Waihi, New Zealand - As a passionate fisherman, Josh Lonergan has had his fair share of strange animal encounters. But on Monday, the waterman made a catch he will probably never forget.

Lonergan, who has been fishing in New Zealand's Waihi harbor since he was a kid, was trying to catch some fish for his 21st birthday party, he told Stuff.co.nz.

However, upon dawn, the young man noticed what he called "a powerful tug" jerking his fishing rod.

He immediately knew something was off.

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He was right: the next moment, a giant great white shark leapt up, out of the water, and indulged in the feast of fishes Lonergan had prepared for his birthday.

The animal, which was about four feet tall, as the 21-year-old described it, was a little too close for comfort.

But he wasn't afraid of the monster fish, and began teasing the shark with one of his earlier catches. Lonergan filmed the amazing scene and uploaded it to Facebook.

"At around 8pm I was reeling my last trevally and then I felt a powerful tug. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a bronze whaler or a white, so I quickly brought in my lines," he explained.

It wasn't the first shark Lonergan caught, but it was by far the biggest one.

"My old man was reeling in a snapper the other day, and it came right up to the boat, so they’re not shy. I’ve even had one circle my boat in the harbour. It’s pretty scary."

His girlfriend, Holly Manukonga, also came across a baby great white in the area in November last year.

The young New Zealander said the great whites have been a frequent sight this year, which is a good sign that the "harbor is so healthy."