A massive great white shark was spotted not too long ago near Nantucket, Massachusetts, and it’s been getting a lot of attention. The shark, named “Contender,” weighs around 1,653 pounds and is almost 14 feet long. Researchers from the group OCEARCH said it’s the biggest shark they have ever tagged in the western North Atlantic.

Contender was first caught back in January 2025 off the coast of Georgia. Scientists took samples and then let him back into the water. Since then, he’s traveled a lot. He went down to Florida, then up by the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and most recently he showed up off the coast of Massachusetts. Experts believe he’s probably headed farther north to colder waters in places like Canada since there’s more food there.

“I don’t really think about sharks much, but hearing this makes me more aware,” said junior Martina Hoyos.

Shark season in Massachusetts has already been going on since May. One shark was even seen attacking a seal near a beach in Nantucket. On Memorial Day another giant shark, close to 20 feet long, was caught on camera near Block Island in Rhode Island. And in Maine, swimmers have been warned after great whites were spotted near Bailey Island.

“At nearly 14 feet long, OCEARCH calls Contender ‘a true ocean giant.’” — Neal Riley, CBS News

“Sharks are part of the ocean and people forget that. We go in their space, so it makes sense to see them,” said junior Maximo Biasutto said,

Even though people get nervous hearing about huge sharks, researchers say tracking them is important. It helps scientists learn where they move, and also makes it safer for people at beaches. Contender is still out there traveling the ocean, reminding everyone that the water is full of surprises.