Fisherman reaches out to touch 16-foot whale shark's head

ST. GEORGE ISLAND, Fla., July 11 (UPI) -- A massive whale shark estimated to be 16 feet long was filmed approaching a fishing boat in Florida and allowing a man to touch its head.

The video, filmed June 21 about 14 miles off the coast of Florida's St. George Island, shows the massive shark approach the boat where the filmer and his family were fishing.

"My family and I were fishing about 14 miles off the coast of St. George Island, Florida, when a giant whale shark approached the boat," the man wrote.

"The shark was about 16 feet long. I was able to reach out and touch its head when it came close."