Octopus wrestling

[3] A report from the Toledo Blade said that in 1957, 200 people gathered to watch an octopus wrestling event in the Puget Sound near Tacoma, Washington.

At that time, annual World Octopus Wrestling Championships were held in Puget Sound, Washington.

A total of 25 giant Pacific octopuses (Enteroctopus dofleini) were captured that day, ranging in weight from 4 to 57 pounds (1.8 to 25.9 kg).

According to information Smith collected from Idwal Jones and other sources, O'Rourke and a partner developed a business in the late 1940s of fishing for octopuses, with O'Rourke serving as live bait, and his partner hauling him out of the water after an octopus was sufficiently wrapped around him.

Although there are several accepted techniques for octopus wrestling, the really sporty way requires that the human diver go without artificial breathing apparatus.

Three divers holding the largest catch of the 1963 World Octopus Wrestling Championships, a 57-pound giant Pacific octopus .