Here is the 2023 grunion run schedule which starts in March and ends in August of each year along Southern California beaches from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Plus, find grunion run events, best beaches to see grunion and tips for best times to visit and what to do once they arrive.
Expected 2023 Grunion Runs
March (Open Season)
* Where the forecast run starts at or after midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.
- 3/7 Tuesday 9:40 pm – 11:40 pm
- 3/8 Wednesday 10:00 pm – 12:00 am
- 3/9 Thursday 10:20 pm – 12:20 am
- 3/10 Friday 10:45 pm – 12:45 am
- 3/21 Tuesday 10:15 pm – 12:15 am
- 3/22 Wednesday 10:45 pm – 12:45 am
- 3/23 Thursday 11:15 pm – 1:15 am
- 3/24 Friday 11:50 pm – 1:50 am
April (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 4/6 Thursday 10:10 pm – 12:10 am
- 4/7 Friday 10:35 pm – 12:35 am
- 4/8 Saturday 11:05 pm – 1:05 am
- 4/9 Sunday 11:40 pm – 1:40 am
- 4/20 Thursday 10:05 pm – 12:05 am
- 4/21 Friday 10:35 pm – 12:35 am
- 4/22 Saturday 11:05 pm – 1:05 am
- 4/23 Sunday 11:40 pm – 1:40 am
May (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 5/5 Friday 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- 5/6 Saturday 10:05 pm – 12:05 am
- 5/7 Sunday 10:40 pm – 12:40 am
- 5/8 Monday 11:20 pm – 1:20 am
- 5/19 Friday 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- 5/20 Saturday 10:00 pm – Midnight
- 5/21 Sunday 10:35 pm – 12:35 am
- 5/22 Monday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am
June (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 6/4 Sunday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm
- 6/5 Monday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
- 6/6 Tuesday 11:20 pm – 1:20 am
- 6/7 Wednesday 12:15 am – 2:15 am*
- 6/18 Sunday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm
- 6/19 Monday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm
- 6/5 Monday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
- 6/20 Tuesday 10:55 pm – 12:55 am
- 6/21 Wednesday 11:35 pm – 1:35 am
July (Open Season)
- 7/3 Monday 9:40 pm – 11:40 pm
- 7/4 Tuesday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
- 7/5 Wednesday 11:15 pm – 1:15 am
- 7/6 Thursday 12:10 am – 2:10 am*
- 7/17 Monday 9:35 pm – 11:30 pm
- 7/18 Tuesday 10:10 pm – 12:10 am
- 7/19 Wednesday 10:40 pm – 12:40 am
- 7/20 Thursday 11:15 pm – 1:15 am
August (Open Season)
- 8/1 Tuesday 9:35 pm – 11:35 pm
- 8/2 Wednesday 10:20 pm – 12:20 am
- 8/3 Thursday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am
- 8/4 Friday Midnight – 2:00 am*
- 8/16 Wednesday 9:55 pm – 11:55 pm
- 8/17 Thursday 10:25 pm – 12:25 am
- 8/18 Friday 10:55 pm – 12:55 am
- 8/19 Saturday 11:30 pm – 1:30 am
This is the expected schedule. There are no guarantees the grunion will appear to spawn.
San Diego runs occur about 5 minutes earlier and Santa Barbara runs occur about 25 minutes later than the times provided here.
Grunion Run Tips
- A California fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older.
- Grunion may be taken by hand only.
- No holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them.
- The daily bag and possession limit for grunion is 30 fish, effective June 1, 2022.
- Grunion runs take place from San Diego to Santa Barbara, with Orange and Los Angeles counties seeing the most frequent activity.
- They usually run on sloping, wide, sandy beaches.
- The best grunion runs are usually after new or full moons.
- Walk quietly and don’t shine a flashlight directly on the water. The grunion can be scared away.
- Peak season is typically late March to early June and slows down until ending in
August. - The best runs normally occur on the second and third nights of a four-night period.
- The second hour of the two-hour interval is usually better.
Best Places to See or Catch Grunion
- Orange County
- Corona Del Mar State Beach
- Doheny State Beach
- Newport Beach (near Newport pier)
- San Clemente Pier
- Los Angeles
- Belmont Shore
- Cabrillo Beach
- Hermosa Beach
- Long Beach City Beach
- Manhattan Beach
- Santa Monica State Beach
- Topanga Beach (Malibu)
- Venice Beach
- Santa Barbara/Ventura
- Cayucos State Beach
- Goleta Beach Park
- Morro Strand State Beach
- Olde Port Beach
- Pismo Beach Pier
- Seaward Avenue Beach
- West Beach
- San Diego
- Coronado Beach
- Del Mar City Beach
- Imperial Beach
- La Jolla Shores Beach
- Mission Beach
- Ocean Beach City Beach
- Oceanside Beach
Grunion Events
There are many grunion run watching events hosted by aquarium and conservancy groups. Some of these events require a ticket and a fee. Here are a few:
- Bolsa Chica State Beach (Huntington Beach) – Only way to experience at Bolsa Chica due to curfew.
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro)
- Birch Aquarium (La Jolla)
Related Articles
| Fishing In Orange County | California Open Fishing Seasons |
| Free Fishing Days 2023 | Fish Stocking Schedule 2023 |
| Best Beaches In Orange County | What to Bring to the Beach |
Monique McArthur is a mother of two, writer, and creator of delicious recipes. In her spare time she enjoys exploring all that Orange County has to offer, traveling, shopping, running with her dogs and spending time with family.