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The reason why there is a leader restriction is this: If you catch a fish and your leader is too long, your catch is recorded under the breaking strength of the leader. Otherwise, boaters could have a 50 yard "leader" of 500lb test and have that connected to 6lb test and try to claim they caught it on 6lb test.
It's unfortunate for the surfguys. When you consider there are people out there using surf rods that are 12 to 15 feet long for heaving bait. A shock leader in place for safety is going to be at least 25 feet long. It is unfortunate but those are the rules. If you have read J. Burnley's "Surfcasting the atlantic coast" he mentions a guy's 92lb red drum was labeled under the 50lb test mark even though he was using much lighter line all because his shock leader was 20 feet long.
Wirelines usually have very high breaking strength. There are limits on breaking strengths which depend on species of fish. I wonder what would happen if you used a wire line set up that broke under the line limitations.
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