A crew of anglers sailing off the coast of the US state of Maryland got a 'once in a lifetime' thrill in a close encounter with an 18-ft long Great White Shark - that seemed just as interested in them

A fishing boat crew captured the moment a massive Great White shark clamped its teeth on their vessel.

A group of thrilled anglers filmed as the shark circled their boat off the coast of the US state of Maryland.

The fishing crew captured the encounter on their phones as they baited for catch off the coast of Ocean City on Monday.

The apex predator, thought to be an 18ft female, can be seen in the footage cruising around the boat, seemingly inspecting the strange object as its crew aboard watch in awe.

All of the anglers started filming as the shark approached their small boat.

They can they be heard in the footage excitedly guessing the giant fin slicing towards them belongs to a Great White.

The shark surfaces closer to the boat, giving them a flash of its telltale white belly and confirming its species.

The crew marvel at the size of the “absolutely ginormous” shark, saying, "look at that thing, holy crap."

"That is a fat fish," exclaims another.

"Let's not let him eat any bait," warns another.

The crew film the shark for several minutes, admiring the predator as it cruises close to the surface enabling them to get a good look at its flanks and huge dorsal fin.

The Great White makes a beeline for the bow then disappears under the vessel, as someone shouts at the fish not to hit the boat with its dorsal fin.

The shark emerges, and the crew get a closer look at just how big it is.

"I'm zoomed all the way out and I can't get him in the whole camera lens," the man filming delightedly tells his mates.

One crewman can be heard to stay: "You don't see that in an aquarium."

A fisher lowers bit the water and the crew holler in anticipation, as the shark bares its rows of sharp teeth and slowly zeroes in for a chomp.

It opens its jaws around the bait dangling just inches from their friend's hands - and appears to miss.

It then swims back under the boat, as the fishers aboard shout "don't bite the boat, don't bite the boat."

The shark surfaces at the other side and briefly clamps its jaws on the boat as the crew laugh.

The anglers told a local news network the shark circled the boat for around 15 minutes.

"She showed up and every bit of 15- to 18-foot long, 2,000 to 3,000 pounds – just a massive animal,” Steven White, who recorded the footage, told Baltimore NBC affiliate WBAL TV according to Trade Only Today.

The ferocious Great White is one of the most dangerous shark species to humans, and can grow up to 20ft in length.

But the species, which is one of the most important ocean predators and sits at the top of the food chain- is considered vulnerable, and is widely protected.

The anglers were thrilled at their close encounter.

“What an incredible experience to be on that boat,” Jennie Janssen, who works with the Baltimore Aquarium, said.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Mr White confirmed.