A WA fishermen is being investigated by the Department of Fisheries after reeling in a 4.2 metre protected tiger shark from an Albany beach last week.
Nick Shoevaart told Nine News Perth the shark was the biggest catch of his life, and that he released it back into the water shortly after a one-and-a-half-hour struggle to bring it to shore at Cheynes Beach.
But photos the 23-year-old took with the massive catch have landed him in hot water with conservation groups.
"It's pretty exciting to see... I think I did the right thing," Mr Shoevaart said.
"As soon as I caught it and released it, the next morning I rang fisheries straight away to let them know there's a potentially harmful shark to humans there.
"Next time I'll definitely get a video or a picture of (the shark) swimming off so people have nothing to whinge about."
Sea Shepherd spokeswoman Natalie Banks said anglers needed to show more respect to sharks.
"These sharks are vital to keeping our oceans healthy and we're seeing more and more of these images coming through and it's a real shame because we really should be giving them a lot more respect," she said.
Mr Shoevaart could face a $5000 fine from the Department of Fisheries if he is found to have not immediately released the shark, which is a protected species.
