Great White Shark Tracked Off The Coast of Wildwood

Living right on the edge of the ocean means that we get to see some awesome marine life. In this case, it’s great that we don’t get to see this kind of marine life since it is a great white shark.

In reviewing Ocearch’s tracking data we are able to see that the Great White shark named Scot is sitting just 30 miles off the coast of Wildwood.

Scot was first tagged back on September 8th, 2021 in Nova Scotia. Since then scientists have been tracking his movements up and down the coast by placing a satellite tag on his dorsal fin.

The only way the satellite is able to pick up on his tag is if he puts his fin above water for at least 90 seconds.

The use of satellite tags has revolutionized the study of shark migration. Tags provide real-time data on shark movements, diving behavior, and environmental conditions.

It also provides the public a fun website to see where these sharks are.

At the time of tagging Scot weighted in at 1,644 pounds and was 12.3 feet long. Ocearch filmed their capture and tagging of Scot which you can watch at the bottom of this article.

So why is Scot in our area?

The sharks have a fascinating migratory pattern that sees them spending the summer and fall months in the coastal waters off New England and Atlantic Canada.

These regions offer an abundance of high-calorie prey, such as seals, which are crucial for the sharks to build up their energy reserves.

As the seasons change and the temperatures drop, the sharks begin their journey southward.

They travel to the warmer winter waters located off the southeast United States, from South Carolina down to the Gulf of Mexico.

This migration ensures they remain in a more temperate climate during the colder months, optimizing their survival and feeding opportunities year-round.

From the looks of it, Scot is just heading North to get some fresh seafood.

He is no danger to us on the coastline, though we saw a shark bite someone last summer in Stone Harbor.

Below you can check out Scot all the way back in 2021. More than likely he is a bit bigger since this video was taken. You can see his latest position by clicking here.