The ocean just got a little more thrilling—and a bit more intimidating. Off the coast of North Carolina, not far from where families splash and relax, one of the largest great white sharks ever recorded in the Atlantic has been spotted. Imagine sharing the waves with a 14-foot, 1,653-pound giant quietly cruising nearby. This impressive predator isn’t just swimming randomly; it’s on a well-known migration path that brings it close to human playgrounds every year.
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The shark, affectionately named Contender, was first tagged back in January near the Florida-Georgia border by the marine research group OCEARCH. For nearly a month, Contender vanished from satellite view—something that happens often because the tracking tag only sends signals when the shark’s dorsal fin breaks the water. But recently, Contender reappeared near Pamlico Sound, a hotspot where summer travelers often kayak, boogie board, and relax in the sun.
Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH’s chief scientist and veterinarian, explained that great whites are starting their late spring and early summer migration. They travel from a warm southern area where they spend the winter to their summer feeding grounds in the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada. This journey can cover up to 1,000 miles, with stops like the Outer Banks serving as important pit stops to build energy.
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Tracking the massive shark’s journey and feeding habits
Tracking Contender gives us a unique glimpse into the life of a magnificent ocean predator. At around 30 years old, Contender is a fully grown male. After tagging him, scientists have been able to collect biological data and follow his version of a cross-country road trip through the ocean. These movements are not random—Contender is feeding voraciously off the Outer Banks, preparing for the next leg of his migration.
Research shows these stops are critical. The shark likely feeds heavily on local marine life to gain the fat and energy needed for the journey north. For those of us who love the beach, this is a reminder of the wild world that shares our favorite water spots. While it’s rare to have any danger with humans, it’s a good moment to respect the ocean’s natural residents.
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More than just an impressive spectacle, tracking giant sharks like Contender serves a vital purpose. Data collected by OCEARCH and other organizations help scientists understand where sharks feed, how their migration patterns are shifting—especially with changing ocean temperatures—and what threats they face. Overfishing, climate change, and habitat loss all threaten these apex predators.
Great white sharks play an essential role in marine ecosystems by keeping populations of other species balanced and healthy. When you realize that a creature as massive as Contender is swimming just off shore, balancing both curiosity and caution is key. For me, this has changed how I interact with the ocean—I now make a point to never go deeper than waist-level in unfamiliar waters.
Have you ever had an unexpected wildlife encounter that made you rethink your routine? What would you do if you spotted a giant shark nearby while enjoying the beach? Share your thoughts below, and don’t forget to pass this story along to anyone who loves the ocean or thrilling wildlife tales. Let’s keep the conversation going and deepen our respect for the incredible creatures in our waters.
Hopefully its Dover and surround areas
Deep blue is 20 feet and 4500lbs, contender is large but no where near the largest ever recorded
Correct I have seen great white sharks 20 ft long. We almost ran one over up in Jersey about 30 years ago it was just lumbering on the surface we were in a very slow swedish made diesel boat fishing and we damn near ran over the thing that was really scary. No question the size it was almost as big as our boat which was 26 ft.
The largest recording shark in history was 20 feet long. And this shark has rarely been seen. You are not correct.
Last I read of him he was described as the largest male in the north Atlantic. Deep Blue patrols the Pacific and she’s usually spotted around Hawaii. Yes she is longer than twenty feet but seems to have given up on eating people, you pay your money, you take your chance. Contender is well named for a male.
Recorded in the Atlantic
You’re talking about deep blue That is a Pacific great white not an Atlantic great white
This is the largest male shark ever recorded. They should say that.
Wow that’s cool… hey at least he left y’all alone… don’t bother them, they won’t bother you….. ( hopefully) lol 😆 I am actually living very very close to said “contender” ,good thing I’m not a really big fan of swimming in the ocean BBBUUTTTT….I actually do work in the topsail sound collecting class and oysters for a living… good thing I go out during low tide.. not that he’ll be swimming in the inlet areas… but you never know what’s out there really, I came across a dead jellyfish one day during low tide .. it was just floating around in the shallow grassy marsh area… very creepy 😳 glad I didn’t “bump” into it …. anyways I’m definitely gonna keep an extra eye out while I’m working out there on the water…. because jellyfish don’t really swim around the islands either and he ended up out here so u never know!
