The famous line "You’re gonna need a bigger boat" could become a reality this summer in Texas when the region experiences a real-life, 21st century version of the American classic Jaws.
Great white shark Katharine appears headed for the Texas coast, according to researchers. Experts have been tracking the 14-foot shark that was tagged last August off of Cape Cod, Mass. At the time of her tagging, Katharine weighed 2,300 pounds and measured 14-feet, 2-inches long. Scientists predict that she has grown even more since.
If Katharine stays on the path shark researchers expect her to, she will pass the Mississippi River next week. A week after that? She'll be off the coast of Texas.
"Every track is giving us new information and going contrary to all the assumptions that we were going on."
Researchers have also been tracking a great white shark named Betsy, who was also tagged last August off of Cape Cod. Betsy, who is not as big as Katharine, weighed 1,400 pounds and came in at 12-feet, 7-inches.
"Every track is giving us new information and going contrary to all the assumptions that we were going on," Dr. Robert Hueter, director of the center for shark research at Mote Marine Laboratory told the Chronicle. "Having them in the Gulf is something we thought happened in the winter time."
Beach goers and those curious to know where Katharine is at all times (perhaps for your own sanity?) are able to track her path on Ocearch where Katharine’s last signal was picked up off southwest Panama City, Fla. That means she has now traveled almost 5,000 miles since being tagged just 10 months ago.
So the next time you're off the coast of Texas floating in the water, a great white shark could be closer to you than you think . . .
Katharine is tagged in August 2013.
