California Grunion Overview Where they Live

California Grunion Run - Little Fish in Big Pond

There's no single, tiny fish that holds more fascination and lures the imagination into excitement than the grunion, a small fish of the silversides family of fish. The fish are so interesting because of their unique behavior influenced by the moon. Grunion greeters are trained in California to work as docents in several cities where you'll see large populations come to experience the Grunion Run.

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

Each spring and summer the adult fish spawn on beaches in California from San Diego to roughly Point Conception near Santa Barbara. In small windows of time usually only two hours long they come ashore and lay their eggs in the sand. While people aren't interested in the eggs, they are interested in catching the adult grunion--and eating them.

According to California Department of Fish and Game, the numbers of these fish is diminishing due to various conditions such as pollution. While catching and keeping the fish to eat is still permitted with a fishing license, it's a general consensus among several organizations dedicated to the study of grunion that humans catch and release the fish whenever possible. Unless you have definite plans to cook and eat them, do have fun on the grunion run, but don't keep the little critters if you have no plans or don't know much cooking and eating them. Probably the best approach is to go on a hunt and take a small amount. Try them out and if you find them tasty, go to another grunion run and capture more if you can.

About grunion: California grunion are relatives with jacksmelt and topsmelt. (Leuresthes tenuis) is a member of the New World silversides family. Their preferred environment is from Central California Pacific Ocean waters to south of the U.S. border in Mexico at Point Abreojos, Baja California. They inhabit waters near the shore as deep as around 60 feet. They are not believed to migrate.

Each year from March through July, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium presents special evening programs designed to introduce the public to the unique and elusive grunion fish. If you'd like an opportunity to see the grunion in person, check the schedule on the reverse side of this card for a convenient date. The cost of the program is $5 adults, $1 children/seniors/students with I.D. Reservations are not necessary; tickets will be sold at the Aquarium. Cash only please. On the evenings listed, CabrilloMarineAquarium and theGift Shop will open at 8pm. The Grunion Program will begin at 9pmin the John M.Olguin Auditorium. We suggest bringing a blanket to sit on and a flashlight to spot the grunion. Remember to dress warmly. The evenings may be chilly and damp at the beach. at the
3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
California 90731 • Phone: 310-548-7562
A FACILITY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT
OF RECREATION AND PARKS.
*
*
CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM
GRUNION PROGRAM SCHEDULE 2011
OPEN SEASON PREDICTED RUN TIME
March 7 (Monday) 10:25pm – 12:25am
March 21 (Monday) 11:15pm – 1:15am
CLOSED SEASON (GRUNION MAY NOT BE TAKEN)
April 5 (Tuesday) 10:40pm – 12:40am
April 19 (Tuesday) 10:45pm – 12:45am
May 5 (Thursday) 10:45pm – 12:45am
May 19 (Thursday) 11:05pm – 1:05am
OPEN SEASON
June 3 (Friday) 10:35pm – 12:35am
June 17 (Friday) 10:50pm – 12:50am
July 16 (Saturday) 10:30pm – 12:30am

In March, June and July, grunion may be collected, by hand only, by persons possessing a 2011 California Fishing License. No license is required for those under the age of 16. Closed Season: During the months of April and May, taking of grunion is not permitted. Our Meet the Grunion programs will still be held. Cabrillo Beach will close at midnight regardless of the grunion running time.

Grunion leave the water at night to spawn on beaches during the spring and summer months.

Spawning occurs from March through August, and occasionally in February and September. Peak spawning is late March to early June.

Mature grunion may spawn during successive runs, with females spawning up to six times each season. Females lay between 1,600 and 3,600 eggs during one spawn, with larger females producing more eggs.

Eggs are deposited during the highest tides of the month and incubate in the sand during the lower tides, when they will not be disturbed by wave action. The eggs are kept moist by residual water in the sand. They hatch about 10 days later, during the next high tide series, when they are inundated with sea water and agitated by rising surf.

