'Record' Shark Caught Off Californian Coast

A huge mako shark that was caught off the coast of California could be the largest of the breed ever caught.

Jason Johnston caught the 1,323lb shark after a two-and-a-half-hour battle, the Orange County Register reported.

"I've hunted lions and brown bears, but I've never experienced anything like this," Mr Johnston told the newspaper.

"It felt like I had a one-tonne diesel truck at the end of the line, and it wasn't budging."

If the catch is confirmed and meets conditions, it would exceed the record mako catch made in 2001 off Massachusetts, said Jack Vitek, the world records coordinator for the International Game Fish Association.

But David McGuire, director of the California-based protection advocacy group Shark Stewards, said the mako should have been released because sharks are threatened worldwide.

"People should be viewing these sharks as wonderful animals that are important to the ocean and admiring how beautiful they are," Mr McGuire told The Times.

Only 23 of the 6,850 world records on file with the game association involve line-caught fish topping 1,300lb, Mr Vitek said.

The largest catch was a 2,664lb (1,200kg) great white shark that was taken in 1959 off the Australian coast.

The mako shark, which was caught on Monday, is being kept on ice and will be donated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association for research.