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So you want to go on a grunion run. There are a few things you must know before you go. First, do you know what grunion are? For those not familiar, Grunion are a species of fish that leave the water at night to spawn on beaches during the spring and summer months throughout Southern California (San Diego to San Luis Obispo County). For more specifics see our list of the best grunion run beaches in California. Over three to four consecutive nights, beginning on the nights of the full moons and new moons, spawning occurs after high tides and continues for several hours. Peak spawning is from late March to early June.

>> See Related: Grunion Run – What You Need To Know

During the open season (March, June, July, August & September), a California fishing license is required for people 16 years and older. Grunion may be taken by hand only. No holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them. There is no bag limit, but take only the fish you can use. Here are some suggestions for how to cook grunion.

The times below are merely guidelines offering a two-hour span in which spawning runs may occur at Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles County. Subtract five minutes for San Diego beaches, and add 25 minutes to find the time for Santa Barbara beaches. The best runs normally occur on the second and third nights of the four-night period. The second hour is usually better than the first hour. Find your beach!

2020 Grunion Run Schedule

MARCH

3/9 Monday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am

3/10 Tuesday 11:05 pm – 1:05 am

3/11 Wednesday 11:40 pm – 1:40 am

3/12 Thursday 12:20 pm – 2:20 am*

3/24 Tuesday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am

3/25 Wednesday 10:50 pm – 12:50 am

3/26 Thursday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am

3/27 Friday 11:35 pm – 1:35 am

APRIL (observation only)

4/7 Tuesday 9:50 pm – 11:50 pm

4/8 Wednesday 10:25 pm – 12:25 am

4/9 Thursday 11:00 pm – 1:00 am

4/10 Friday 11:40 pm – 1:40 am

4/22 Wednesday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm

4/23 Thursday 10:05 pm – 12:05 am

4/24 Friday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am

4/25 Saturday 10:55 pm – 12:55 am

MAY (observation only)

5/7 Thursday 9:55 pm – 11:55 pm

5/8 Friday 10:30 pm – 12:30 am

5/9 Saturday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am

5/10 Sunday 11:55 pm – 1:55 am

5/22 Friday 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm

5/23 Saturday 10:00 pm – Midnight

5/24 Sunday 10:35 pm – 12:35 am

5/25 Monday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am

JUNE

6/5 Friday 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm

6/6 Saturday 10:10 pm – 12:10 am

6/7 Sunday 10:50 pm – 12:50 am

6/8 Monday 11:35 pm – 1:35 am

6/21 Sunday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm

6/22 Monday 10:25 pm – 12:25 am

6/23 Tuesday 11:05 pm – 1:05 am

6/24 Wednesday 11:55 pm – 1:55 am

JULY

7/4 Saturday 9:15 pm – 11:15 pm

7/5 Sunday 9:55 pm – 11:55 pm

7/6 Monday 10:40 pm – 12:40 am

7/7 Tuesday 11:20 pm – 1:20 am

7/20 Monday 9:35 pm – 11:35 pm

7/21 Tuesday 10:20 pm – 12:20 am

7/22 Wednesday 11:00 pm – 1:00 am

7/23 Thursday 11:50 pm – 1:50 am

AUGUST

8/3 Monday 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm

8/4 Tuesday 10:25 pm – 12:25 am

8/5 Wednesday 11:00 pm – 1:00 am

8/6 Thursday 11:35 pm – 1:35 am

8/18 Tuesday 9:25 pm – 11:25 pm

8/19 Wednesday 10:10 pm – 12:10 am

8/20 Thursday 10:55 pm – 12:55 am

8/21 Friday 11:40 pm – 1:40 am

SEPTEMBER

9/1 Tuesday 9:35 pm – 11:35 pm

9/2 Wednesday 10:05 pm – 12:05 am

9/3 Thursday 10:40 pm – 12:40 am

9/4 Friday 11:10 pm – 1:10 am

* Where the run starts after midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.

Related Attractions Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is located behind Cabrillo Harbor Beach in the San Pedro district of Los Angeles. It is one of the larger and older aquariums on the California coast […] See details