The Largest Great White Ever Recorded in the Atlantic Ocean Is Migrating to This Popular Vacation Destination

It’s summertime, and both people and sharks are headed to North Carolina to soak up the tropical sun. One great white shark in particular, however, towers over the others en route to the state’s sunny shores.

His name is Contender. At nearly 14 feet long, he is the largest mature male great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. The OCEARCH Shark Tracker first tagged this behemoth in January, about 45 miles off the coast shared by Florida and Georgia. Researchers kept eyes on Contender until mid-May, when his signal went quiet for several weeks.

Contender Resurfaces

On June 7, 2025, Contender showed his face. According to the OCEARCH Shark Tracker, Contender resurfaced near North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound. Considering this is one of the most popular destinations for summer tourists on the east coast, people are rightfully concerned.

Researchers believe this sizeable shark disappeared off the map to undergo a critical feeding period. This period would help him build up his energy reserves for a long-distance journey north. According to OCEARCH’s chief scientist and veterinarian, Harley Newton, speaking to Men’s Journal, it’s a common pattern for sharks during this time of year. “White sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration (May 16 to June 30), moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada,” Newton told the outlet.

Newton added that white sharks often linger around the Outer Banks, between Virginia and North Carolina, in the early summer months. He believes that there may be plentiful food resources in the area. This gives white sharks a chance to bulk up before they make potentially 1,000-mile journeys north.

OCEARCH Observations

Thanks to innovations in technology, sharks like Contender can now be tracked consistently. This not only keeps beachgoers safe, but it also helps scientists understand shark movement and behavior. Leading this charge is OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that conducts impressive research regarding sharks in the oceans. By collecting previously unattainable data, OCEARCH aims to instigate “the ocean’s return to balance and abundance.”

The organization manages to track sharks like Contender through the use of SPOT trackers, “highly versatile location trackers built for rugged marine applications.” These trackers monitor shark movement and activity. Data gleaned from tracking allows researchers at OCEARCH to not only keep an eye on sharks, but also allows them to protect other marine animals. A glance at the organization’s interactive tracking map reveals the breadth of data available.

Considering that Contender is the largest mature male great white shark recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, OCEARCH closely monitors his activity as he travels up and down the east coast. At 13.8 feet long and with an estimated weight of 1,653 pounds, Contender dwarfs even rival great white sharks. According to the OCEARCH website, he’s named after Contender Boats, a longtime OCEARCH partner whose fleet of sport fishing and leisure boats helps the non-profit spot, tag, and track various sharks.

Sharks in the Water

The newfound ability to track sharks gives people a better chance of avoiding them. The more sharks OCEARCH tracks, the better we can understand and anticipate their movements. OCEARCH seeks to restore balance to the ocean, but its data could also help prevent future shark attacks in regions where they are common.

While shark attacks in the U.S. reportedly dropped last year, these incidents still affect beachgoers and swimmers. In 2024, a relatively quiet year for shark incidents, there were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the United States. 14 of those attacks occurred in Florida, with 5 occurring in North Carolina and 1 in South Carolina.

Considering this is the area where Contender was last spotted, OCEARCH is doing a public service by collecting shark movement data. The more data acquired, the better chance people have of avoiding a dangerous, even deadly, shark incident.