Record-Setting Great White Shark Spotted Off North Carolina Coast

Contender, the largest male great white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH, has been detected off the coast of Wilmington.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The massive great white shark named Contender, weighing in at almost 1,700 pounds, has been detected swimming about 45 miles southeast of Cape Fear near Wilmington, North Carolina. Contender is the largest male great white shark that OCEARCH has ever tagged in the Western North Atlantic, and his real-time location data is being used to support ongoing white shark research and conservation efforts.

Why it matters

The sighting of Contender, a record-setting great white shark, highlights the importance of shark tracking and research to better understand the movements and behaviors of these apex predators. This data can inform conservation efforts and help protect both sharks and humans in coastal areas.

The details

Contender was tagged by OCEARCH last year off the Florida/Georgia coast, and he has since been detected swimming along the coasts of Canada, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and now North Carolina. OCEARCH noted that Contender's SPOT tag will continue transmitting his real-time location data for several more years, aiding their ongoing white shark research and conservation work.

  • On February 8, 2026, Contender was detected about 45 miles southeast of Cape Fear, near Wilmington, North Carolina.
  • Contender was originally tagged by OCEARCH off the Florida/Georgia coast in 2025.

The players

Contender

A nearly 1,700-pound male great white shark, the largest ever tagged by OCEARCH in the Western North Atlantic.

OCEARCH

A non-profit organization that conducts research and tracking of sharks and other marine life to support conservation efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Contender's SPOT tag will continue providing real-time location data for the next several years, supporting ongoing white shark research and conservation efforts.”

— OCEARCH (Instagram)

What’s next

OCEARCH will continue to monitor Contender's movements and share real-time location data to aid in white shark research and conservation.

The takeaway

The sighting of the record-setting great white shark Contender off the North Carolina coast underscores the value of shark tracking programs like OCEARCH's, which provide critical data to support the protection and understanding of these important apex predators.