอดกระเทียม

Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni actually.

Think we can all settle for a Deep Fried Squid in Garlic

Would love to see the various English translations found in menus across the Kingdom.

Add in a few of these Patagonian toothfish:

[Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) Unknown Thai script]

and it'll be a really BIG seafood feast...

Is this what the colossals eats for breakfast?.....in that case,

where is daddy and mommy colossal.....

It is still not the siz of that one I saw in the Pirates of the caribbean???or is that just fiction?

Luckily these squids don't make their home in warmer waters, imagine swimming along and encountering one of these bastards?

You're perfectly safe, they don't like the taste of farangs. Squid philosophy - if it's not Thai, it's not kosher.