Giant Squid Captured Off Japan

A giant squid that measures 12 feet and weighs 330 pounds has been captured off Japan, according to Grind TV.

The giant squid was captured in a fisherman's net but it died soon after it was hauled to the surface. Japan Times confirmed the weight and measurement of the real squid that was captured. A few years back, news circulated that a 160-feet long squid was also captured in Japan, however the story turned out to be a hoax. Giant squids are elusive creatures that occupy the dark ocean depths.

According to the Smithsonian Ocean Portal, a giant squid was first recorded live in 2006 by Japanese scientists who used a baited hook to haul up a 24-food squid. In 2012, scientists from Japan's National Science Museum and a Discovery Channel film crew filed a giant squid in its natural habitat for the first time ever. On Wednesday, the most recent giant squid reported was captured by fisherman Shigenori Goto, who said that the squid got caught in a net used to catch a buri yellowtail at a depth of 300 feet.

"When I hauled up the net, the squid slowly came floating up," said Goto. "This is the first time I have seen such a large squid." Later on, the male squid passed away and was brought to a government research institute in Niigata by local officials for further research. Male squid may reach up to 150 kilograms while female ones may reach a weight of as much as 275 kilograms.