Largest male great white shark 'Contender' returns to waters off Florida's coast in time for Spring break
In recent days, Contender has pinged several times along the Florida coast. The most recent was on Thursday afternoon, in the waters just north of Jacksonville.
Top 'Contender': nonprofit OCEARCH tags largest great white shark on record in Atlantic
Contender, a 14-foot, 1,600 pound adult male great white shark was tagged by OCEARCH in January near the Florida/Georgia line. The nonproft works to research ocean life by tracking their locations throughout their lives.
The Atlantic Ocean's largest male white shark on record is on the move once again, returning to a familiar spot near the Florida/Georgia coastline.
Contender was tagged by OCEARCH in a similar area slightly closer to the coastline in January 2025.
LARGEST SHARK EVER TAGGED BY RESEARCH GROUP SWIMMING OFF THE FLORIDA COAST
Since then, he has traveled up the coast, spending long periods of time around the Carolinas, traveling further north up into Canadian waters, and back south again to the Florida coast.
In recent days, Contender has pinged several times along the Florida coast. The most recent was on Thursday afternoon, in the waters just north of Jacksonville.
Contender's first ping in Jan. 2025 compared to his most recent ping on Thursday, March 19, 2025. (OCEARCH)
At the time of his tagging, Contender was nearly 14 feet long, and estimated to weigh 1,653 pounds, according to OCEARCH.
OCEARCH scientists estimated Contender to be about 32 years old when he was tagged.
Dozens of white sharks like Contender spend their winters and early spring days around Florida in search of food.
NEW RESEARCH FINDS GULF OF AMERICA IS THE IDEAL HABITAT FOR GREAT WHITE SHARKS DURING THE WINTER
Contender, the 14-foot, 1600 pound great white shark on the day he was tagged by OCEARCH in January 2025. (OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
A recent OCEARCH study found that the Gulf of America serves as a regular winter habitat for white sharks migrating thousands of miles from Atlantic Canada and Northeastern U.S.
While Contender has never ventured into the Gulf since being tagged, many of OCEARCH's tagged white sharks have made a recent visit or are there currently.
OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting sharks, whales, sea turtles and other ocean life, tagging these animals to track and study their migration habits and behaviors from afar.
Contender the great white shark being tagged in the Atlantic Ocean. (OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
Stay tuned to see where Contender ventures next, along with more than 475 other ocean animals using OCEARCH's free global shark tracker app.