Size and Weight: Contender measures nearly 14 feet in length and weighs approximately 1,600 pounds, making it the largest great white shark ever tagged by researchers.
Tagging Details: The shark was tagged on January 17, 2025, about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. Researchers used a SPOT tag to monitor its movements, which provides real-time location data when the shark's fin surfaces.
Movement Patterns: Since being tagged, Contender has traveled approximately 168 miles, moving both north and south along the Gulf Stream. As of early February 2025, it was located off the east coast of Florida.
Behavioral Insights: The tracking data suggests that Contender may follow seasonal patterns, heading north in warmer months and staying near Florida in the fall and winter to hunt prey.
Conservation Efforts: The tagging of such a large shark provides valuable data for scientists to study great white shark behavior and migration patterns, aiding in conservation efforts.
Public Interest: The discovery has garnered significant attention, highlighting the importance of shark research and the need to protect these apex predators.
Future Monitoring: The SPOT tag attached to Contender is expected to transmit data for up to five years, allowing researchers to continue monitoring its movements and behavior over an extended period.