Four fishermen were caught by surprise when they spotted the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world -- the giant Pacific leatherback -- along the Oregon Coast, wildlife experts said Thursday.

The rare leatherback turtle seen by 4 lucky fisherman off the Oregon Coast.

“This turtle was huge,” said Tim Helmandollar, who was fishing off his friend’s boat.

The fishermen immediately pulled in their fishing gear and sat quietly, watching the elusive creature.

“The turtle was calmly munching away on a giant jellyfish, every now and then raising its head to look in our direction, oftentimes with a big piece of jellyfish hanging out of its mouth,” Helmandollar said.

The turtle was estimated to be between 7 and 8 feet long.

Pacific Leatherback sea turtles are frequent but elusive visitors to the Oregon coast between August and November each year. They travel more than 6,000 miles from the nesting beaches of Indonesia to feast on jellyfish in the Northwest.

They are considered on the brink of extinction; their numbers have dwindled from an estimated 90,000 in 1980 to recent reports estimating that only 2,500 to 5,000 remain today.

“The Oregon coast is considered a very important habitat area for the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle,” said Karen Steele, Campaign Coordinator for the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, an international organization dedicated to the protection of sea turtles.

“Although we know they frequent the Oregon coast, it is indeed a rare privilege to see one, as they spend all their time in the water eating jellyfish, never venturing on shore while they are here,” she said.

Leatherback sea turtles have been known to grow up to 9 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds.

Helmandollar and his friends were competing in the Oregon Tuna Classic off the coast of Garibaldi on Saturday when they sighted the turtle.

“It was one of the most amazing creatures I have ever seen,” Helmandollar said.