14-Foot Great White Contender Sends Z-Ping, Leaving Exact Location Unknown

Q: Where is the Atlantic's largest male great white shark predicted to surface next?

There is no confirmed prediction for where Contender will surface next. The reporting and OCEARCH tracking data only show that the shark most recently sent a brief “Z-ping” on June 25, meaning he surfaced too briefly for researchers to calculate an exact location. His last more precise publicized ping before that was off North Carolina’s Outer Banks in April, with another April detection off Georgia. Researchers say Contender’s movements fit the broader seasonal pattern of white sharks in the western North Atlantic, which often move north as waters warm, with areas such as Cape Cod and Atlantic Canadian waters becoming important summer foraging grounds. But OCEARCH has not publicly identified a specific next surfacing point for him. So the best evidence-based answer is that his next location is unknown, though his recent track suggests he could continue moving along the U.S. East Coast and potentially farther north in line with normal summer migration.

3 articles · Updated · Fox Weather · Jun 29

Contender, a nearly 14-foot great white weighing almost 1,700 pounds, sent a Z-ping on June 25 after last being located off North Carolina’s Outer Banks in April.
The brief transmission confirmed the shark surfaced but was too short for OCEARCH’s SPOT satellite tag to calculate coordinates, leaving his exact position unknown.
OCEARCH tagged Contender near the Florida-Georgia coast in January 2025 and says his real-time signals help researchers map migration patterns and support ocean conservation work.
Contender is considered the largest male great white ever recorded in the Atlantic, making each new ping closely watched by scientists tracking his movements.