Sharks in Florida in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see sharks in Florida. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 941 of the 8,834 sightings logged across the year (10.7%), 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.

Peak month for sharks in Florida

10.7%

of yearly sightings

941

records in March

#3

busiest month of 12

8,834

verified records a year

February 7.9%, March 10.7%, April 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, March carries 10.7% of the year's sharks sightings, about 2.4 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 rising from February (7.9%) into March, and it heads toward April (9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The sharks most often recorded in Florida are Nurse Shark, Bonnethead and Atlantic Stingray. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March 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 March?+

Yes. March accounts for 941 of the 8,834 verified sharks sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 10.7% of the annual total.

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

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

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.