irv 
As 2026 dawns, Florida’s warm waters attract a fascinating variety of winter visitors, including a group of six great white sharks weighing up to 1,400 pounds. These marine heavyweights, monitored by the non-profit research group OCEARCH, have been pinged off Florida’s coast from Jacksonville to Santa Rosa Beach. The term ‘pinged’ refers to the satellite tag on the shark’s dorsal fin transmitting location information to trackers when the shark surfaces.
The group includes Goodall, a massive female great white shark measuring over 13 feet and tipping the scales at nearly 1,400 pounds. Named in honor of Dr. Jane Goodall, a pioneer in wildlife conservation, Goodall embodies the spirit of scientific curiosity and dedication to protecting the natural world. With her imposing size and long journey from the Nova Scotia coast since her tagging in September 2025, Goodall indeed personifies the power and resilience of nature. The winter migration of these great white sharks from the cooler waters of Atlantic Canada and New England to the warmer waters of Florida and the Gulf is a seasonal spectacle that never ceases to captivate.
Joining Goodall are Penny, Ernst, Ripple, Danny, and Quint, each with their own unique journeys and stories to tell. From Penny’s New Year’s Eve appearance off Key Largo to Quint’s recent surfacing off Santa Rosa Beach, these great white sharks remind us of the mystery and majesty of our oceanic neighbors.
Read the full article at source.
