A school of fisherman got more than they bargained for when they came face-to-face with a white pointer shark this week. Picture: Salty Dog Fishing Charters/Facebook

The Salty Dog Charters in Port Fairy, in the states southwest, were out on a fishing trip on April 5 when they cast their lines, only to have a large shark surface.

In the video posted to the group’s Facebook page, the “massive” white pointer shark was seen circling the boat, occasionally nudging it and nipping at it, and getting dangerously close to the men on board.

Owner operator Daniel Hoey said he wasn’t expecting to see the shark on the expedition, as they were fishing and researching yellowtail kingfish.

“I was a little bit surprised when we did see it,” Mr Hoey said.

A school of fisherman got more than they bargained for when they came face-to-face with a white pointer shark this week. Picture: Salty Dog Fishing Charters/FacebookSource:Facebook

Fishermen near Port Fairy have captured a video of a white pointer shark. Picture: Salty Dog Fishing Charters/FacebookSource:Facebook

“We were out there searching for yellowtail kingfish, and to do some research work to put some satellite tags in them, and this shark turned up and hung around.

Mr Hoey said the persistent, hungry shark could smell the bait under the boat meant for the yellowtail kingfish.

The video shows the fishermen calmly swatting the shark away with a red broom, but it persisted, and returned to the boat’s edge half a dozen times.

And when asked why he used the red broom, Mr Hoey said: “It’s just an easy piece of equipment to push them away from the motor so they don’t bite it.”

He maintained the broom did not hurt the shark, but kept it away from damaging the boat.

“They’re a little bit unnerving. We weren’t scared, but a little unnerved,” he said.

The video has already been viewed more than 7500 times.