'Beautiful and unique' shark species steals fishermens' catch off Rhode Island

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Scientists have been astounded with footage captured by fishermen of a rare shark encounter off the US coast.

Three fishermen were attempting to catch cod off Block Island in Rhode Island when they felt a tug on their line.

Video, shared today by the Atlantic Shark Institute, shows a large shark surfacing and snapping at the fish on their line.

A large shadow was seen below the water before the shark surfaced. (Atlantic Shark Institute)

"Valerie Preler, Chris Littlefield and Chris Blansfield were fishing for cod off Block Island, RI in May when the cod they were fighting got about 100 times heavier," the Institute said on social media.

"They soon realized they were also fighting a porbeagle shark," it wrote, explaining the species' population is decreasing as it's listed as vulnerable.

"Here, most of the cod was devoured and the shark came back for the last remaining piece."

In an incredible moment the porbeagle shark locked eyes with those on the boat, before swallowing their catch. (Atlantic Shark Institute )

The Atlantic Shark Institute said the species is a special research subject.

"Porbeagle sharks love these groundfish and often can't resist a fish in distress, and the tiny vibrations they put off when fighting on a line.

"(They're) one of the most beautiful and unique sharks we are researching here at the Atlantic Shark Institute."

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They are found in cool and temperature waters in the North Atlantic and in a band of temperate water in the southern Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean, southern Pacific, and Antarctic Oceans.

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