In a remarkable marine observation, the largest male great white shark ever documented has been detected swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. This colossal predator, named Contender, weighs an impressive 1,700 pounds and measures 13.8 feet in length. His presence was recorded approximately 45 miles off the coast of North Carolina, near the renowned Cape Fear area, according to data from his OREACH tracking tag.
A Seasonal Journey Northward
Contender is currently migrating northwards after spending several months in the warmer coastal waters of Florida. He was originally tagged in January 2025 and has since embarked on an extensive journey along the eastern seaboard. This is not his first visit to North Carolina; during the spring of 2025, he frequently inhabited the state's temperate waters before continuing his northward trek to Canada in the autumn months.
Tracking the Movements of a Giant
The shark's tracking data reveals a broad range of movement, with pings recorded as far south as Vero Beach in Florida and as far north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada. Contender appears to follow a seasonal pattern, preferring the Sunshine State's warmer waters during the summer and winter, while using the spring and autumn to explore new regions of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Fear is widely recognized as a hotspot for shark activity, featuring nearby Shark Tooth Island. While the area typically hosts smaller shark species such as blacktip, bonnethead, smooth dogfish, and sandbar sharks, great whites like Contender are also occasional visitors. Notably, other great white sharks, including Nori and Cayo, have been detected in the vicinity recently, with Nori pinging closer to shore just a day before Contender's appearance.
The Naming and Research Behind Contender
The hefty shark was named in honour of Contender Boats, a long-standing partner of the OREACH research organisation. OREACH utilises these boats for its marine research missions, highlighting the collaboration between scientific study and maritime technology. Despite his record size among male great whites, Contender is still several feet shorter than his famous female counterpart, Deep Blue, who measures 20 feet in length.
Comparing Ocean Giants
Deep Blue, first spotted off the coast of Mexico in 2013 and later near Hawaii in 2019, where she was photographed feeding on a whale carcass, represents the upper echelons of great white shark size. Both Contender and Deep Blue are considered outliers within their species, as most white sharks are significantly smaller than these iconic predators.
This sighting underscores the ongoing importance of marine research and tracking initiatives in understanding the migratory patterns and behaviours of these majestic creatures. As Contender continues his journey, scientists and enthusiasts alike will be monitoring his movements with keen interest.
