JAWS vs the largest Great White sharks ever recorded
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Hooper: That’s a twenty footer.
Quint: Twenty-five. Three tons of him.
In the realm of oceanic predators, few evoke as much fascination and fear as the Great White Shark. With its sleek, powerful form and razor-sharp teeth, this apex predator has captured the imagination of adventurers, scientists, and storytellers alike. Yet, amidst the lore and legend surrounding these formidable creatures, tales of exceptionally large individuals stand out—sharks that dwarf even the fearsome protagonist of Spielberg's iconic film, JAWS. In this article, we take a look at the shark from JAWS (1975) in the context of the largest Great White sharks ever recorded - and reputably sighted.
‘Bruce’ the animatronic shark built for Steven Spielberg’s JAWS (1975) was 25 feet in length
What is the average size of a great white shark?
The newborn pups enter the world at approximately 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) in size, with an annual growth rate of around 25 centimeters (9.8 inches). Among the Great White population, larger females can reach lengths of up to 6.1 meters (20 feet) and tip the scales at 1905 kilograms (4200 pounds) upon reaching maturity. Typically, males average between 3.4 to 4.0 meters (11 to 13 feet) in length, weighing between 522 to 771 kilograms (1151 to 1700 pounds), while females typically measure between 4.6 to 4.9 meters (15 to 16 feet) and weigh between 680 to 1110 kilograms (1500 to 2450 pounds)
The fishermen who captured this Great White shark dubbed it "El Monstruo de Cojimar." This colossal specimen was reeled in from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, just a stone's throw away from the humble fishing village of Cojimar, Cuba.
Guinness Book of World Records largest Great White Shark
The Guinness Book of World Records recognized two specimens as the largest on record. One, a 10.9-meter (36-foot) shark, was captured in Australian waters near Port Fairy during the 1870s. The second was discovered ensnared in a Herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, during the 1930s, measuring an impressive 11.3 meters (37 feet) in length. However, in 1970, J. E. Randall re-evaluated the situation, examining the jaws of the Port Fairy shark and confirming a significant error in the initial measurements from 1870. It turned out to be much smaller, measuring only about 5 meters (16.4 feet). Additionally, the New Brunswick shark was identified as a misidentified Basking Shark, bearing a resemblance in body shape to a Great White.
The 17.9-foot-long (5.5-meter-long) male behemoth nicknamed Apache was found off Mexico's Guadalupe Island (map) in fall 2009. (photo via Nat Geo)
Maximum Size Great White Shark Sightings Reported
Numerous reports of maximum sizes remain contentious due to the rough estimations conducted under uncertain conditions. However, according to experts like J. E. Randall, the largest reliably measured Great White Shark was recorded at 6.0 meters (19.7 feet) in length, captured off Ledge Point in Western Australia in 1987. The Canadian Shark Research Centre has verified another significant find, a female shark caught by David Mckendrick off Prince Edward Island in 1988, measuring 6.1 meters (20 feet) in length. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognizes the largest Great White Shark as the one caught in 1959 by Alf Dean in Australian waters, weighing 1208 kilograms (2663 pounds). Despite these confirmed records, a considerable number of unverified reports also persist.
Unconfirmed Reports of largest great white sharks
Numerous contemporary accounts include unverified reports of Great White Sharks exceeding 7.0 meters (23 feet) in length. Upon examination of the evidence, J. E. Randall affirmed the possibility that some of these sharks may indeed surpass 6.1 meters (20 feet) in size. One notable female Great White, dubbed "Deep Blue," was estimated to measure 6.1 meters (20 feet). She gained attention during the filming of a 2014 Shark Week episode titled "Jaws Strikes Back," off Guadalupe. Deep Blue made another appearance in January 2019, observed scavenging a Sperm Whale carcass near Ohau.
False Bay’s massive Great White Shark, the ’Submarine’
During the 1980s, a notorious presence dubbed "Submarine" patrolled False Bay, near Cape Town. Rumors swirled about the immense size of this Great White Shark, purportedly exceeding 7 meters (23 feet). Speculation arose, questioning whether the reports exaggerated its size or if the shark even existed at all. Craig Anthony Ferreira, a respected shark expert in South Africa, along with his father, provided firsthand testimonies of encountering a notably powerful and sizable Great White Shark. Despite their encounters, the exact size remained unconfirmed as the shark managed to evade capture each time it was hooked. Ferreira recounts these gripping encounters with "Submarine" in vivid detail within his book, "Great White Sharks On Their Best Behaviour."
This (fake) image has been swimming around online for a few years but is a very loose reference showing how large a shark would have to be to come anywhere near the size of a submarine.
The shark from JAWS (1975)
Movie monsters consistently reinforce the notion that bigger equals scarier. From the colossal King Kong and Godzilla to the monstrous Kaiju in Pacific Rim, size reigns supreme. Even the iconic shark in Jaws, often deemed a monstrous entity by enthusiasts and critics alike, adheres to this trend.
According to Peter Benchley's original novel, the formidable fish measures in at roughly 20 feet. However, Steven Spielberg's cinematic adaptation presents an even more imposing creature, estimated at 25 feet long. The largest shark in the series (JAWS 3-D) spans an astonishing 35 feet. Discover more in our recent blog, "Which Jaws movie has the biggest shark?"
The sharks featured in the JAWS movies are intentionally at the larger end of the natural scale. Not only does a larger shark increase the physical threat, but evidence of it’s massive strength and power can be played to maximum effect (e.g. towing of the broken jetty and Chrissie’s obliterated remains) further implant in our minds a beast even more terrifying than we thought possible.
With ever more spohisticated technology allowing the closer study of sharks, time may reveal even larger Great Whites than ‘Deep Blue’ out there so who’s to say that the size of the sharks in JAWS aren’t so farfetched.
A fully restored ‘Bruce’ being installed at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles (2021)
Words by Ross Williams
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