Most grunion seen on southern California beaches are between 5 and 6 in. long, with some are as long as 7 in. An average one-year old male is 4˝ in. long while a female the same age is slightly larger at 5 in. Grunion mature and spawn at the end of the first year. At the end of two years, males average 5˝ in. and females are around 5ľ in. long. By the end of three years, an average male is nearly 6 in. and a female is a little over 6Ľ inches in length. Few live for more than three years.

Grunion food habits are not well known. They have no teeth, so they are presumed to feed on very small organisms. Shore birds, isopods, flies, sand worms, and beetles eat grunion eggs, while humans, larger fish, and other animals prey upon grunion.

Despite local concentrations, grunion are not abundant. The most critical problem facing the grunion resource is the loss of spawning habitat caused by beach erosion, harbor construction, and pollution. By the 1920s, the fishery was showing definite signs of depletion. A regulation was passed in 1927 establishing a closed season of three months, from April through June. The fishery improved, and in 1947 the closure was shortened to April through May. This closure is still in effect to protect grunion during their peak spawning period.

During the open season, a fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older to capture grunion. Grunion may be taken by sport fishermen using hands only. No holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them. There is no bag limit, but fishermen may take only what they can use--it is unlawful to waste fish.

Under these regulations, the resource seems to be maintaining itself at a fairly constant level. While the population size is not known, all research points to a rather restricted resource that is appropriately harvested under existing law.

While grunion spawn on many beaches in southern California, the Department of Fish and Game 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 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.

Additional grunion information and volunteer programs may be found at: www.grunion.org.
Expected Grunion Runs for 2011
Open Season
March
4
5
6
7

19
20
21
22 Fr 9:15 p.m. - 11:15 p.m.
Sa 9:40 p.m. - 11:40 p.m.
Su 10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Mo 10:25 p.m. - 12:25 a.m.*

Sa 10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Su 10:35 p.m. - 12:35 a.m.*
Mo 11:15 p.m. - 1:15 a.m.*
Tu Midnight - 2:00 a.m.*
June
1
2
3
4

15
16
17
18 We 9:20 p.m. - 11:20 p.m.
Th 9:55 p.m. - 11:55 p.m.
Fr 10:35 p.m. - 12:35 a.m.*
Sa 11:15 - 1:15 a.m.*

We 9:25 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.
Th 10:10 p.m. - 12:10 a.m.*
Fr 10:50 p.m. - 12:50 a.m.*
Sa 11:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.*
July
1
2
3
4

15
16
17
18

30
31 Fr 9:45 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
Sa 10:25 p.m. - 12:25 a.m.*
Su 11:10 p.m. - 1:10 a.m.*
Mo 11:55 p.m. - 1:55 a.m.*

Fr 9:55 p.m. - 11:55 p.m.
Sa 10:35 p.m. - 12:35 a.m.*
Su 11:10 p.m. - 1:10 a.m.*
Mo 11:45 p.m. - 1:45 a.m.*

Sa 9:35 p.m. - 11:35 p.m.
Su 10:15 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.*
August
1
2

13
14
15 Mo 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.*
Tu 11:50 p.m. - 1:50 a.m.*

Sa 9:45 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
Su 10:15 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.*
Mo 10:50 p.m. - 12:50 a.m.*
Closed Season (Observation Only)
April
3
4
5
6

17
18
19
20 Su 10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Mo 10:15 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.*
Tu 10:40 p.m. - 12:40 a.m.*
We 11:10 p.m. - 1:10 a.m.*

Su 9:25 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.
Mo 10:05 p.m. - 12:05 a.m.*
Tu 10:45 p.m. - 12:45 a.m.*
We 11:25 p.m. - 1:25 a.m.*
May
3
4
5
6

17
18
19
20 Tu 9:45 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
We 10:15 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.*
Th 10:45 p.m. - 12:45 a.m.*
Fr 11:25 p.m. - 1:25 a.m.*

Tu 9:45 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
We 10:20 p.m. - 12:20 a.m.*
Th 11:05 p.m. - 1:05 a.m.*
Fr 11:55 p.m. - 1:55 a.m.*

Note: The times given for each date reflect the probable two-hour interval during which a spawning run may occur. The second hour is usually better. The best runs normally occur on the second and third nights of the four-night period.

