A 7News crew was aboard a boat Thursday and got up close with a 15-foot great white shark off the coast of Cape Cod.

It’s been the summer of the shark, but we haven't seen anything like this.

A team of researchers managed to catch up with a great white and 7’s Tim Caputo was there.

“It was remarkable, and I realized, if you ever want to see a great white from that close, it's nice to be out of the water,” Caputo said. “The sheer size of the shark was awe-inspiring. What these researchers accomplished is just as impressive.

It was a great white like you've never seen before.

A group of researchers caught a 15-foot shark just miles from Cape Cod.

“I was shaking a bit, I’ve blood sampled a lot of fish, but nothing like this,” said one crew member.

All summer, sharks have been popping up close to beaches in New England — a man was even attacked in Truro. A dozen other great whites have been tagged this year — and we've all seen the photos.

The sharks are poked with long harpoons, but a great white has never left the water — until now — and 7’s Tim Caputo was the only local reporter on board when it happened.

You’ll see more of the historic catch tonight at 11.

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox