Sharks in Florida in July

Yes, July is a good month to see sharks in Florida. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 875 of the 8,834 sightings logged across the year (9.9%), 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.

Nurse Shark photographed in FloridaLemon Shark photographed in FloridaGreat White Shark photographed in Florida
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for sharks in Florida

9.9%

of yearly sightings

875

records in July

#4

busiest month of 12

8,834

verified records a year

June 11.4%, July 9.9%, August 6.9%. Busiest month is June at 11.4%.

Best months: June, May, March

8,834 verified observations of sharks in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When sharks are recorded in Florida

Peak month

June

1,003 records (11.4% of the year)

Quietest month

October

488 records

MonthObservationsShare
January6487.3%
February7027.9%
Marchpeak94110.7%
April7969%
Maypeak94810.7%
Junepeak1,00311.4%
July8759.9%
August6136.9%
September5466.2%
October4885.5%
November5986.8%
December6767.7%

Sharks you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Nurse Shark1,316
Bonnethead802
Atlantic Stingray789
Yellow Stingray656
Southern Stingray580
Spotted Eagle Ray499
Lemon Shark348
Common Blacktip Shark347

In Florida, July carries 9.9% of the year's sharks sightings, about 1.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from June (11.4%) into July, and it heads toward August (6.9%) after. The busiest month is June (11.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The sharks most often recorded in Florida are Nurse Shark, Bonnethead and Atlantic Stingray. 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

  • Nurse Shark1,316 records
  • Bonnethead802 records
  • Atlantic Stingray789 records
  • Yellow Stingray656 records
  • Southern Stingray580 records
  • Spotted Eagle Ray499 records
Plan your tripBig Cypress National Preserve

Plan your shark 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 sharks in Florida in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 875 of the 8,834 verified sharks sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 9.9% of the annual total.

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

July is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though June and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for sharks in Florida?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, May and March, based on 8,834 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Florida are Nurse Shark, Bonnethead and Atlantic Stingray, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.