Whales in South Carolina in December
Yes, December is one of the best months to see whales in South Carolina. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 112 of the 1,010 sightings logged across the year (11.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin · Charlotte Kirchner CC BY
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin · sudomir CC BY
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin · Peter Burka CC BY-SA
Peak month for whales in South Carolina
11.1%
of yearly sightings
112
records in December
#2
busiest month of 12
1,010
verified records a year
November 9.3%, December 11.1%, January 7.8%. Busiest month is March at 12.1%.
1,010 verified observations of whales in South Carolina, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in South Carolina
Peak month
March
122 records (12.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 79 | 7.8% |
| February | 45 | 4.5% |
| Marchpeak | 122 | 12.1% |
| April | 81 | 8% |
| May | 83 | 8.2% |
| June | 102 | 10.1% |
| Julypeak | 108 | 10.7% |
| August | 72 | 7.1% |
| September | 51 | 5% |
| October | 61 | 6% |
| November | 94 | 9.3% |
| Decemberpeak | 112 | 11.1% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin | 811 |
| Sperm Whale | 6 |
| Humpback Whale | 5 |
| Striped Dolphin | 2 |
| Cuvier's Beaked Whale | 1 |
| Pygmy Sperm Whale | 1 |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin | 1 |
| Common Dolphins | 1 |
In South Carolina, December carries 11.1% of the year's whales sightings, about 2.8 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 rising from November (9.3%) into December, and it heads toward January (7.8%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so December is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The whales most often recorded in South Carolina are Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin, Sperm Whale and Humpback Whale. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin811 records
- Sperm Whale6 records
- Humpback Whale5 records
- Striped Dolphin2 records
- Cuvier's Beaked Whale1 records
- Pygmy Sperm Whale1 records
Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in South Carolina in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 112 of the 1,010 verified whales sightings logged in South Carolina across the year, which is 11.1% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see whales in South Carolina?+
December is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, December and July.
What month is best for whales in South Carolina?+
March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, December and July, based on 1,010 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in South Carolina?+
The most-recorded species in South Carolina are Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin, Sperm Whale and Humpback Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See whales in South Carolina in other months
More wildlife in South Carolina