Are there dolphins in Tampa Bay? Yes, Tampa Bay is home to local dolphins that can be seen jumping, swimming, and playing in the bejeweled waters off of Florida’s coast. In fact, the experience of seeing dolphins in Tampa Bay is something that families, honeymooning couples, and vacation friends all treasure during visits to Florida. If observing these gorgeous animals in their natural habitat is on your bucket list, you may be wondering where to find dolphins around Tampa Bay. Let’s start with a quick lesson!
Bottlenose dolphins are the most common dolphins seen in Tampa Bay. In the spring and summer, these massive animals are seen in abundance when mothers and calves frequent the shallow waters of bays that are rich in nutritious pinfish and striped mullet. You’ll know that you’ve spotted a bottlenose dolphin when you see a blue-gray back with a slightly lighter belly and sides gliding about in the tides.
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If you’re wondering about the best time to see dolphins in Clearwater Florida and the rest of the Tampa Bay area, sightings are most likely to occur between April and October. This is the period of the year when warm waters cause dolphins to be most active. However, peak dolphin activity in Tampa Bay is between the end of May and the beginning of September.
Generally, any time from very early in the morning until the later part of the afternoon is best for seeing dolphins because this is when they tend to be most active. The lighting also makes it easier to spot dolphins in the shimmering water. Low tide is an especially good time for dolphin spotting because low, calm waters bring the dolphins out to play!
Of course, the part you’re looking for is where you’ll spot bottlenose dolphins in Tampa Bay. Here’s a list of the seven best spots to meet with dolphins in Tampa Bay!
1) Tampa Bay Dolphin Tour
Why spend all day trying to see a dolphin around Tampa Bay on your own when you can simply board a boat with the #1 dolphin exploration tour company on Tampa Bay? The Tropics Boat Tours is pleased to be able to offer a fun, pampered experience that takes you from Clearwater Bay out Clearwater Pass on the beautiful emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico in search of the Sun Coast’s beloved aquatic animals.
Along the way, our expert guides will share fun and interesting facts about the natural wonders that surround you on the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll even pass by coastal mansions belonging to the world’s rich and famous.
If you’re coming to Clearwater to party, you’ll love that we offer optional drink upgrades that include unlimited beer and soft drinks for the adults! Wine, beer, and refreshing frozen drinks are all on the menu.
Here’s everything that’s included in our Dolphin Exploration Tour:
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Pickup from 25 Causeway Boulevard Slip #5 in Clearwater
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100% dolphin sighting guarantee that provides you with a complimentary Dolphin Exploration Tour in the future if the dolphins aren’t out to play during your trip
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Safety equipment
The Tropics Boat Tours offers the best way to watch dolphins in the wild! Our tours allow tourists to maintain a safe and respectful distance from dolphins and other wildlife to ensure that you never disrupt their peaceful ecosystem.
Book the adventure of a lifetime with us today!
2) Apollo Beach
Located along the eastern side of Tampa Bay, Apollo is a popular spot for marine life sightings. In addition to being a stomping ground for bottlenose dolphins, Apollo also has the sweet distinction of being a favorite spot for manatees. The Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is a gorgeous 63-acre preserve that contains a beach for sunbathing and picnicking.
There’s actually an interesting reason behind why Apollo Beach attracts so many manatees each year. Manatees are unique because they need water warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. It turns out that the power plant near Apollo Beach circulates warm water into the bay which creates an inviting warm spot for manatees and dolphins! Known for its shallow flats, Apollo Beach is a favorite spot for dolphins to feed and play.
3) Vinoy Park
Found along the waterfront area of St. Pete’s downtown, Vinoy Park has a sea wall that stretches along Tampa Bay. People already stream into the park to enjoy beautiful views and sunsets.
However, few know that this 11-acre green space perched on the water is also a hot spot for catching views of dolphins splashing in the waves!
4) Manatee Beach Park On Anna Maria Island
Visitors are very likely to spot wildlife zipping about on this public 7-acre beach. Found inside Holmes Beach off of Gulf Drive, Manatee is part of a coastal ecosystem that is full of sea turtles, crabs, sea birds, tropical fish, and small lizards.
Dolphins and manatees are also abundant in the waters just off shore! If you love coastal birds, you’ll be thrilled to know that Anna Maria Island is a hotbed for herons, ospreys, egrets, pelicans, and eagles!
5) Along Bayshore Boulevard
While the idea of spotting bottlenose dolphins in the wild as you stroll down a major road may seem odd, the truth is that it’s fairly common to spot dolphins from Bayshore Boulevard. You don’t have to actually make a special trip or go on an excursion if you’re willing to have the patience to wait for a dolphin pod to show up!
Spanning 4.5 miles of scenic terrain paralleling Tampa Bay, Bayshore Boulevard is one of the country’s longest continuous sidewalks. If you’re someone who loves to keep up with your morning jogs while on vacation, you won’t want to skip this route! Of course, the route is also perfect for a leisurely stroll. As you keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, you can enjoy benches, fountains, bike parking, and other amenities.
6) Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto Park is a five-island park covering 1,136 acres on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay! Located at the entrance to Tampa Bay, this park is known for its beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife, including dolphins. It mixes natural beauty with the historical allure of a Spanish-American War-era fort.
Visitors enjoy stunning beaches, nature trails, and fishing spots. Of course, you may be more interested in miles and miles of sandy shoreline where you can splash in the water while eagerly anticipating a chance to observe some dolphin behavior in the wild!
7) Weedon Island Preserve
Weedon Island Preserve is a nature preserve located in Tampa Bay that offers a unique and captivating experience for nature enthusiasts. This 3,190-acre preserve is known for its diverse ecosystems, including mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. It is also a haven for wildlife, including the majestic bottlenose dolphins.
Dolphins are frequently spotted in the waters surrounding Weedon Island Preserve. These intelligent and playful creatures are known for their acrobatic displays and curious nature. Visitors often have the opportunity to witness dolphins swimming, leaping, and interacting with each other in their natural habitat.
One of the best ways to observe dolphins is by taking a kayak or canoe tour. Paddling through the calm waters, you can quietly approach areas where dolphins are known to frequent. It is a truly magical experience to see these graceful creatures gliding through the water, sometimes coming close enough to hear their distinctive clicks and whistles.
See Dolphins Swimming In Tampa Bay The Way Nature Intended
The truth is that there are many ways to see dolphins swimming in Florida during a manufactured experience. For example, millions of people choose to visit Discovery Cove in Orlando to see dolphins or hand feed exotic birds.
However, there’s nothing like the feeling when you organically find dolphins by going out into nature to truly discover them! By jumping on a dolphin boat tour, you get to step into the dolphin world to observe the behavior of these magical mammals and the other animal species that share their ecosystem.
The Tropics Boat Tours is pleased to be able to offer our customers a respectful and passive way to observe animals the way that nature intended. Dolphins are calling! Your world will never be the same after you watch this mighty animal swimming and playing in the crystalline waters of Tampa Bay.
Book an unforgettable dolphin adventure with us for your upcoming trip!
