JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A massive white shark, the largest ever tagged by OCEARCH in the northwestern Atlantic, has been spotted swimming offshore Jacksonville Beach. This isn’t just any shark; it’s “Contender,” a 13.8-foot, 1,652.8-pound mature male, and he’s swimming well offshore.
Tagged on Jan. 17, 2025, about 45 miles off the Florida/Georgia coast, Contender has been hanging around, cruising south, and recently pinging his location on Wednesday afternoon. He’s been swimming south against the Gulf Stream current, sticking to its western wall.
These species are like the snowbirds of sharks where they typically arrive out in our shelf waters during the winter after migrating from Canadian and New England nearshore coastal habitats during the summer.
This big guy is the largest white shark tagged by Ocearch in the northwest Atlantic and will contribute to vital shark research and ocean conservation. Thanks to a SPOT tag, we’ll be able to track his movements for the next five years, learning more about white shark migration patterns. Scientists have also collected biological samples for analysis.
Contender’s name honors Contender Boats, a key OCEARCH partner. Their boats are essential for these research missions, helping scientists explore and protect our oceans.
Is Contender looking for a friend? Another white shark, “Danny,” a smaller 9.5-foot subadult, was also tagged on the same day. Danny has been spotted a couple of miles offshore of Miami Beach and is swimming south near Elliot Key.