A massive great white shark made a record-setting pass near North Carolina's Outer Banks, according to researchers. The shark, a male known as Contender, measures about 14 feet and weighs nearly 1,700 pounds, making the sighting notable for the western North Atlantic.
The encounter happened off the popular vacation area, where beachgoers and visitors were apparently nearby without realizing a record-breaking animal was in the water. The shark's appearance was described as brief, but its size quickly drew attention once researchers identified it.
Contender's visit stands out because of both his length and weight, highlighting the scale that great white sharks can reach in Atlantic waters. For scientists who monitor large marine animals, records like this can offer another data point on movement patterns and the presence of apex predators along the East Coast.
While the shark's time near the Outer Banks was short, the sighting has added to interest in great white activity in the region. It also underscores how closely wildlife and coastal tourism can overlap, even when people on shore have no idea what is passing by offshore.
