Great white sharks frequently swim off the coast of Virginia, but they are not as common as other species in Virginia waters. They travel far and are found throughout the world and can live anywhere. It's uncommon, but the largest great white sharks have been found in Virginia waters.
About great white sharks
Great white sharks can weigh over 2,000 pounds. Female great whites are larger than males. Most female great white sharks reach between 15 to 16 feet but can grow up to 20 feet long. Male great white sharks typically stop growing between 11 to 13 feet.
Instead of the great white sharks, the most common sharks in Virginia waters are dusky sharks, smooth dogfish, Atlantic sharp-nose sharks, spinner sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, and bull sharks.
Ocearch tracker
Below are the names and descriptions of the great white sharks spotted in or near Virginia, according to the Ocearch tracker.
1. Caroline
One of the largest sharks spotted or pinged in Virginia waters is Caroline, a female sub-adult great white shark measuring 12 feet and 9 inches and weighing about 1,435 pounds. Caroline was tagged on February 26, 2019, in Hilton Head South Carolina. In 936 days, she had traveled 16,097 miles. Her latest ping was on August 18, 2019, near Back Bay, Virginia.
2. Ferg
Ferg is a great white shark found off Virginia waters. He is a male 11-foot-8-inch shark and weighs 1,612 pounds. He was first tagged on September 30, 2019, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Within 806 days, Ferg had traveled about 4,600 miles to Virginia and was spotted near Virginia Beach in April 2020, and was pinned near Virginia as recently as December 2022.
3. Breton
Breton is even larger than Ferg. He is a male great white shark that measures about 13 feet and 3 inches and weighs 1,437 pounds. Breton was first tagged on September 12, 2020, in Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia. He was pinged off of Back Bay, Virginia on March 3, 2023.
4. Freya
Freya rarely ventures into Virginia. For a few days in June 2022, she traveled up the Virginia coast. Freya is 11 feet and 8 inches long and weighs 833 pounds. Freya was first tagged on March 25, 2021, in Onslow Bay. In just 481 days, Freya swam 6,705 miles.
5. Miss May
Miss May is 10 feet and 2 inches long and weighs 846 pounds. She was first tagged on February 15, 2019, in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Like other great whites, she spends a lot of time in the Carolinas and South Florida. She visited Virginia’s coast many times in 2021 and 2022.
6. Tancook
Tancook is another large great white shark found off Virginia waters. He is a 9-foot and 9-inch shark that weighs 715 pounds. Tancook was first tagged on September 22, 2021, in Ironbound Island, Nova Scotia. While Tancook is rarely in the Virginia area, he did travel through in October 2022.
7. Scot
Scot is a 12-foot adult male shark weighing about 1,644 pounds. Scot was tagged on September 8, 2021, in Ironbound Island, Nova Scotia. He swam 9,371 miles in just 381 days and was pinged a few times near Virginia in November 2022.
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