Congratz Dave!! i don't knopw which is more impressive, the hog of a ling or 2 pages of replies in less than 24 hours! Everybody can say what they want about what they would have done in the same position, but it is fairly apparent that you were trying for a record (unless you have some sponsorship deal where you must use 16lb mono for all your fishing). If you were meat hooking chances are you would not be using 16lb mono.
All I can really say is next time, take me with you and I will be more than happy to help you catch fish and I will even tell people to Ki$$ my @#$ if they give you grief about keeping one little fishy.