Contender, largest Atlantic white shark, moves south for winter as OCEARCH tracks broader migration

Contender, the largest male white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic, appears to be heading south toward warmer Florida waters for the winter, according to real-time tracking data from OCEARCH. Tagged in January off the Florida–Georgia line, the shark drew attention for its size and movement as seasonal temperatures shift and prey patterns change. Researchers say the ongoing tracking provides a rare, near-live glimpse into how these apex predators respond to changing conditions across a broad swath of the Atlantic.

Recent ping data place Contender near the Jacksonville area, where scientists say the animal is likely to linger or continue moving south to follow warmer waters through the colder months. OCEARCH has highlighted that as water temperatures shift, these sharks are heading into warmer waters, giving researchers a real-time look at seasonal migration in action. The latest data come amid a cluster of other tracked males that appear to be following similar patterns along the East Coast.

Ripple, another sub-adult white shark, was tagged off the coast of Nova Scotia in late September. OCEARCH has tracked Ripple’s movement down south, recording him off the coast of New Orleans on a recent update. By November, Ripple had headed further south and pinged off New Jersey as well, illustrating how quickly these animals traverse broad distances with the seasons. In addition to Contender and Ripple, Baker—the 12-foot, 1,400-pound adult white shark—was pinged off the coast of South Carolina on Dec. 11. Danny, a 9-foot sub-adult weighing about 460 pounds, was lounging near the Florida Keys on a recent Saturday. OCEARCH’s data show similar southward movement for these individuals as winter approaches, consistent with the group’s broader model of seasonal migration along the Atlantic seaboard.

“From southern coastal routes to offshore movement, each new ping helps scientists better understand how white sharks respond to changing conditions throughout the year,” OCEARCH said in a post associated with the tracking effort. The organization emphasizes that the data are part of a system designed to study migration, behavior, and ecological interactions in real time, aiding conservation and public-interest understanding of these ocean giants.

As the holidays approach, where Contender and the other tracked white sharks will spend the remainder of winter remains to be seen. OCEARCH notes that the trackers cover thousands of miles of coastline and ocean, underscoring how climate shifts and seasonal cycles influence migration timing. For members of the public who want to follow along, OCEARCH maintains the Global Shark Tracker app, which allows users to track Contender, Baker, Danny, Ripple, and more than 400 other ocean animals in near real time.