Contender Shark Pings Off New Jersey Coast
The largest male great white shark ever tagged by Ocearch was located near Atlantic City and Ocean City as it migrates south.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Aquariums
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Contender, the largest male great white shark ever tagged by Ocearch, pinged 9 miles south of Atlantic City at 11:06 p.m. on November 6, 2026. The shark was previously in the North Atlantic off the coast of Canada during the summer.
Why it matters
The ping near nearly the same location as in November 2025 suggests a repeated seasonal migration pattern along the New Jersey coast. Recent reports of whales off the South Jersey Coast add to local interest in marine wildlife movements in the state.
Ocearch's tag recorded Contender's position 9 miles south of Atlantic City, matching a November 12, 2025 ping in nearly the same spot. The tracking data does not indicate the shark's destination or how long it will stay in the area.
The players
Ocearch
Ocearch is a nonprofit research organization that tags and tracks large marine animals, including great white sharks, to study their movements and behavior.
The details
Ocearch tracks Contender's location through its tag and compares its movements from one season to the next. The data shows the shark was in the North Atlantic off Canada during the summer before moving south toward the New Jersey coast.
Timeline
January 2025: Contender was first tagged by Ocearch.
November 12, 2025: Contender pinged near the same location off New Jersey.
November 6, 2026: Contender pinged off Atlantic City and Ocean City.
Seasonal Patterns
Ocearch's year-over-year tracking of Contender shows a repeat ping near the same New Jersey coastal spot in November 2025 and November 2026. The pattern suggests a seasonal southward migration that Ocearch compares from one season to the next.
Residents and visitors along the South Jersey coast may have more opportunities to see whales and sharks in nearshore waters during the migration season. Beachgoers should be aware that great white sharks are moving through the area.
The takeaway
Tracking data like Contender's ping history helps scientists understand seasonal shark movements along the Atlantic coast. Readers interested in marine life can follow Ocearch's ongoing tracking updates for new location data.
Further reading
For more on marine life tracking, explore Aquariums coverage in New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 97.3 ESPN.
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