We are a group of scientists, community members, environmental organizations, surfers, and beach workers
dedicated to a better understanding of the habits and habitats of beach-spawning grunion, Leuresthes tenuis.
What is a grunion? California Grunion are a species of marine silverside fish found only along the coast of California and northern Baja California. Another species, the Gulf Grunion, is found only at the top of the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico.
- When do the grunion run? The 2025 season is March 1 - August 31. Typically, California Grunion run from March to August, with peak runs in April, May and June. Possible nights for runs are forecast in advance because of the regularity of the grunion following the highest tides of new and full moons.
- Scheduled Runs For the Current Year, California Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you go out to see for yourself, whether or not the fish appear, please take a few minutes to report your observations using the button below.
- California Grunion Enhanced Status Report from CA.gov Marine Species Portal, 2022
News and Announcements
A new feature-length documentary for Nature on PBS includes gorgeous footage of the California Grunion. "San Diego, America's Wildest City" can be seen on the big screen at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. Click here for a trailer and more info.
"San Diego: America’s Wildest City" is a production of The WNET Group, Terra Mater Studios GmbH, and Day’s Edge Productions in association with PBS and CPB. Right: California Grunion eggs about to hatch. |
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Beach Ecology Coalition Jan 2025 meeting, by Moses Aubrey
The 21st Annual Winter Meeting of the Beach Ecology Coalition, our nonprofit organization, was held at the Palm Park Beach House, sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara in January, 2025. This group is composed of beach managers, lifeguards, park rangers, environmentalists, and coastal scientists. See https://BeachEcologyCoalition.org for more information.
The book, "Beach-Spawning Fishes: Reproduction in an Endangered Ecosystem" by Dr. Karen Martin is available in hardback, paperback, or as an e-book from Amazon here.
Public Program for Grunion Runs
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has been sharing grunion runs on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, California with the public since 1949. Their public program is outstanding. Occasional public grunion programs are also offered at Birch Aquarium at Scripps in San Diego, and Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.
Sandy beaches are critical grunion habitat. California Grunion are found only in California and Baja California. They spawn only on sandy beaches of the outer coast and protected bays. Their eggs remain buried in the sand incubating for about two weeks until they wash out to hatch. Another species, the Gulf Grunion L. sardina, lives in the Gulf of California. Because the beach is necessary for these species to complete their life cycles, the beach is essential fish habitat. The Beach Ecology Coalition has more about this ecosystem.
What is the cultural significance of grunion?
Staying out late on the beach for a grunion run has long been a tradition for Southern Californians. The importance of grunion to the Native American culture reaches far back in history. Hundreds of years ago tribes such as the Kumeyaay relied on grunion as a food source and a reason for gathering together on the shore. Grunion have inspired music, art, poetry, books, film and television.
What is the role of grunion in the natural ecosystem?
Grunion eat zooplankton—tiny marine organisms that graze on algae. In turn grunion are consumed by larger fish such as corbina, halibut, guitarfish and sharks as well as sea lions, dolphin, squid and many seabirds and shorebirds. During runs they are eaten by herons, egrets and other terrestrial predators. Their eggs are food for shore birds, sand worms and beetles. Many coastal-nesting birds prefer slender baby grunion for feeding their chicks.
How are grunion protected?
What is the cultural significance of grunion?
Staying out late on the beach for a grunion run has long been a tradition for Southern Californians. The importance of grunion to the Native American culture reaches far back in history. Hundreds of years ago tribes such as the Kumeyaay relied on grunion as a food source and a reason for gathering together on the shore. Grunion have inspired music, art, poetry, books, film and television.
What is the role of grunion in the natural ecosystem?
Grunion eat zooplankton—tiny marine organisms that graze on algae. In turn grunion are consumed by larger fish such as corbina, halibut, guitarfish and sharks as well as sea lions, dolphin, squid and many seabirds and shorebirds. During runs they are eaten by herons, egrets and other terrestrial predators. Their eggs are food for shore birds, sand worms and beetles. Many coastal-nesting birds prefer slender baby grunion for feeding their chicks.
How are grunion protected?
- Closed Season: During April, May, and June, no take of California Grunion is allowed. This is the best time for observations, as the fish are not disturbed by hunting.
- Gear Restrictions: Fishers never may use any form of gear, nets or traps to catch grunion. Only bare hands may be used to capture California Grunion. During open season, when take is permitted, anglers over the age of 16 must have a valid California marine fishing license.
- Egg Conservation: Many public beaches use mechanized maintenance on the sand or to remove trash and debris. During grunion season, operators follow a specific Grunion Grooming Protocol to avoid disturbing the area where grunion eggs incubate.
Regulations: What about fishing for grunion?
Grunion are an extremely vulnerable species and part of a unique southern Californian culture that we hope to preserve. They are also an important part of the food web, with predators such as endangered shore birds, marine mammals, sharks, and many other species. They are found nowhere else in the world and represent a rare opportunity to experience wildlife right at your feet.
- NO TAKE of grunion is permitted during April, May and June - The National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration define TAKE as: "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct."
- In March, July, and August, fishing is permitted with restrictions. Anyone over 16 must have a valid CA Sport Fishing license. The law also stipulates that you may only take what you plan to use. The limit is 30 grunion per person per day.
- We encourage "observe and conserve" at all times, to enjoy the run without interference.
- No type of gear, traps, or nets are ever allowed for grunion. No gear of any kind can ever be used to catch grunion, including nets, hooks, traps, buckets for scooping--only your bare hands may be used.
- If you observe poaching out of season or any violations of grunion fishing regulations, please advise the California Department of Fish and Game at this link: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/Enforcement/CalTIP, or call their hotline, 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258).
- New Grunion Regulations Explained in this post from CDFW and in this article from Santa Monica Daily Press. Recent reports indicate that grunion populations have declined broadly across southern California. Changes in seasonal fishing regulations were unanimously approved by the CA Fish and Game Commission at their meeting February 16, 2022. Closed season will run from April 1 through June 30, as it did originally in 1927. A bag limit of 30 fish per person will be in place during open season, starting July 1, 2022. Gear restrictions (no gear permitted) and license requirements for adults over the age of 15 years remain the same as before
Please enjoy the Grunion Run and conserve this unique natural resource for future generations!