Best Time to See Jellyfishes in the US
July, August and June is the best time to see jellyfishes in the United States. This is a national picture built from 50,743 verified iNaturalist observations across 23 states, showing when and where jellyfishes are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
50,743 verified observations of jellyfishes in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When jellyfishes are recorded in the US
Peak month
July
6,988 records (13.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,957 | 3.9% |
| February | 2,091 | 4.1% |
| March | 3,727 | 7.3% |
| April | 4,317 | 8.5% |
| May | 4,508 | 8.9% |
| Junepeak | 5,863 | 11.6% |
| Julypeak | 6,988 | 13.8% |
| Augustpeak | 6,743 | 13.3% |
| September | 5,328 | 10.5% |
| October | 4,070 | 8% |
| November | 2,881 | 5.7% |
| December | 2,270 | 4.5% |
Jellyfishes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Cannonball Jelly | 8,486 |
| Greater Moon Jelly | 4,707 |
| Pacific Sea Nettle | 3,979 |
| Egg-yolk Jelly | 3,565 |
| Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly | 3,463 |
| Bay Nettle | 3,461 |
| Southern Moon Jelly | 2,531 |
| Mushroom Jelly | 2,033 |
Across the country, jellyfishes sightings peak in July, when 6,988 of the 50,743 annual observations are logged, about 13.8% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through July, August and June.
The best states to see jellyfishes by recorded sightings are California (8,243), Florida (7,533), Washington (6,847), Texas (4,161) and South Carolina (4,123). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The jellyfishes you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Cannonball Jelly, Greater Moon Jelly and Pacific Sea Nettle, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see jellyfishes
- jellyfishes in California8,243 sightings, peak August
- jellyfishes in Florida7,533 sightings, peak March
- jellyfishes in Washington6,847 sightings, peak July
- jellyfishes in Texas4,161 sightings, peak October
- jellyfishes in South Carolina4,123 sightings, peak April
- jellyfishes in Oregon3,455 sightings, peak August
- jellyfishes in North Carolina2,943 sightings, peak May
- jellyfishes in Massachusetts1,950 sightings, peak June
- jellyfishes in Alaska1,763 sightings, peak July
- jellyfishes in Maryland1,444 sightings, peak August
- jellyfishes in Maine1,301 sightings, peak June
- jellyfishes in Georgia1,245 sightings, peak March
- jellyfishes in Virginia1,105 sightings, peak July
- jellyfishes in Alabama900 sightings, peak August
- jellyfishes in New Jersey763 sightings, peak July
Most-recorded jellyfishes species nationwide
- Cannonball Jelly8,486 records
- Greater Moon Jelly4,707 records
- Pacific Sea Nettle3,979 records
- Egg-yolk Jelly3,565 records
- Pacific Lion's Mane Jelly3,463 records
- Bay Nettle3,461 records
Plan your jellyfish trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main jellyfish viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best jellyfish viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a jellyfish tour in California
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 jellyfishes in the US?+
July is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 50,743 verified observations across 23 states.
Which states are best for seeing jellyfishes?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Florida and Washington. California leads with 8,243 verified observations.
How many jellyfishes sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 50,743 verified jellyfishes observations are logged on iNaturalist across 23 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of jellyfishes live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Cannonball Jelly, Greater Moon Jelly and Pacific Sea Nettle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.