Great white telemetry: northward/Gulf movements (Contender Myrtle/Wilmington/Brookes/St.Aug/Goodall/Cayo/Bella, SoCal juvs Hermosa Phan/Newport/Malibu/South Bay/Montauk, AU Robe/Manly, Oahu Electric Beach/Tracks hammers, Lowe's El Niño surge forecast, Med 2m juv, Venice Meg tooth, orca liver hunts)
Key Questions
Where was the great white shark Contender recently detected?
OCEARCH confirmed Contender, a 14ft/1653lbs male, pinged near Myrtle Beach, SC, and in deep waters off Wilmington, NC in April, possibly indicating breeding activity. It was tracked in deep waters off the Carolinas coast.
What is the travel history of the great white shark Brookes?
Brookes, a 13'3"/1400lb juvenile male, was spotted off the Florida Panhandle's Mexico Beach and St. Joe after a 5,000-mile north-south trek. This reinforces the Gulf as a winter hub with spring migration and breeding signals.
What shark activity was reported at Electric Beach in Oahu?
A 10ft shark sighting at Electric Beach, Oahu, prompted alerts in July 2026, with warning signs posted after a non-aggressive shark was observed. Lifeguards spotted it cruising about 50 yards offshore.
What happened to the juvenile great white shark near Hermosa Beach?
A juvenile great white shark named Phan was rescued from a fishing line near Hermosa Beach, SoCal, in a viral incident where a California man stripped to his underwear to free it near a busy beach.
Have large great white sharks been sighted in Australia recently?
A 5m great white shark was encountered by Victorian fishermen near Robe Island, South Australia. This highlights ongoing sightings in Australian waters.
What interactions have been observed between orcas and great white sharks?
Orcas have been hunting great whites using tonic immobility in South Australia, Australia, and Mexico, targeting livers from sharks over 8ft. This shifts the dynamic with great whites avoiding areas with orcas.
What incident occurred with a diver at Venice Beach, Florida?
A Venice Beach scuba diver searching for megalodon teeth was dragged 60 yards by a boat, describing it as a life-flashing moment. This was unrelated to shark encounters.
What is the shark risk level in Volusia County, Florida?
Volusia County reports low shark risk according to ISAF data, despite its reputation. Encounters remain minimal relative to beach activity.
OCEARCH CONFIRMS Contender (14ft/1653lbs) recent Myrtle Beach SC ping + deep Apr Wilmington possible breeding; Brookes (13'3"/1400lb) FL Panhandle Mexico Beach/St.Joe after 5Kmi NS trek; reinforces Gulf winter hub + spring migration/breeding signals. Oahu Electric Beach 10ft alerts Jul'26; SoCal Hermosa Phan juv rescue viral; AU Robe 5m; Med 2m juv; Montauk LI drone Steidle May12; orca GW hunts SA8+/AU/Mexico tonic immobility; Volusia low risk; Venice FL Meg tooth diver incident.