Here is the 2024 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 2024 Grunion Runs
March (Open Season)
* Where the forecast run starts at or after midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.
- 3/10 Sunday 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- 3/11 Monday 11:05 p.m. – 1:05 a.m.
- 3/12 Tuesday 11:40 p.m. – 1:40 a.m.
- 3/13 Wednesday 12:20 p.m. – 2:20 a.m.
- 3/25 Monday 10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
- 3/26 Tuesday 10:40 p.m. – 12:40 a.m.
- 3/27 Wednesday 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.*
- 3/28 Thursday 11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.
April (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 4/8 Monday 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
- 4/9 Tuesday 10:25 p.m. – 12:25 a.m.
- 4/10 Wednesday 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
- 4/11 Thursday 11:40 p.m. – 1:40 a.m.
- 4/23 Tuesday 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- 4/24 Wednesday 9:55 p.m. – 11:55 p.m.
- 4/25 Thursday 10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
- 4/26 Friday 10:50 p.m. – 12:50 a.m.
May (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 5/7 Tuesday 9:15 p.m. – 11:15 p.m.
- 5/8 Wednesday 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
- 5/9 Thursday 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- 5/10 Friday 11:10 p.m. – 1:10 a.m.
- 5/23 Thursday 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- 5/24 Friday 10:00 p.m. – Midnight
- 5/25 Saturday 10:40 p.m. – 12:40 a.m.
- 5/26 Sunday 11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.
June (Closed Season (Observation Only)
- 6/6 Thursday 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- 6/7 Friday 10:15 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
- 6/8 Saturday 10:55 p.m. – 12:55 a.m.
- 6/9 Sunday 11:40 p.m. – 1:40 a.m.
- 6/21 Friday 9:10 p.m. – 11:10 p.m.
- 6/22 Saturday 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
- 6/23 Sunday 10:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.
- 6/24 Monday 11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.
July (Open Season)
- 7/5 Friday 9:25 p.m. – 11:25 p.m.
- 7/6 Saturday 10:05 p.m. – 12:05 a.m.
- 7/7 Sunday 10:40 p.m. – 12:40 a.m.
- 7/8 Monday 11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.
- 7/21 Sunday 9:45 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.
- 7/22 Monday 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- 7/23 Tuesday 11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.
- 7/24 Wednesday 12:05 a.m. – 2:05 a.m.*
August (Open Season)
- 8/4 Sunday 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
- 8/5 Monday 10:25 p.m. – 12:25 a.m.
- 8/6 Tuesday 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
- 8/7 Wednesday 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
- 8/19 Monday 9:35 p.m. – 11:35 p.m.
- 8/20 Tuesday 10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
- 8/21 Wednesday 11:10 p.m. – 1:10 a.m.
- 8/22 Thursday Midnight – 2:00 a.m.*
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.
Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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 | Fish Stocking Schedule |
| Best Beaches In Orange County | What to Bring to the Beach |
Monique McArthur