Best Time to See Hammerhead Sharks in the US
June, July and May is the best time to see hammerhead sharks in the United States. This is a national picture built from 1,613 verified iNaturalist observations across 15 states, showing when and where hammerhead sharks are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
1,613 verified observations of hammerhead sharks in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When hammerhead sharks are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
226 records (14% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 81 | 5% |
| February | 103 | 6.4% |
| March | 149 | 9.2% |
| April | 106 | 6.6% |
| Maypeak | 174 | 10.8% |
| Junepeak | 226 | 14% |
| Julypeak | 191 | 11.8% |
| August | 135 | 8.4% |
| September | 126 | 7.8% |
| October | 128 | 7.9% |
| November | 98 | 6.1% |
| December | 96 | 6% |
Hammerhead Sharks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bonnethead | 1,230 |
| Scalloped Hammerhead | 173 |
| Great Hammerhead | 78 |
| Smooth Hammerhead | 12 |
| Hammerhead Sharks | 2 |
| Carolina Hammerhead | 1 |
Across the country, hammerhead sharks sightings peak in June, when 226 of the 1,613 annual observations are logged, about 14% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and May.
The best states to see hammerhead sharks by recorded sightings are Florida (941), Texas (243), South Carolina (139), Georgia (111) and North Carolina (75). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The hammerhead sharks you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Bonnethead, Scalloped Hammerhead and Great Hammerhead, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see hammerhead sharks
- hammerhead sharks in Florida941 sightings, peak March
- hammerhead sharks in Texas243 sightings, peak July
- hammerhead sharks in South Carolina139 sightings, peak June
- hammerhead sharks in Georgia111 sightings, peak June
- hammerhead sharks in North Carolina75 sightings, peak September
- hammerhead sharks in Hawaii61 sightings, peak March
- hammerhead sharks in Alabama11 sightings, peak July
- hammerhead sharks in New York11 sightings, peak August
- hammerhead sharks in Virginia8 sightings, peak July
- hammerhead sharks in California5 sightings, peak July
- hammerhead sharks in Mississippi3 sightings, peak November
- hammerhead sharks in Louisiana2 sightings, peak April
- hammerhead sharks in Delaware1 sightings, peak July
- hammerhead sharks in Massachusetts1 sightings, peak August
- hammerhead sharks in New Jersey1 sightings, peak August
Most-recorded hammerhead sharks species nationwide
- Bonnethead1,230 records
- Scalloped Hammerhead173 records
- Great Hammerhead78 records
- Smooth Hammerhead12 records
- Hammerhead Sharks2 records
- Carolina Hammerhead1 records
Plan your hammerhead shark trip in Florida
Start with live tours near Florida, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Florida
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main hammerhead shark viewing area.
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Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best hammerhead shark viewing area in Florida.
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Broader backupBook a hammerhead shark tour in Florida
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see hammerhead sharks in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and May, based on 1,613 verified observations across 15 states.
Which states are best for seeing hammerhead sharks?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Florida, Texas and South Carolina. Florida leads with 941 verified observations.
How many hammerhead sharks sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 1,613 verified hammerhead sharks observations are logged on iNaturalist across 15 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of hammerhead sharks live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Bonnethead, Scalloped Hammerhead and Great Hammerhead, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.