Expected California Grunion Runs 2025

You must have a fishing license to catch grunion. You can't just go up to the beach and begin picking them up or touching them without a license. California grunion are similar fish to smelt. People catch them with their bare hands only and aren't allowed to dig holes to catch them. The grunion runs are when the fish spawn on the beach and are timed with the tides. Grunion are somewhat hearty but like other fish, are susceptible to pollution and human activities. Grunion Greeters are trained volunteers who stand on the beach during the first few months of the run season, observing the fish activities and recording them for NOAA records and the Grunion Greeter science project.

Grunion Run Schedule Open Season 2025

Expected 2025 Runs-Open Season is comprised of 23 days to hunt Grunion in the months of March, July & August. Fishing license is required for age 16 & older and local beach parking regulations apply.

Day Date Time

MARCH 2025
 

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

March 14, 2025, 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
March 15, 2025, 10:50 p.m.-12:50 a.m.
March 16, 2025, 11:10 p.m.-1:10 a.m.
March 17, 2025, 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
March 29, 2025, 10:05 p.m.-12:05 a.m.
March 30, 2025, 10:40 p.m.-12:40 a.m.
March 31, 2025, 10:11:20 p.m.-1:20 a.m.

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

JULY 2025

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

 July 10, 2025, 9:25 p.m.-11:25 p.m.
July 11, 2025, 10:05 p.m.-12:05 a.m.
July 12, 2025, 10:45 p.m.-12:45 a.m.
July 13, 2025, 11:25 p.m.-1:25 a.m.
July 24, 2025, 9:35 p.m.-11:35 p.m.
July 25, 2025, 10:15 p.m.-12:15 a.m.
July 26, 2025, 10:55 p.m.-12:55 a.m.
July 27, 2025, 11:35 p.m.-1:35 a.m.
 

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

AUGUST 2025

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

August 9, 2025, 9:55 p.m.-11:55 p.m.
August 10, 2025, 10:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.
August 11, 2025, 10:11:15 p.m.-1:15 a.m.
August 12 12:05 a.m.-2:05 a.m.*
August 23, 2025, 10 p.m.-Midnight
August 24, 2025, 10:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.
August 25, 2025, 11:15 p.m.-1:15 a.m.
August 26, 2025, 11:50 p.m.-1:50 a.m.
 

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

Closed Season, Observation Only Runs

Date Time
April 1, 2025, Midnight-2 a.m.*
April 12, 2025, 9:40 p.m.-11:40 p.m.
April 13, 2025, 10 p.m.-Midnight
April 14, 2025, 10:20 p.m.-12:20 a.m.
April 15, 2025, 10:45 p.m.-12:45 a.m.
April 27, 2025, 9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
April 28, 2025, 10:10 p.m.-12:10 a.m.
April 29, 2025, 10:50 p.m.-12:50 a.m.
April 30, 2025, 11:35 p.m.-1:35 a.m.
May 12, 2025, 9:25 p.m.-11:25 p.m.
May 13, 2025, 9:50 p.m.-11:50 p.m.
May 14, 2025, 10:20 p.m.-12:20 a.m.
May 15, 2025, 10:55 p.m.-12:55 a.m.
May 26, 2025, 9:05 p.m.-11:05 p.m.
May 27 9:50 p.m.-11:50 p.m.
May 28, 2025, 10:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.
May 29, 2025, 11:25 p.m.-1:25 a.m.
June 11, 2025, 10:9:35 p.m.-11:35 p.m.
June 12, 2025, 10:10 p.m.-12:10 a.m.
June 13, 2025, 10:50 p.m.-12:50 a.m.
June 14, 2025, 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
June 25, 2025, 9:40 p.m.-11:40 p.m.
June 26, 2025, 10:25 p.m.-12:25 a.m.
June 27, 2025, 11:10 p.m.-1:10 a.m.
June 28, 2025, Midnight-2 a.m.* 

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

1. The times given for each date reflect the probable two-hour interval (Pacific Daylight Time) during which a spawning run may occur. This schedule predicts grunion runs at Cabrillo Beach near the Los Angeles Harbor entrance. The timing of the runs varies at different places along the coast: San Diego runs occur about 5 minutes earlier and Santa Barbara runs occur about 25 minutes later than the times provided here.
2. The second hour is usually better.
3. The best runs normally occur on the second and third nights of a four-night period.
4. While grunion spawn on many beaches in Southern California, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife does not recommend any particular beach because of changing safety conditions and local curfews.

One of the best ways to find out which beaches have had recent runs is to call the state and county beach lifeguards who can often tell if spawning has taken place. There normally is a grunion program offered to the public at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro on several nights of the season. Call (310) 548-7562 for details.

REMINDER: During the open season, a California fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older. See wildlife.ca.gov.  

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-it is unlawful and unethical to waste fish.