Fisherman encounters shark off Cape May coast

CAPE MAY, N.J. (WPVI) -- People at the Jersey shore are reacting to an incredible video of a fisherman's encounter with a great white shark.

It happened about 30 miles off the coast on Saturday, near a site called the "28 mile Wreck" off the coast of Cape May.

The 16-foot great white swam up to the boat and snatched a bag of bait.

Those on the boat made sure to take pictures of the once in a lifetime encounter.

"It was awesome," said Steve Clark of Reading. "It wanted to eat something. We're not really sure about what it wanted to eat but he did grab onto the middle engine."

The fisherman watched and shot the pictures as the great white - estimated at 1,200 to 1,400 pounds - circled their 35 foot boat and snatched away the bag of chum that was hanging off the side.

"She convinced us to leave by grabbing onto the center engine. We did not want to lose a motor that far off shore," Clark said.

The close up video of the great white is getting a big reaction.

James Spencer of Lincoln Delaware reacted to the video by saying, "Can't run nowhere but I would holler help... It lets us know out there in that water it's a totally different world!"

Rich George of Atlantic City Cruises told us, "The wreck is like an underwater hotel and restaurant. There's lots and lots for the shark to feed on. That's why the shark would be out in that area because it's like let's go for lunch."

After seeing the video, Bob Schoelkopf from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center says it's lucky the fisherman didn't become lunch.

Schoelkopf says there are more great white sharks in the ocean because there are more seals for them to feed on, but it's unlikely a great white would make its way to shore.

"To see a great white off the beach would be probably a stretch, I say, but it's not impossible," Schoelkopf explained.

This sighting comes on the heels of a report that shows the great white shark population is surging up and down the East Coast.