Where does it say it was a pregnant female anywhere in the article??
And, if it doesn't, how does one assume it is "obviously" a big female with many pups???
Not picking a dog in this fight at all, however as a life long fisherman, in virtually all fish species the females are the largest by huge margins. The gross weight compared to the net weight of this fish certainly suggests she was indeed a "she" carrying pups. I have personally caught a 70 pound Mako that was more than likely a pup only months from the womb.
And Mako is, in my opinion the best eating Shark of the many varieties out there.