By: Nick Carraway

As beachgoers soaked up the early summer sun along the Jersey Shore Friday, an unexpected guest loomed just offshore: an 11-foot great white shark named “Dold,” who sent a satellite “ping” roughly 40 miles off the coast of Monmouth County, New Jersey — coinciding eerily with the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster film Jaws.

The 761-pound predator was tracked by OCEARCH, a marine research nonprofit that monitors sharks in the Atlantic for both conservation and public safety purposes. As Asbury Park Press and The New York Post reported, Dold’s appearance took place near popular beach destinations including Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Spring Lake. The satellite signal indicated that the juvenile great white was just off these busy coastal spots, making waves in more ways than one.

OCEARCH first tagged Dold in February near the Florida-Georgia border after briefly capturing him aboard a research vessel. During that process, researchers fitted him with a satellite tag on his dorsal fin and implanted an acoustic tracking device inside his body. These tools allow scientists to monitor the shark’s movements in real time — and in this case, deliver a dramatic “ping” just in time for Jaws’ golden anniversary.

The shark was named after Dr. Christopher Dold, a leading conservationist affiliated with SeaWorld, in recognition of his work in marine preservation. While Dold the shark weighs in at a formidable 761 pounds and measures 11 feet long, researchers believe he is still only about 25 years old — not yet a fully mature adult. Full-grown great whites can reach up to 18 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds, according to OCEARCH.

Since his tagging earlier this year, Dold has been on an extensive migratory journey. After swimming south into the Gulf of Florida, he reversed course in May and began cruising north along the East Coast as part of his seasonal migration — a route common for great whites that follow warming waters and food sources like seals and fish. The “ping” registered Friday was triggered when Dold’s dorsal fin broke the ocean surface for approximately 90 seconds, long enough for a satellite to log his precise location.

OCEARCH has tagged more than 100 great white sharks over the past 15 years, collecting crucial data on shark behavior, migration, and environmental impact. The organization aims to better understand the movement patterns of these apex predators and mitigate the public’s fear of them — even though moments like these might make beachgoers think twice before wading out too far.

While Dold is certainly an imposing figure in the ocean, he’s not the largest shark OCEARCH has tagged. That title belongs to sharks like “Contender,” a 14-foot, 1,653-pound giant last tracked off the Outer Banks, and “Nukumi,” a 3,541-pound female behemoth who hasn’t pinged since 2021.

Still, Dold’s coincidental cameo off the Jersey coast on Jaws’ 50th anniversary is enough to make anyone hum the iconic two-note theme music before taking a dip. As The New York Post noted, the moment was a reminder of both the mystery and majesty of the ocean.