Best Time to See Octopus in the US
January, November and December is the best time to see octopus in the United States. This is a national picture built from 12,107 verified iNaturalist observations across 18 states, showing when and where octopus are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
12,107 verified observations of octopus in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When octopus are recorded in the US
Peak month
January
1,312 records (10.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 1,312 | 10.8% |
| February | 835 | 6.9% |
| March | 663 | 5.5% |
| April | 868 | 7.2% |
| May | 1,165 | 9.6% |
| June | 1,204 | 9.9% |
| July | 885 | 7.3% |
| August | 889 | 7.3% |
| September | 853 | 7% |
| October | 920 | 7.6% |
| Novemberpeak | 1,257 | 10.4% |
| Decemberpeak | 1,256 | 10.4% |
Octopus you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Lesser Two-spot Octopus | 4,082 |
| East Pacific Red Octopus | 3,310 |
| Giant Pacific Octopus | 942 |
| Day Octopus | 887 |
| American Octopus | 281 |
| Atlantic Longarm Octopus | 111 |
| Atlantic Pygmy Octopus | 100 |
| Ornate Night Octopus | 92 |
Across the country, octopus sightings peak in January, when 1,312 of the 12,107 annual observations are logged, about 10.8% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through January, November and December.
The best states to see octopus by recorded sightings are California (8,160), Washington (1,392), Hawaii (1,310), Florida (680) and Alaska (241). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The octopus you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Lesser Two-spot Octopus, East Pacific Red Octopus and Giant Pacific Octopus, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see octopus
- octopus in California8,160 sightings, peak January
- octopus in Washington1,392 sightings, peak May
- octopus in Hawaii1,310 sightings, peak October
- octopus in Florida680 sightings, peak May
- octopus in Alaska241 sightings, peak June
- octopus in Oregon157 sightings, peak June
- octopus in North Carolina71 sightings, peak November
- octopus in South Carolina45 sightings, peak April
- octopus in Texas19 sightings, peak June
- octopus in Rhode Island11 sightings, peak October
- octopus in Alabama5 sightings, peak February
- octopus in Massachusetts4 sightings, peak March
- octopus in Mississippi3 sightings, peak January
- octopus in New York3 sightings, peak November
- octopus in Georgia2 sightings, peak January
Most-recorded octopus species nationwide
- Lesser Two-spot Octopus4,082 records
- East Pacific Red Octopus3,310 records
- Giant Pacific Octopus942 records
- Day Octopus887 records
- American Octopus281 records
- Atlantic Longarm Octopus111 records
Plan your octopus 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 octopus viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best octopus viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a octopus 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 octopus in the US?+
January is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through January, November and December, based on 12,107 verified observations across 18 states.
Which states are best for seeing octopus?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Washington and Hawaii. California leads with 8,160 verified observations.
How many octopus sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 12,107 verified octopus observations are logged on iNaturalist across 18 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of octopus live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Lesser Two-spot Octopus, East Pacific Red Octopus and Giant Pacific Octopus, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.