Octopus in Washington in June

Yes, June is one of the best months to see octopus in Washington. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 186 of the 1,392 sightings logged across the year (13.4%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Giant Pacific Octopus photographed in WashingtonEast Pacific Red Octopus photographed in WashingtonGiant Pacific Octopus photographed in Washington
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for octopus in Washington

13.4%

of yearly sightings

186

records in June

#2

busiest month of 12

1,392

verified records a year

May 19.8%, June 13.4%, July 8.2%. Busiest month is May at 19.8%.

Best months: May, June, April

1,392 verified observations of octopus in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When octopus are recorded in Washington

Peak month

May

276 records (19.8% of the year)

Quietest month

February

42 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1128%
February423%
March604.3%
Aprilpeak14310.3%
Maypeak27619.8%
Junepeak18613.4%
July1148.2%
August936.7%
September634.5%
October584.2%
November1148.2%
December1319.4%

Octopus you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
East Pacific Red Octopus846
Giant Pacific Octopus374
Keeled Octopus8
Japetella1
Seven-armed Octopus1

In Washington, June carries 13.4% of the year's octopus sightings, about 5.1 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 May (19.8%) into June, and it heads toward July (8.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so June is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The octopus most often recorded in Washington are East Pacific Red Octopus, Giant Pacific Octopus and Keeled Octopus. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.

Which octopus you are most likely to see

  • East Pacific Red Octopus846 records
  • Giant Pacific Octopus374 records
  • Keeled Octopus8 records
  • Japetella1 records
  • Seven-armed Octopus1 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your octopus trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see octopus in Washington in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 186 of the 1,392 verified octopus sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 13.4% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see octopus in Washington?+

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

What month is best for octopus in Washington?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 1,392 verified observations.

Which octopus are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are East Pacific Red Octopus, Giant Pacific Octopus and Keeled Octopus, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.