Spring breakers heading to the Florida beaches might have something new to talk about this year, and not just the crowds. A giant great white shark dubbed “Contender,” believed to be one of the largest ever seen in the Atlantic, was recently spotted near St. Augustine, which happens to be a popular spring break destination.
At nearly 14 feet long and weighing approximately 1,653 pounds, the Contender is not only massive, but also record-breaking. Researchers from OCEARCH, the organization tracking him, call the shark one of the most important tagged specimens ever tagged, providing rare insights into great white shark behavior.
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where was he last seen
The contender’s recent “ping” (the signal sent when his dorsal fin surfaces) positioned him just off the coast near St. Augustine on Florida’s northeastern coastline.
The area is especially busy during spring break, with beaches becoming crowded as temperatures rise. But while the idea of ​​a giant white shark nearby may sound alarming, OCEARCH researchers stress that sharks like Contender typically stay miles offshore and pose little risk to beachgoers.
Why he’s here: It’s shark migration season
Great white sharks migrate south to warmer waters during the winter and begin moving along the southeastern United States in late winter and early spring. Florida’s warm climate and abundant food supply made it a key stop on this route.
Spring is also thought to overlap with breeding behavior, although scientists are still trying to determine exactly where great white sharks mate. Tracking sharks like “Rival” can help answer this question, and researchers note that its movements may be related to breeding patterns.
where he might be now
While Contender was last seen near St. Augustine, sharks like him are constantly on the move.
Great white sharks can travel thousands of miles in a year, often migrating between feeding and breeding grounds along the Gulf Stream.
Based on past tracking data, there are several possible scenarios:
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He could continue moving south along the Florida coast, possibly heading to areas like Daytona Beach or even South Florida
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He may enter the Gulf Stream, staying offshore but parallel to the shoreline
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Or, as spring approaches, he may begin migrating north again, toward the Carolinas and New England
In fact, similar sharks have followed this exact path, moving up the East Coast from Florida as waters warm.
Not the only one: Other sharks found in U.S. waters
The contenders are not alone. Several other large great white sharks have been spotted in U.S. waters in recent weeks:
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A shark named Bella was recently spotted off the Gulf Coast near Sarasota, Florida.
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Another giant shark spotted off Florida’s Space Coast, and fishermen call it a ‘monster’
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In the past, sharks like Brayton and Mahone have also traveled through Florida waters before heading north again
The series of sightings highlights how active shark migration is currently, particularly along the southeastern coastline.
Should you be worried?
Short answer: not really.
While Florida consistently leads the U.S. in the number of shark encounters, that’s largely due to how many people are in the water rather than because sharks are actively targeting humans. In fact, about 38% of shark bites globally are caused by states, but most are non-fatal and extremely rare.
Great white sharks, in particular, tend to stay far offshore and rarely participate in nearshore encounters. The Contender’s presence off St. Augustine is a reminder that Florida’s waters are not only beautiful, but also home to some of the ocean’s most powerful creatures.
For scientists, this is a rare opportunity to learn about great white shark migration and reproduction. For travelers, it’s a fascinating (and somewhat exciting) reminder of what lies beneath the surface.
So, yes, there might be a 1,600-pound shark nearby, but chances are, he’s more interested in seals than spring clippers.
This article was originally published by TravelHost on March 20, 2026 and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add TravelHost as your preferred source.
