A hammerhead shark caught in May off of the Florida coast could be the largest ever caught on rod and reel. Scientists say the 40 to 50-year-old shark weighed in at more than 1,200 pounds and was pregnant with 55 pups.

The 14.5-foot shark was caught by a fisherman off the coast of Boca Grande. Scientists at Mote Marine Labratory told the Associated Press that 55 pups is the most they've ever seen a shark carry. Before that, scientists thought hammerheads gave birth to 20 to 40 pups at a time.

After a necropsy, scientists found that 52 of the pups were full term and would have been born within a few days. The shark's possible world record status is being investigated.