Great White Shark Pinged Near Louisiana Beach Destination

(KTDY) - A huge shark has been pinged off the Gulf Coast, and it was swimming by a popular beach that many from Louisiana love to visit.

Let me start by saying yes, we know sharks live in the water and that the ocean/gulf is their home, but anytime a Great White is spotted or pinged along the Gulf Coast, it's rare.

According to several reports, the shark named Ernst has traveled over 3,100 miles from Nova Scotia, Canada, in just 99 days, reaching the Gulf Coast.

Ernst reportedly weighs 1,000 pounds and is 12 feet long. Yeah, I wouldn't want to come face-to-face with her while out for a swim.

The massive shark, which is being tracked by Ocearch, was last pinged 4 miles off the coast of Gulf Shores, a popular summer destination for many in the Deep South. Now, will Ernst hang around for tthe summer? Probably not.

Where Do Great White Sharks Stay

Great Whites are known to stay in much colder water, and there's little to no chance that this massive Great White would get much closer to shore, but it could happen. Like other sharks, Ernst has migrated further south because of the extremely cold waters farther north, but once the water here warms up, Great Whites often retreat farther north.

For some, knowing that a Great White is lurking can be chilling, but it is a great sign that the fish population is healthy when large sharks, like Ernst, arrive in the Gulf.

While Ernst may weigh 1,000 pounds, she is on the smaller end of the Great White scale, as a mature adult shark can weigh up to 25,000 pounds. Imagine having one of those swim past you while out.

Ocearch encourages fishermen in the Gulf to be on the lookout for the Great White that is lurking off the coast, and anyone who comes across the shark to get a photo and submit it via their website.

For more on the migration of the Great White, check out this great tutorial video; it truly is fascinating.