I grew up & still live in Florida. We have gators swimming, close to shore, in the Atlantic. I stopped going into the ocean nearly 13 years ago. I had to. I had bad knees & each wave that hit my knees felt like a ball bat hitting them. Although, now, they’re titanium, I’ll still swim in a cement pond! 😂! I do, however, love the sun rise and sunset photos that I take.
I think you’re going to need a bigger boat !
With the size of the ocean it’s impossible to know what’s out there.
Avg human is less than 6 feet yet freaks exist over 7 feet.
Anything is possible
You are absolutely right !
Not a freak just an extreamly tall person! I’m standing at 7 ft 4 inches!
You tell em brother,some people just don’t know when to keep silent
WHY OH WHY??
I am totally amazed that you can string words together at all as you sound like an almost perfect neanderthal!
I cannot understand why you think it is perfectly acceptable to call tall people “freaks”. I can’t make up my mind if you are:
A. Jealous as you are a short male, and the 7 feet tall basketball players earn a fortune.
B. Little man syndrome where you’re shooting your mouth off like a tiny dog at a Great Dane.
OR..
C. A mixture of all three who is always angry, surly, and think that you are always right. You will either already have or will probably soon get a stomach ulcer. Probably lost your hair to male pattern baldness too. However, I’m damn sure that “Contender” at 14 feet long, and well over 1500 pounds won’t care, that you think he is a double freak at 14ft. You will care if you are in his sights and he is really hungry because of human greed illegally over fishing so there is nothing left for anyone else..
Do yourself a favour and learn about the needs of others on this planet, and that in the scheme of things you are just one tiny part, an ant if you will, just like me.
Yes! Thank you. Why is it so hard to post factual information these days.
I believe it’s the largest male great white as females are larger
She mainly keeps to the Baja peninsula and Pacific ocean. All the articles that have been released lately specified the largest male species in the Atlantic. I’m sure a shark of either size probably feels free enough to roam any where it pleases. But generally speaking.
Has deep blue been spotted recently?
Contender is the largest tracked in the Atlantic Ocean, the big girl roams the Pacific.
Contender is a male!
Males are generally smaller than females.
Deep Blue is a female approximately 20 ft and 5500 lbs.
Contender is the largest great white in Atlantic Ocean. Deep Blue isn’t in the Atlantic. So Contender is the largest in the Atlantic.
So tehy are not going to say how big he is…..thats all I wanted to know.
14 ft and over 1600lbs
Not even close for the biggest. In 1976 I saw a 3200 lb, 18 footer caught (harpooned) off anacapa island, Ca
Article says largest recorded in the Atlantic.
Wow must have been a sight!
That’s so sad why do this to these majestic creatures
My feeling is let someone get killed by one of these great whites The Atlantic is becoming a hotspot so many great whites out there because of the moratorium on them they’re going to have to have hunting season soon
Atta boy ,,you tell em,some people just don’t know when to keep silent
A friend and I where swimming off one of the Florida keys treading water when Ray spun half way around. He looked wide eyed and exclaimed something big had rubbed up against him. At about this same time a Bubble helicopter came cruising up the shoreline and started circling us with a man pointing down at the water. The sun was setting, so you couldn’t see down into the water. I realized we where being circled by sharks. I turned to Ray but he was a hundred feet away and moving fast for the shore. Yeah”. When in doubt? Leave your buddy to the sharks! Oh’ by the way, I beet him to the shoreline.
The last information i had seen on deep blue was that she was 21 or 22 feet long and she was seen off the coast of Hawaii feeding on a dead whale carcass .
Saw that same show about deep blue, amazing her size.
Her girth is amazing. She’s one big Shark that’s for sure.
These creatures are still far more intelligent and less cruel than the filthy Nazi Zionists of Israel and it’s allies. Those horrible humanoid deliberately wipe out generations of innocent Palestinian civilians causing their Holocaust.
Keep to animals not idiots
Sorry weren’t replying to you was person above you
I understand where you are comeing from as its sad innocent pepole ard being killed but this is about sharks not politics
I understand where you are comeing from as its sad innocent pepole ard being killed but this is about sharks not politics understand your comment as it wrong but this is a page about sharks not politics
You are a pathetic excuse for a human being and it’s sad that you’d taint this post with that hate. The ones you are against will crush you and all the losers that share your same views, like Worms.
Couldn’t agree more!
