Surprise Encounter with a Great White Off New Jersey Coast on Anniversary of “Jaws”

An unexpected sighting of an 11-foot, 761-pound great white shark named “Dold” was reported off the coast of New Jersey on the day marking the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster film “Jaws.” The shark, tracked by researchers at OCEARCH, emitted a satellite ping early Friday morning approximately 40 miles offshore near Monmouth County, home to beaches like Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Spring Lake.

Dold was initially tagged in February near the Florida-Georgia border after a brief stay on a research vessel. The tagging involved placing a satellite device on his dorsal fin and an acoustic tag inside his body, enabling scientists to monitor his movements. The shark, estimated to be around 25 years old and still not fully mature, has the potential to grow up to 18 feet in length.

Since tagging, Dold migrated south toward the Gulf of Florida before returning north in May along the Atlantic coast as part of his seasonal journey, according to researchers. His satellite ping occurs when his fin surfaces long enough—about 90 seconds—for the satellite to record his location.

Notably, Dold’s encounter coincides with the anniversary of Spielberg’s “Jaws,” a film that famously depicted the terror of great white sharks and premiered on June 20, 1975. The organization’s history includes tagging over 100 great white sharks in the past 15 years, with some notably larger, like “Contender” at 1,653 pounds and “Nukumi,” a female that hasn’t pinged since 2021 and weighs approximately 3,541 pounds.