Great White Shark Spotted Off Florida Coast
A 9-foot-long, 433-pound female great white shark, known as “Brassbed,” has been spotted off the coast of Florida, particularly northeast of Cape Canaveral. This sighting occurred earlier this month after a satellite tag sent out a signal, as reported by researchers.
According to findings shared with SWNS, Brassbed was first tagged near Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, back in October 2025. Her recent movements align with the known winter migration paths of great white sharks heading south from Canadian waters.
John Tyminski, a senior data scientist at OCEARCH, noted that this behavior is typical for the season, with these sharks utilizing well-documented migration routes during this time of the year.
The winter range of these sharks is generally thought to extend from the southern Carolinas all the way down to Georgia and along the Florida coastline. Interestingly, some sharks tend to travel even further.
“Roughly two-thirds of the tagged sharks show signs of moving into the Gulf at some stage,” Tyminski stated.
Brassbed is viewed as a juvenile female, measuring around 9 feet 2 inches. She was tagged in collaboration with OCEARCH and the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station, led by marine scientist Dr. Nigel Hussey.
Interestingly, Brassbed appears to be somewhat elusive, with her tag not sending out signals very frequently. Tyminski mentioned that she might not be spending a lot of time at the surface.
Her latest trajectory indicates she’s moving steadily south along Florida’s east coast. The Cape Canaveral area, where she was recently detected, is known for its rich marine life.
Tyminski shared that this region is typically productive, which suggests there is an abundance of food available. Despite its allure, it’s also viewed as potentially dangerous.
Researchers plan to continue tracking Brassbed to determine whether she remains close to the Florida coast or ventures further into the Gulf.
In recent reports, two other significant great white sharks were noted. One named Ernst, measuring 12 feet and weighing 1,000 pounds, was seen off Alabama’s coast. This represents one of the furthest sightings of a great white in the Gulf.
Meanwhile, Contender, the largest male great white shark recorded in the Atlantic at a whopping 14 feet and 1,700 pounds, returned to Florida waters in January 2026.
