The biggest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic isn’t lurking in some far-off trench—it’s cruising just off the coast of North Carolina, near where families are boogie-boarding, kayaking, and casually floating on pool noodles.
The 14-foot, 1,653-pound shark, nicknamed Contender, was first tagged by OCEARCH in January near the Florida-Georgia line. He disappeared from the radar for nearly a month—normal for tagged sharks since signals only transmit when the dorsal fin breaks the surface. But this week, he popped back up near Pamlico Sound, a favorite summer destination for tourists—and apparently, for apex predators enjoying a seafood buffet.
“This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration…from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada,” said Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH’s chief scientist and veterinarian.
Largest Great White Shark Ever Recorded Is Headed for a Tourist Hotspot
Contender’s brief detour off the Outer Banks probably means he’s feeding—aggressively. “We often see the sharks…spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north,” Newton explained. Researchers believe this is a critical pit stop to build energy reserves for a 1,000-mile trek.
At around 30 years old, Contender is considered a fully mature male, and his tagging was part of a larger OCEARCH expedition to track massive marine life in real-time. After collecting biological samples and attaching a satellite tag to his dorsal fin, the team can now monitor his movements every time he comes up for air—giving both scientists and the public a rare look into his cross-ocean travels.
Beyond the spectacle, the data has real value. It helps scientists identify feeding zones, document shifting migration patterns, and push for smarter conservation policies. Great whites play a major role in balancing marine ecosystems, but they’re facing mounting threats from climate change, overfishing, and disappearing habitat.
Contender might not be hunting swimmers. But he is out there—over a ton of ancient instinct and teeth, slipping through some of the most popular surf in the country. And this is exactly why I only go up to my waist in the ocean.
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