Two fishermen from Connecticut made headlines after catching a massive 700-pound Thresher shark, possibly the largest ever caught in the state. According to ABC News, 46-year-old Ed Lovely spent over six hours battling the powerful predator with a friend off the coast of Stonington last Wednesday.

Once out on the water, Lovely felt a strong pull on his fishing line and began the intense struggle to reel in the hefty fish. “We started fighting from there,” he recalled.



Two Connecticut fishermen reeled in a massive 700-pound Thresher shark that could be the largest ever caught in state waters. Ed Lovely

Lovely and his fishing partner worked tirelessly to bring in the 16.5-foot shark, which was longer than their entire boat. The awe-inspiring catch left Lovely in disbelief as they finally hauled the shark onto the boat.

After the successful catch, the fishermen celebrated like kids, lying on the deck in the dark with headlamps on. The shark was too big for the boat, so it had to be towed away on a trailer once they reached land.

Lovely is now in discussions with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to potentially set a Connecticut state record with their catch.


A 700-pound shark caught off the Connecticut coast.
Lovely is currently in talks with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to see if the catch will break a Connecticut state record. Ed Lovely

A spokesperson from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection confirmed that the catch may qualify for a Marine Trophy Fish Award.

Thresher sharks can grow up to 20 feet long, as stated by the NOAA. Lovely’s family has shared the shark’s meat with loved ones following the successful catch.