A juvenile great white shark measuring 8ft 10in called Brookes was spotted 42 miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, providing vital insight into the migration patterns of young sharks456-pound great white shark spotted just 42 miles away from Myrtle Beach
Video footage captured the moment a great white shark measuring nearly 9ft was spotted prowling off the coast of a US beach popular with tourists and families.
The juvenile shark, measuring 8ft 10in and weighing in at a whopping 456lbs, was seen just 42 miles away from Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. The shark, named Brookes, was first tagged by OCEARCH off the coast of Nova Scotia in October last year and was detected near Charleston, also in South Carolina, earlier this month before continuing up the coastline.
The spot is proving vital to mapping Atlantic migration patterns, as researchers explain the Carolinas serve as a key winter habitat for great whites with comfortable water temperatures and an abundance of prey. Brookes is being tracked in the hopes of providing better understanding of juvenile sharks’ migration patterns along the Atlantic.
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The tagged shark was found 42 miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach(Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
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“This area, the Carolinas in general, is part of what we would think of as a core area of overwintering for white sharks,” explained OCEARCH data scientist John Tyminski. The shark’s current location reflects the species’ preference for regions that provide both suitable environmental conditions and abundant food sources during colder months.
According to Mr Tyminski, the water temperature in the coastal waters off Carolina remains “quite adequate and comfortable” for white sharks throughout the winter. Food availability also plays a crucial part in Brookes deciding to remain in the area.
Mr Tyminski explained that local fishing captains have reported strong populations of prey species in the region. He said: “There are things like bluefish and menhaden, and a little further offshore, there’s some types of tuna. These can all be pretty good sources of food for a shark like Brookes.”
The shark, called Brookes, was tagged off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, in October 2025(Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
The data scientist emphasised that Brookes’ behaviour is significantly different to that of an adult white shark. The adults’ movements are more often influenced by reproductive activities.
“Brookes is a juvenile, so it has nothing to do with mating or reproduction or anything like that,” Mr Tyminski said. Environmental conditions in the region provide the thermal comfort that white sharks require, while the diverse ecosystem offers reliable feeding opportunities.
The presence of multiple OCEARCH-tagged sharks in the waters of Caroline demonstrates the region’s importance as a white shark habitat. The organisation’s tracking data reveals that many tagged sharks use these coastal waters in winter, underscoring scientists’ understanding of Atlantic white shark migration patterns.
Brookes’ behaviour is helping scientists to understand the migration patterns of juvenile white sharks(Image: OCEARCH / SWNS)
Brookes’ current position represents part of a larger seasonabl movement pattern observed in white shark populations along the Eastern Seaboard. These sharks typically move to warmer southern waters during winter months before beginning northward migrations as temperatures rise in spring and summer.
The tracking of Brookes and other white sharks provides valuable scientific data about the species’ behaviour, habitat preferences, and migration routes. This information contribues to conservation efforts and helps researchers better understand the ecological needs of these apex predators.
As Brookes continues her stay in Carolina waters, researchers will monitor her movements to gather additional data about juvenile white shark behaviour patterns. Mr Tyminski said: “It’s about comfortable conditions and it’s about food sources.”