Great White Shark Catches in Pensacola
Coastal Worldwide has landed 5 great white sharks from shore at Pensacola Beach over the life of the operation. That number is rare anywhere on the planet. The catches have been covered by CBS News, WKRG, FOX10TV, and Mysuncoast. Every great white was tagged, photographed, and released alive.
USA Today named Coastal Worldwide the #7 best fishing charter in America for 2025, with a focus on land-based shark fishing. The great white catches are part of how we earned that recognition.
Why Pensacola Has Great Whites from Shore
Great white sharks are rare from any beach on the planet. Pensacola has produced 5 great white catches across our 12 years because of a specific combination: cold winter water that draws great whites south, baitfish concentrations close to shore, and a beach setup that lets our crew deploy bait by kayak 300 to 800 yards offshore at the depths great whites patrol.
Our winter window of 24-hour and 48-hour extended charters is when most of these catches have happened. Cold water plus extended time on the beach plus precise bait deployment is the recipe.
The 5 Great White Catches
1,800-Pound Great White (January 2026)
The most recent and best-documented great white catch. Founders Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny landed the shark from the sand of Pensacola Beach in January 2026. The fight took hours. The shark was tagged, photographed, and released alive under FWC regulations. The catch was featured on CBS News and named both founders by name.
[Photo placeholder, Dylan to supply hero shot of this catch.]
The "Fourpeat" Series (WKRG Coverage)
WKRG covered Coastal Worldwide's record of multiple great white sharks landed from shore over consecutive seasons. The story called it a "fourpeat", four great whites across consecutive years. Catch-and-release on every great white.
FOX10TV-Covered Great White
FOX10TV covered another Coastal Worldwide great white catch from Pensacola Beach. Released alive.
13-Foot Shark Catch (Mysuncoast)
Mysuncoast covered a 13-foot shark landed by the Coastal Worldwide crew on Pensacola Beach. Among the largest sharks landed from shore on the Gulf Coast.
The Fifth Great White
The fifth great white landed across the operation's 12 years. Same protocol: kayak bait deployment, beach-based fight, tag-photograph-release.
See Coastal Worldwide in the News for the press coverage page with links to each story.
Great White Season from Shore
Most Coastal Worldwide great white catches have come from the winter window, December through February, when cold water pushes great whites closer to shore. Our extended 24-hour and 48-hour winter charters are designed around this window.
Great whites are not promised on any trip. The catches stay rare even with the right setup. What we offer is the highest-probability beach shark fishing trip in the country for great whites, based on documented catch history.
Conservation: Catch and Release on Every Great White
Every great white we have landed has been tagged, photographed, and released alive under FWC catch-and-release shark fishing regulations. Great whites are federally protected in U.S. waters. The protocol on the beach is brief in-water measurement, photo, and release.
Conservation-minded catch and release shark fishing, fun for the entire family. That is the framing of every Coastal Worldwide trip, great white or otherwise.
Booking a Great White Trip
Great white catches happen on our extended winter trips. Book 24-hour and 48-hour charters from December through February. Pricing is on request based on dates, group size, and conditions. Call (251) 689-0309.
Most clients book a standard 6-hour, 8-hour, or 12-hour trip and target our day-to-day species mix (bull sharks, blacktips, hammerheads, lemons, spinners). Great whites are a rare additional possibility, especially on winter extended trips.
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Whites from Pensacola Beach
How rare is catching a great white from shore?
Extremely rare. Coastal Worldwide has landed 5 over 12 years across more than a thousand trips. We do not promise great whites on any trip. We document each catch publicly.
When are great whites in Pensacola?
December through February is the main window. Cold water pushes great whites closer to shore. Our extended 24-hour and 48-hour winter trips have produced most of the catches.
Are great whites legal to fish for in Florida?
Yes, under strict FWC catch-and-release regulations. Great whites are federally protected. We tag, photograph, and release every great white we land.
Has Coastal Worldwide been featured in the news for great whites?
Yes. CBS News covered the catch, which researchers estimated at 1,800 pounds, with both founders named. WKRG, FOX10TV, and Mysuncoast have covered additional catches. See our press page.
How do I book a winter trip targeting great whites?
Call (251) 689-0309 or email coastalworldwide1@gmail.com. Winter dates fill early. Book 30 to 60 days ahead.
What size great whites have been landed?
The January 2026 catch, estimated by researchers at 1,800 pounds, is the documented headline catch. Other catches have ranged from juveniles to 13-foot adults. Every great white landed has been released alive.