TAMPA, Fla. (WHDH) – A fisherman reeled in a giant grouper at a fishing tournament in Florida.

Tony Pannipinto said he never caught a fish as big as this Warsaw grouper, which weighed nearly 350 pounds. His friends initially thought his hook was snagged.

“I said, I think I have a fish. They were like, ‘You have the bottom,’ because the rod was just doubled over,” said Pannipinto.

It was a challenge for Pannipinto to get the fish onto the boat but he managed, saying the fish filled up half of his boat. Pannipinto’s catch set a record for the largest fish ever caught during the tournament.

Pannipinto said he is not allowed to say what kind of bait he used to catch the fish.

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