A shark unfortunately “took a wrong turn” and got stranded in shallow water along the Cape, leading to the animal’s death earlier this week.

Meanwhile, local shark researchers recently helped tag a great white down the East Coast in an “exciting milestone for the season.”

When it comes to the dead shark, the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance on Tuesday received calls about a thresher shark that stranded in shallow water off Wellfleet’s Mayo Beach.

“Our team jumped into action and rushed to the site to try and rescue this shark,” New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance posted. “Unfortunately the animal died just before the team arrived.”

Researchers conducted a necropsy on the carcass, which was a 14-foot male shark.

“Not unusual for thresher sharks to strand in New England in the fall as they are trying to navigate to warmer waters to the south,” New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance wrote.

“Like many marine animals, this shark took a wrong turn and ended up in Wellfleet’s inner harbor,” the nonprofit added.

A thresher shark stranded in shallow water off Wellfleet’s Mayo Beach this week. (New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance photo)

On the other hand earlier this week, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy helped with tagging a female great white shark far from the Bay State.

“Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for the season — the first white shark tagged off South Carolina this season!” the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy posted.

“The shark, a small and energetic female, was encountered about an hour after setting up, offering a rare early-season opportunity for tagging,” the Conservancy added.

The satellite tag will provide data to researchers, helping them learn more about the shark’s movements throughout the winter.

First Great White Shark of the season yesterday & first one I’ve ever caught in Nov. She’s not a giant, but a great start to the season. We put a sat tag on her and gave a shove.
Thanks to @A_WhiteShark for the tags. Going to be a wild winter! pic.twitter.com/mMMhGR0qfu

— Chip Michalove (@ChipHHI) December 1, 2025

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The researchers partnered with Outcast Sport Fishing’s Captain Chip Michalove, who helps advance white shark research in the Southeast.

Michalove, who’s based on Hilton Head, reported that this was the earliest he has ever landed a great white.

“We brought a couple chunks for bait and we were connected to this squirrelly little female about an hour after setting up,” Outcast Sport Fishing posted. “Couldn’t believe it, she was just waiting for us. Usually, we have to wait all day for one…definitely got lucky.”

“Never caught one in November, but water temps are a bit down from where they usually are for this time of year,” Outcast Sport Fishing added. “Might be a wild winter.”

Michalove thanked the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and shark researcher Greg Skomal for the tags and “continued interest in our white sharks. And thanks to Megan Winton for driving these tags down and keeping me posted on all the sharks we land.”