A 1,700-Pound Great White Is Lurking 6 Miles Off Florida's Coast Right Now

Spring break crowds aren't the only ones flocking to Florida's coastline this month. A massive great white shark named Contender, the largest mature male ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, has shown up just off the shore of St. Augustine, Florida, giving researchers and beachgoers plenty to talk about.

Contender's most recent tracking signal placed him roughly six miles off the coast of St. Augustine, a historic beach city on Florida's northeast shore and a popular destination for spring travelers. The timing of his arrival, on March 12, lines up with what marine scientists believe could be a critical period for great white shark reproduction.

Meet Contender

Researchers with OCEARCH, a global marine research nonprofit, tagged Contender on January 17, 2025, off the Florida-Georgia border. At nearly 14 feet long and weighing approximately 1,700 pounds, he holds the record as the largest mature male great white shark OCEARCH has ever tagged in the Atlantic. Scientists estimate he is around 32 years old, meaning he is in the early stages of his reproductive life.

"Contender has become a pretty famous shark, in part because he's the largest mature male that OCEARCH has ever tagged," said John P. Tyminski, senior data scientist at OCEARCH. "He's shown very interesting movements."