The question of the biggest shark ever caught is complex because the answer depends heavily on the definition of “caught,” including the species, the method used, and the verification of the measurement. The search for a definitive record typically focuses on a verifiable, landed weight, which the sport fishing community officially tracks. This standard often leads to the Great White Shark holding the title, even though other species grow to far greater lengths. Official governing bodies ensure the record is based on skill and specific angling rules, not simply the largest specimen accidentally hauled ashore or caught commercially.
The Official Sport Fishing Record
The official record for the largest shark caught on rod and reel belongs to a massive Great White Shark. This specimen weighed 2,664 pounds (1,208 kilograms), making it the heaviest fish of any species caught according to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) all-tackle records. Angler Alfred Dean made the catch off the coast of Ceduna, South Australia, on April 21, 1959.
The record-setting catch involved a 70-minute battle using a rod and reel with a porpoise as bait. This record has stood for decades, and given the protected status of Great White Sharks, it is unlikely to be surpassed under the same sport fishing conditions.
Defining the Limits of a Record Catch
The 2,664-pound Great White Shark holds the record due to the strict regulations enforced by organizations like the IGFA. These rules define a “catch” as a fish brought to gaff or net by an angler using a rod, reel, line, and hook, with no outside assistance during the fight. Any deviation, such as shooting, harpooning, or lancing the fish at any stage, immediately disqualifies the catch.
Commercial catches, accidental net entanglements, or specimens found washed ashore are not eligible for record status because they lack the element of sporting skill and verification. A catch is also disqualified if there is evidence of mutilation, such as damage from other sharks or propellers, which would compromise the weight measurement. This emphasis on single-angler, rod-and-reel capture limits the record to large predatory sharks like the Great White.
The Largest Living Sharks
While the Great White holds the sport fishing record, two other shark species grow significantly larger in overall size and weight. The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world’s largest fish, with the largest reliably measured individual reaching 61.7 feet (18.8 meters). These filter feeders consume plankton and small fish and possess a gentle nature.
The Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest shark species, with the largest reliably measured specimen recorded at 40.2 feet (12.27 meters) in length. Like the Whale Shark, this species is a filter feeder and poses no threat to humans. Neither species is eligible for the rod-and-reel record due to their protected status and the impossibility of landing such enormous fish using standard sport fishing tackle.
Historical Accounts and Unverified Claims
Public interest in massive sharks has generated numerous historical accounts that often exceed the official record, but these claims typically lack modern scientific verification. One famous, though unverified, catch is the “El Monstruo” shark, allegedly caught off the coast of Cuba in 1945, with size estimates ranging up to 21 feet and 7,000 pounds. Without independent weighing or IGFA verification, such figures remain anecdotal.
Other historical claims of enormous sharks, sometimes exceeding 30 feet, have been debunked. For example, some specimens caught in the early 20th century were later confirmed to be misidentified Basking Sharks, which can be mistaken for Great Whites when partially decomposed. The largest shark that ever lived, the extinct Megalodon, vanished millions of years ago, reminding us that even the largest modern catches pale in comparison to pre-historic giants.