Dolphins in Florida in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see dolphins in Florida. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 553 of the 4,437 sightings logged across the year (12.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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

Orca photographed in FloridaCommon Bottlenose Dolphin photographed in FloridaCommon Bottlenose Dolphin photographed in Florida
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for dolphins in Florida

12.5%

of yearly sightings

553

records in April

#2

busiest month of 12

4,437

verified records a year

March 14.8%, April 12.5%, May 8.2%. Busiest month is March at 14.8%.

Best months: March, April, December

4,437 verified observations of dolphins in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dolphins are recorded in Florida

Peak month

March

657 records (14.8% of the year)

Quietest month

September

204 records

MonthObservationsShare
January4369.8%
February4259.6%
Marchpeak65714.8%
Aprilpeak55312.5%
May3638.2%
June3287.4%
July2776.2%
August2285.1%
September2044.6%
October2225%
November2906.5%
Decemberpeak45410.2%

Dolphins you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin3,175
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin833
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin10
Short-finned Pilot Whale5
Spinner Dolphin2
Orca2
False Killer Whale2
Pygmy Killer Whale1

In Florida, April carries 12.5% of the year's dolphins sightings, about 4.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from March (14.8%) into April, and it heads toward May (8.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The dolphins most often recorded in Florida are Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin and Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which dolphins you are most likely to see

  • Common Bottlenose Dolphin3,175 records
  • Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin833 records
  • Atlantic Spotted Dolphin10 records
  • Short-finned Pilot Whale5 records
  • Spinner Dolphin2 records
  • Orca2 records
Plan your tripBig Cypress National Preserve

Plan your dolphin trip in Florida

Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see dolphins in Florida in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 553 of the 4,437 verified dolphins sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 12.5% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see dolphins in Florida?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, April and December.

What month is best for dolphins in Florida?+

March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, April and December, based on 4,437 verified observations.

Which dolphins are you most likely to see in Florida?+

The most-recorded species in Florida are Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin and Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.