The largest male great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has been tracked migrating down the East Coast and was recently pinged just miles off New Jersey’s coastline, showcasing nature’s incredible power in our coastal waters.
Story Highlights
- Contender, a 1,653-pound, 13-foot great white shark, was pinged off Atlantic City on November 11, 2025.
- The 32-year-old apex predator has been tracked as it migrates from Florida to Canada and back since January 2025.
- OCEARCH scientists use satellite tracking to study great white migration patterns in the Western North Atlantic.
- The massive shark is likely heading back to Florida’s warmer waters for the winter feeding season.
Record-Breaking Atlantic Predator Returns to US Waters
Contender, an adult male great white shark weighing 1,653 pounds and measuring 13 feet long, was pinged several miles off Atlantic City, New Jersey on November 11, 2025. The massive predator represents the largest male great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
OCEARCH, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to tracking marine giants and studying ocean ecosystems, originally tagged Contender in January 2025 off the Florida-Georgia coastline. Scientists estimate the apex predator to be approximately 32 years old based on its size and characteristics.
🦈 ON THE MOVE: Contender, the largest male white shark recorded in the Atlantic Ocean is on the move once again. He was pinged last night off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Where will he show up next? https://t.co/WDpu4hiSbf
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) November 13, 2025
Extensive Migration Pattern Reveals Shark Behavior
Since his initial tagging in early 2025, Contender has demonstrated remarkable migration patterns throughout the Western North Atlantic. The shark traveled from Florida’s coast northward through the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he remained from April through mid-June 2025.
During this period, he was pinged approximately 22 miles off Cape Hatteras in June. Contender continued his northern journey, reaching Massachusetts waters by mid-July 2025, before eventually arriving in Canadian waters near Quebec’s Pointe-Parent region by late September 2025.
Advanced Satellite Tracking Technology Monitors Ocean Giants
OCEARCH utilizes sophisticated Argos satellite technology to monitor Contender’s movements across thousands of miles of ocean. For researchers to receive a ping indicating the shark’s location, Contender’s dorsal fin must break the water’s surface while an Argos satellite passes overhead to record its coordinates.
This tracking method provides scientists with crucial data points to understand the migration behavior of great white sharks in the Western North Atlantic. The organization emphasizes that each ping contributes valuable information to the ongoing puzzle of white shark migration patterns in these waters.
Seasonal Migration Points Toward Winter Feeding Grounds
Between October 27-29, 2025, Contender was pinged multiple times as he began his southward migration from Canadian waters back toward the United States. This timing aligns with typical fall migration patterns for great white sharks seeking warmer waters and abundant food sources.
Scientists believe Contender is most likely heading back to Florida’s coastal waters, where higher temperatures and diverse marine life provide optimal conditions for winter feeding. His recent appearance off New Jersey indicates he is following established migration routes that Atlantic great whites have used for generations.
