1.7K-Pound Great White Cruises by Outer Banks

Vacationers on North Carolina's Outer Banks were present for a record-breaking visit, though they didn't know it at the time. A 14-foot, nearly 1,700-pound male great white named "Contender" briefly triggered his satellite tag there Thursday, marking a pass-by from the largest male white shark ever tagged in the western North Atlantic, according to research group Ocearch. The ping wasn't long enough to nail down an exact spot, the Independent reports, but scientists say he's probably pushing north on his usual summer route.

White sharks in that part of the Atlantic typically head for cooler, prey-rich waters off Cape Cod and Atlantic Canada, drawn by seals and large fish like menhaden. Contender was first tagged in January 2024 off Florida and Georgia and has since logged more than 7,000 miles between Florida and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. His tag is expected to send real-time location data for five years, offering what Ocearch founder Chris Fischer calls "a window into the life of a mature male white shark" as researchers track his movements, feeding habits, and role in rebuilding the species. Contender is thought to be about 30 years old, per USA Today.