Surprise catch of 575-pound tiger shark could shatter world recordBy: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com
Brett Sinclair's recent catch of a 575-pound tiger shark is impressive not merely because of the predator's sheer size, but because it was made on fishing line with a breaking strength of only 13 pounds ... aboard a boat that was not much longer than the fearsome beast.
If the catch is approved by the International Game Fish Assn., it'll become a new world record for the line class, eclipsing the present record by more than 220 pounds. That process could take weeks but Sinclair had been fishing in the Dampier Classic off Western Australia, and competitors are supposed to abide by IGFA guidelines.
Clearly, the angler had been after smaller game. His group was anchored when the shark took the bait, and had to quickly pull anchor and give chase, to avoid having the reel stripped of its line.
"It took hours for the shark to tire," Sinclair, 27, told Perth Now.
The boat was only 19 feet long and jaws dropped when the great shark materialized at the surface, thrashing.
"It was an intense moment," Sinclair said, adding that the shark was far too large to be brought onto the boat and instead was secured to its side and towed into port at Dampier.
Sinclair had been fishing with Chris Bonnici, his cousin, and Aaron Pierkarski, the boat's captain. Sinclair told the Herald Sun that the group had previously caught a smaller shark. "When this one took the bait I thought it would be about the same size," he said. "I actually asked the other lads if they wanted to grab the rod and have a go, but luckily they said no."
The Dampier Classic is hosted annually by the King Bay Game Fishing Club. Both the tournament and the club emphasize catch-and-release except when exceptional catches are made. Perhaps because killing sharks has become so controversial, the tournament did not publicize this particular catch.
For the sake of comparison, the IGFA lists the all-tackle world record tiger shark catch as a 1,785-pound specimen caught on much stronger line off Ulladulla, Australia, in 2004.
-- Image shows Brett Sinclair, Chris Bonnici and Capt. Aaron Pierkarski (left to right) posing in Dampier with the 575-pound tiger shark.
do u know how long the fight was??
I can't wrap my head around a shark that big being caught on such light line. I have my doubts about this one. 
yeah how big it was??????????????????????????
I have heard this has been done quite a few times with tiger sharks possibly by hooking the fish lightly and catching up to it with the boat and gaffing or roping it
Just an average fisherman.
I beleive its very possible like slasher said hook up and chase with boat
I have seen it happen with my own 2 eyes!!!
My friend Eddie was fishing a SKA tournament when an (estimated) 9ft tiger grabbed the 'runner they had under a kite. He grabbed the rod and the fish charged the boat 
He was using a Torque 200 and just reeled like MAD. His dad grabbed the leader and managed to turn the fish with the doubled 40lb. braid. All the mean while, Eddie is standing there with his jaw dropped. They pulled the fish next to the boat, before it made a surge and broke the kinked #6.
THIS WAS NO BS. Eddie's father is George Mitchell, who runs the Snake Dancer, a 34 Yellowfin, on the SKA tour.
I saw all of this un-edited from the go-pro cameras they have mounted on there boat. We saw the fish on the video, and where it's head and tail was on the hull. So, we went outside, and measured the length between the 2 spots and saw it was ABOUT 9'6"
By the way: He fought it for 3hrs and 30min. It was no chase and gaff 
I can't wrap my head around a shark that big being caught on such light line. I have my doubts about this one.
Agreed.
Something is fishy. Either the shark didnt know it was hooked and came to the surface for a gaff shot or the line is much stronger than they lead on to. NO WAY IN HELL can 13lb test line be stressed for 2 or 3 hours at max without breaking. For it to last that long it'd have to have 5 lbs of pressure put on it, and 5 lbs wouldnt even put a scratch in a tiger of this size.
Thats so tru I agree cause I have A lite shark rod thats 40lbs test and still have A shit load of trouble landing them,and thats at least 2-4hrs of line testing tug of war!!!!!!!!150-300lbs sharks. 
I seen a buddy catch a 6ft bull on 12lb test with a 45lb steel leader from a pier! Anything is possible, especially from a boat, not every shark or fish is the same. People flyline tarpon and land some.....
what was the leader used as well if they were targeting smaller species???I assume 13 lb test mainline 30lb leader?Yea fishy alright 
I landed a 300 lb reef shark one day on 17 lb cajun mono.
Abugarica 6500 I thought I had a big cobia for the fist 2 hours. 3 hours into the battle keep in mind we were on top of him straight up and down for the majority of the fight.We got him boat side took a few pictures and a video. I wish I had the phone it was on.