NewsSarasota MagazineJune 22, 2026Sarasota County
Holmes Beach Ranked Top Gulf Coast Spot for Dolphin Sightings
A new analysis by BoatBooker identifies Holmes Beach as the sixth-best location in the U.S. for spotting bottlenose dolphins. The ranking is based on data from a scientific database tracking hundreds of thousands of dolphin sightings.
Read the full story at Sarasota MagazineWhy It Matters
The ranking highlights the local area as a significant hub for marine wildlife observation, which may influence tourism patterns and recreational boating activity in Holmes Beach and the surrounding Gulf Coast.
Key Facts
- Holmes Beach is ranked the sixth-best place in the U.S. for spotting dolphins.
- Holmes Beach is ranked the number one spot for dolphin sightings on the Gulf Coast.
- The analysis reviewed 243,809 documented bottlenose dolphin sightings.
- Data was sourced from the OBIS-SEAMAP database, managed by Duke University and NOAA.
- The study analyzed 365 coastal locations across the United States.
- Anna Maria Island ranked 14th and Siesta Key Beach ranked 16th in the analysis.
- There are 170 dolphins identified as residents of Sarasota Bay.
- The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program is the longest-running wild dolphin study in the world.
- The local dolphin territory spans from the southern edge of Tampa Bay to the Venice inlet.
Who's Mentioned
organizationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration“Partnered with Duke University on the marine database.”organizationSarasota Dolphin Research Program“Conducts the longest-running wild dolphin study in the world.”locationHolmes Beach“Ranked as the sixth-best place in the U.S. and first on the Gulf Coast for dolph”organizationDuke University“Maintains the OBIS-SEAMAP database.”organizationOBIS-SEAMAP“A scientific database maintained by Duke University used for the analysis.”organizationBoatBooker“A boat-tour booking website that conducted the analysis of dolphin sightings.”