This is the stunning moment a giant Pacific octopus was caught and then released on a half-day sport fishing trip out of Redondo Beach, California on June 16.

Weighing over 50lbs, it was caught on a strip of mackerel while people aboard the 65 x 25ft Redondo Special boat were fishing for rockfish. The reddish-brown octopus then proceeded to do a bit of exploring around the vessel.

“Look at that dude, crazy!” a man is heard saying in the video.

"That was awesome, huh. They’re so majestic!" says another.

"I’ve been coming out here 20 years, never seen that!” one man says.

Megan Montes captured this amazing moment and later told Newsflare: "It was caught by a fisherman on the boat, we were fishing for rock cod in 200-plus feet of water and this was a surprise catch. Typically if we do catch octopus they are the smaller species.

"The giant Pacific octopus is a rare catch for us in Southern California, they are more often seen in colder waters north of where we fish."

In the end, a man on the boat opens a gate and the octopus slithers off back into the sea.

The giant Pacific octopus is among the largest and longest-lived octopus species. According to National Geographic, the record size is held by a specimen that was 30 feet across and weighed more than 600 pounds. The average size and weight is 16 feet and 110 lbs.

Giant Pacific Octopus caught on a half-day sportfishing boat the Redondo Special out of Redondo Beach, California. Weighing over 50lbs, it was caught on a strip of mackerel while fishing for rockfish and safely released after some exploring of the vessel.

Megan Montes captured this amazing moment: "It was caught by a fisherman on the boat, we were fishing for rock cod in 200+ feet of water and this was a surprise catch. Typically if we do catch Octopus they are the smaller species. The Giant Pacific Octopus is a rare catch for us in Southern California, they are more often seen in colder waters north of where we fish."