‘Jaws’ is real: world’s largest great white shark found in US coastal waters
A huge Great White Shark has been spotted off the coast of the United States.
In early 2025, OCEARCH, a marine research non‑profit, found and tagged a massive male great white shark off the Florida–Georgia coast near Jacksonville. Measuring approximately 14 feet in length and weighing around 1,600 pounds, Contender is the largest great white male ever tagged in the Atlantic Ocean.
Since the January tagging, Contender has been tracked via satellite when its dorsal fin breaks the water. After moving north from Florida through South Carolina, a satellite ping on June 11, 2025, placed the shark about 22 miles offshore from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
This appearance aligns with the species’ typical spring–summer migration, moving from warmer southern overwintering areas to cooler, prey-rich regions along the mid‑Atlantic U.S. and up to Atlantic Canada; such accurate location data is incredibly valuable to scientists studying the fascinating beasts.
Humans more of a threat to life than sharks
Despite the hype around Contender, sharks are not worth worrying about, and certainly shouldn’t be feared. The film ‘Jaws’ did a lot to damage the reputation of these colossal apex predators, who simply enjoy swimming around and eating seals.
Sharks don’t want to eat humans, we don’t even taste that good, which is why you never hear of a shark eating an entire human body. They only take a bite to test what you are, as they don’t have hands to tickle, and promptly swim off when they realise we’re all skin and bones and not full of juicy sea lion fat.
These fascinating creatures are, however, under threat of extinction thanks to humankind, who hunt them in huge numbers and drop their finless bodies to the bottom of the sea in what might be the single cruellest act ever recorded.
On balance, sharks are nothing to worry about - they don’t want to eat you. Instead, worry about orcas: they eat great whites for breakfast.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment