Sharks in Delaware in July

Yes, July is one of the best months to see sharks in Delaware. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 95 of the 624 sightings logged across the year (15.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Spiny Dogfish photographed in DelawareAtlantic Angelshark photographed in DelawareSandbar Shark photographed in Delaware
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for sharks in Delaware

15.2%

of yearly sightings

95

records in July

#3

busiest month of 12

624

verified records a year

June 18.8%, July 15.2%, August 13%. Busiest month is May at 19.9%.

Best months: May, June, JulyPeak season right now

624 verified observations of sharks in Delaware, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When sharks are recorded in Delaware

Peak month

May

124 records (19.9% of the year)

Quietest month

March

12 records

MonthObservationsShare
January182.9%
February223.5%
March121.9%
April243.8%
Maypeak12419.9%
Junepeak11718.8%
Julypeak9515.2%
August8113%
September264.2%
October386.1%
November325.1%
December355.6%

Sharks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Clearnose Skate247
Dusky Smooth-hound93
Sandbar Shark30
Little Skate26
Cownose Ray18
Spiny Dogfish15
Sand Tiger Shark14
Bullnose Eagle Ray14

In Delaware, July carries 15.2% of the year's sharks sightings, about 6.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from June (18.8%) into July, and it heads toward August (13%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The sharks most often recorded in Delaware are Clearnose Skate, Dusky Smooth-hound and Sandbar Shark. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which sharks you are most likely to see

  • Clearnose Skate247 records
  • Dusky Smooth-hound93 records
  • Sandbar Shark30 records
  • Little Skate26 records
  • Cownose Ray18 records
  • Spiny Dogfish15 records
Plan your tripCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Plan your shark trip in Delaware

Start with live tours near Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see sharks in Delaware in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 95 of the 624 verified sharks sightings logged in Delaware across the year, which is 15.2% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see sharks in Delaware?+

July is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and July.

What month is best for sharks in Delaware?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and July, based on 624 verified observations.

Which sharks are you most likely to see in Delaware?+

The most-recorded species in Delaware are Clearnose Skate, Dusky Smooth-hound and Sandbar Shark, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.