Best Time to See Sharks in the US
June, July and August is the best time to see sharks in the United States. This is a national picture built from 42,470 verified iNaturalist observations across 23 states, showing when and where sharks are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
42,470 verified observations of sharks in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When sharks are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
5,914 records (13.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,905 | 4.5% |
| February | 1,877 | 4.4% |
| March | 2,819 | 6.6% |
| April | 3,407 | 8% |
| May | 4,530 | 10.7% |
| Junepeak | 5,914 | 13.9% |
| Julypeak | 5,528 | 13% |
| Augustpeak | 4,913 | 11.6% |
| September | 3,730 | 8.8% |
| October | 3,124 | 7.4% |
| November | 2,561 | 6% |
| December | 2,162 | 5.1% |
Sharks you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Haller's Round Ray | 2,826 |
| Leopard Shark | 2,720 |
| Atlantic Stingray | 2,334 |
| Bat Ray | 2,139 |
| Clearnose Skate | 2,122 |
| Dusky Smooth-hound | 1,623 |
| Horn Shark | 1,378 |
| Little Skate | 1,328 |
Across the country, sharks sightings peak in June, when 5,914 of the 42,470 annual observations are logged, about 13.9% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and August.
The best states to see sharks by recorded sightings are California (14,921), Florida (8,834), North Carolina (2,522), Hawaii (1,987) and Massachusetts (1,926). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The sharks you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Haller's Round Ray, Leopard Shark and Atlantic Stingray, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see sharks
- sharks in California14,921 sightings, peak July
- sharks in Florida8,834 sightings, peak June
- sharks in North Carolina2,522 sightings, peak May
- sharks in Hawaii1,987 sightings, peak December
- sharks in Massachusetts1,926 sightings, peak June
- sharks in Texas1,765 sightings, peak June
- sharks in New Jersey1,648 sightings, peak June
- sharks in New York1,534 sightings, peak June
- sharks in South Carolina1,416 sightings, peak June
- sharks in Virginia971 sightings, peak June
- sharks in Georgia715 sightings, peak June
- sharks in Alabama710 sightings, peak June
- sharks in Delaware624 sightings, peak May
- sharks in Washington594 sightings, peak July
- sharks in Oregon501 sightings, peak September
Most-recorded sharks species nationwide
- Haller's Round Ray2,826 records
- Leopard Shark2,720 records
- Atlantic Stingray2,334 records
- Bat Ray2,139 records
- Clearnose Skate2,122 records
- Dusky Smooth-hound1,623 records
Plan your shark 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 shark viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best shark viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a shark 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 sharks in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 42,470 verified observations across 23 states.
Which states are best for seeing sharks?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Florida and North Carolina. California leads with 14,921 verified observations.
How many sharks sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 42,470 verified sharks observations are logged on iNaturalist across 23 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of sharks live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Haller's Round Ray, Leopard Shark and Atlantic Stingray, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.