This is a story about a friendship between a guy and a huge, 70-year-old lobster.

Forrest Galante caught the nearly 12-pound monster off the coast of California. The creature was large enough that it could wrap its arms and legs around Galante's torso.

(PHOTOS: Vintage Fishermen)

Although it would have made an excellent meal, as weather.com's Matt Sampson reports, Galante couldn’t bring himself to boil it. Instead, he named it Albert Girther and took it to the Ty Warner Sea Center where scientists and visitors marveled at his size.

Albert was released back into the ocean on a marine preserve to father more lobsters for years to come.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Don't Eat This Seafood