Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Great White Shark Weighing 1,700 Pounds Heads for Holiday Spot

The largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic is back in the news. The shark, called Contender, is over 13 feet long and weighs about 1,700 pounds. It sent a new signal from its satellite tag after some months without communication.

OCEARCH, a research group, tagged Contender in January 2026 near Georgia. The last time researchers saw Contender was in April. It was swimming near Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. On July 10, the satellite tag sent one signal. This showed that the shark was still alive, but it did not give its exact location.

Researchers say that they need three signals from the satellite to find the shark’s position accurately. In this case, they only got one signal. This means the shark was near the ocean surface before diving deep again. Sharks can be hard to track when they are underwater.

Experts think Contender is moving north. This is a common path for great white sharks. It may go to Cape Cod, a popular destination known for beaches. The presence of Contender does not pose a threat to beachgoers.

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz

Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

satellite/ˈsætəˌlaɪt/noun
an object sent to move around Earth

tag/tæɡ/noun
a small device attached to an animal

signal/ˈsɪɡnəl/noun
a sound or message sent to show information

position/pəˈzɪʃən/noun
the place where something is located

accurately/ˈækjərətli/adverb
in a correct and exact way

track/træk/verb
to follow the movement of something

How much do you know?

What is the name of the largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic?
Bruce
Contender
Jaws
Sharky
How long is Contender?
10 feet
13 feet
15 feet
12 feet
What is the weight of Contender?
1,200 pounds
1,500 pounds
1,700 pounds
2,000 pounds
In what month did Contender last communicate with its satellite tag?
January
April
July
December
Where was Contender tagged?
California
Florida
Georgia
North Carolina
What is a common destination for great white sharks like Contender?
Miami
Cape Cod
San Diego
New York
Contender is over 15 feet long.
OCEARCH tagged Contender in January 2026.
Researchers received three signals from Contender’s satellite tag.
Contender was last seen swimming in Pamlico Sound in North Carolina.
The presence of Contender poses a threat to beachgoers.
Experts believe Contender is moving south.
The largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic is called .
Contender weighs about pounds.
The last time researchers saw Contender was in .
Contender was tagged by OCEARCH near .
To find the shark's position accurately, researchers need three signals from the satellite and in this case, they only got .
Experts think Contender may go to which is known for its beaches.
This question is required

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
satellite/ˈsætəˌlaɪt/noun
an object sent to move around Earth
tag/tæɡ/noun
a small device attached to an animal
signal/ˈsɪɡnəl/noun
a sound or message sent to show information
position/pəˈzɪʃən/noun
the place where something is located
accurately/ˈækjərətli/adverb
in a correct and exact way
track/træk/verb
to follow the movement of something

How much do you know?

What is the name of the largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic?
Bruce
Contender
Jaws
Sharky
How long is Contender?
10 feet
13 feet
15 feet
12 feet
What is the weight of Contender?
1,200 pounds
1,500 pounds
1,700 pounds
2,000 pounds
In what month did Contender last communicate with its satellite tag?
January
April
July
December
Where was Contender tagged?
California
Florida
Georgia
North Carolina
What is a common destination for great white sharks like Contender?
Miami
Cape Cod
San Diego
New York
Contender is over 15 feet long.
OCEARCH tagged Contender in January 2026.
Researchers received three signals from Contender’s satellite tag.
Contender was last seen swimming in Pamlico Sound in North Carolina.
The presence of Contender poses a threat to beachgoers.
Experts believe Contender is moving south.
The largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic is called .
Contender weighs about pounds.
The last time researchers saw Contender was in .
Contender was tagged by OCEARCH near .
To find the shark's position accurately, researchers need three signals from the satellite and in this case, they only got .
Experts think Contender may go to which is known for its beaches.
This question is required

Read More