The problem ~ we’re now saving the sharks but NOT what they eat.
Too many now searching close to shore. (And taking bites!)
It’s their home not ours so yes they should be protected as they play a big part in our survival due to theeco system
Going in the water waist level is not going to help you; the only way not to get a shark around you is to not get in the water – they can get to ankle high and they swim at an average of 5 mph when they are just cruising, but they can get between 12 and 60 mph for “short” distances depending on the species. People have no idea how many times they have been close to a shark; just because you don’t see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there, and at that point you are either lucky that it was just curious or you are it. If you want to change your habits because of sharks, I suggest the bath tub 😆
I have personally seen GW’s bigger than that in the Norfolk Canyon. Measure them, take film and pictures. Be amazed. Shark haters depress me. American idiots say “be scared “. Why? Just be grateful that they are only doing what they are supposed to be doing.
When I was younger we swam way above our heads .I grew up in Bethany Beach Delaware we always were in the ocean we had no fear even after seeing Jaws .I’m now 57 not 12 .I swim only in pools .The ocean is there home ! And the oceans are not they used to be! So I’m not going to be visiting there home anymore!! Happy hunting sharks
Shark bites, your by by baby!
I see a lot of people cannot read. Article states largest shark in the Atlantic.
I do not swim anything I cannot see the bottom.
Exactly if it isn’t Crystal clear in not gonna be no where near!
I used to live in Florida and after seeing Jaws (don’t laugh) I never went in the water above my knees. I do love nature and that’s his home not ours, just be respectful of his territory.
I hate to disappoint the writer of this article but Contender is not the largest great white shark ever recorded. A female named Deep Blue is 22 feet long and weighs approximately 2.5 tons (5000 pounds). She is 60 years old and is very active, having been spotted at Guadeloupe, Mexico and Oahu, Hawaii. Videos of her show her swimming calmly with divers, even allowing them to touch her. She is said to be peaceful and non aggressive towards humans and dolphins. She was first documented in the late 1990s. She was filmed for shark week in 2013.
Aside from Deep Blue there are several great whites larger than Contender. Haole Girl swims around Hawaii (could be related to Deep Blue) and is recorded to be roughly 20 feet. The Submarine (yes that’s his actual name) lives off California and measures roughly 21 feet. Colussus is off the South Africa coast, is 18 feet long and has been featured on Discovery Channel Air Jaws doing amazing breaches. He is still spotted around South Africa but it is rare since he rarely breaches now. There’s also Brutus that lives in the Gulf of MEXICO (not the Gulf of America no matter how much a certain president might wish it to be) and is about 19 feet long. Ironbound is another Atlantic shark and is 17 feet long Ghost lives off the Oregon coast and is about 18 feet.
I knew some of this already but for what I didn’t it took a 20 minute Google search to get the facts. Contender isn’t even in the top 20. The author of the article should have actually done half an hour of research.
Article said in “the Atlantic ocean”!! Omg ppl get it right..read the article, very carefully and then you’ll see…ever recorded in the Atlantic ocean
Well in the first paragraph he stated that it’s largest ever recorded in the Atlantic ocean? I guess some people don’t read well? It would’ve took you 2 seconds to read that instead of Googling.
We only hear about the ones they’ve tagged. How many more are making the same trek? Could be hundreds. I would like to see more Great Whites tagged and researched. More data is needed to better understand them. It would be nice to know population fluctuations, changes in migratory paths, etc.. Much has been learned, but there is so much more to be learned.
Please, keep us informed about “Contenders” progress on his road trip 2025.
There are a large number of shark attacks recorded that occurred in three feet water depth, hip to waist deep.
I’m not taking any chances anymore. Swimming pools only. I don’t even want to go on a boat ride on the ocean. Larger numbers of sharks, less natural food, no thanks, that’s their restaurant. I don’t want to be on the menu.
He’d look great on my wall.
Frank Mundas in Montauk Long Island caught the biggest shark many 3200 at 18 ft it was feeding on a dead whale he got the smallest one there were several ones there that’s what gave Steven steelburg the idea of jaws so now it hangs at the dock there
I’m sorry but this is a lie suey is the biggest great white ever recorded right now over 20ft and over 4k plus pounds was seen afew years back one mile off the coast of Daytona beach. I know cause I was fishing off sunglow pier when the report came in for beach people to clear out the water of swimmer until she left the area