Largest male great white shark 'Contender' returns to Florida waters

The massive 14-foot, 1,653-pound shark has been tracked traveling up and down the East Coast.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Atlantic Ocean's largest male white shark on record, nicknamed 'Contender', has returned to the waters off the coast of Florida. Contender was tagged by the nonprofit OCEARCH in 2025 and has since been tracked traveling up and down the East Coast, spending time in the Carolinas and as far north as Canada before making his way back south to Florida.

Why it matters

Contender's movements provide valuable data to OCEARCH's research on white shark migration patterns and behaviors. His return to Florida's waters also coincides with spring break, raising awareness about the presence of large sharks in popular beach destinations.

The details

Contender was tagged by OCEARCH in January 2025 when he was nearly 14 feet long and estimated to weigh 1,653 pounds. Since then, he has traveled up the East Coast, spending extended periods around the Carolinas and as far north as Canada, before making his way back down to the Florida/Georgia coastline. In recent days, Contender has been detected pinging along the Florida coast, with the most recent ping occurring on Thursday just north of Jacksonville.

  • Contender was tagged by OCEARCH in January 2025.
  • Contender has been tracked traveling up and down the East Coast since his initial tagging.
  • Contender's most recent ping was detected on Thursday afternoon in the waters north of Jacksonville, Florida.

The players

Contender

The largest male great white shark on record in the Atlantic Ocean, measuring nearly 14 feet long and weighing around 1,653 pounds.

OCEARCH

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.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

OCEARCH will continue to monitor Contender's movements and provide updates on his location and migration patterns.

The takeaway

Contender's return to Florida's waters highlights the importance of OCEARCH's research and the need to better understand the behaviors and habitats of large predatory sharks like the great white. As spring break approaches, his presence also serves as a reminder for beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings and the potential risks posed by these powerful ocean predators.