The times refer to the 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.

Times through March 7 are Pacific Standard Time. Thereafter, times are Pacific Daylight Saving Time.

REMINDER: During the open season, a 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. There is no bag limit, but take only what you can use - it is unlawful and unethical to waste fish.

* Where the time relating to the expected run is after midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.

For a current schedule, send a self addressed stamped envelope to:

GRUNION
California Department of Fish and Game
Marine Region
4665 Lampson Ave. Suite C
Los Alamitos, CA 90720

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a member of the New World silversides family,
Atheriniopsidae, along with the jacksmelt and
topsmelt. Their usual range extends from Point
Conception, California, to Point Abreojos, Baja
California. Occasionally, they are found farther
north, to Monterey Bay, California, and south to
San Juanico Bay, Baja California. They inhabit the
nearshore waters from the surf to a depth of 60 ft.
Tagging studies indicate that they do not migrate.
Grunion are the object of a unique recreational
fishery. These fish are famous for their remarkable
spawning behavior, which evokes an "I don't believe
it!" from people who see it or hear it described for
the first time.
Grunion leave the water at night to spawn on
beaches during the spring and summer months. For
four consecutive nights, beginning on the nights of
the full and new moons, spawning occurs after high
tides and continues for several hours. As waves break
on the beach, grunion swim as far up the slope as
possible. The female arches her body and excavates
the semi-fluid sand with her tail to create a nest.
She twists her body and digs into the sand until she
is half buried, with her head sticking up. She then
deposits her eggs in the nest. Males curve around
the female and release milt. The milt flows down the
female's body until it reaches and fertilizes the eggs.
As many as eight males may fertilize the eggs in a
single nest. After spawning, the males immediately
retreat toward the water while the female twists free
and returns with the next wave. While spawning
may only take 30 seconds, some fish remain stranded
on the beach for several minutes.
Spawning occurs from March through August,
and occasionally in February and September. Peak
spawning is late March to early June.
More California Grunion Facts
California grunion, Leuresthes tenuis
illustration by P. Johnson
Mature grunion may spawn during successive
runs, with females spawning up to six times each
season. Females lay between 1,600 and 3,600 eggs
during one spawn, with larger females producing
more eggs.
Eggs are deposited during the highest tides of the
month and incubate in the sand during the lower
tides, when they will not be disturbed by wave
action. The eggs are kept moist by residual water in
the sand. They hatch about 10 days later, during the
next high tide series, when they are inundated with
sea water and agitated by rising surf.
Most of the grunion seen on southern California
beaches are between 5 and 6 in. long, with some as
long as 7 in. An average one-year-old male is 4˝ in.
long while a female of the same age is slightly larger
at 5 in. At the end of two years, males average 5˝
in. and females are around 5ľ in. long. By the end
of three years, an average male is nearly 6 in. and a
female is a little over 6Ľ inches in length. Few live to
be more than three years old. Grunion mature and
spawn at the end of the first year.
Grunion food habits are not well known. They
have no teeth, so they are presumed to feed on very
small organisms. Shore birds, isopods, flies, sand
worms, and beetles eat grunion eggs, while humans,
larger fish, and other animals prey upon grunion

The times given for each date reflect the
probable two-hour interval during which
a spawning run may occur. The second hour is
usually better. The best runs normally occur on the
second and third nights of a four-night period.
Times through March 7 are Pacific Standard Time.
Thereafter, times are Pacific Daylight Savings Time.
The times given here refer to the 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.
REMINDER: During the open season, 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. There is no
bag limit, but take only the fish you can use - it is
unlawful and unethical to waste fish.
Regarding This Schedule
Despite local concentrations, grunion are not
abundant. The most critical problem facing the
grunion resource is the loss of spawning habitat
caused by beach erosion, harbor construction, and
pollution. By the 1920s, the fishery was showing
definite signs of depletion. A regulation was passed
in 1927 establishing a closed season of three months,
from April through June. The fishery improved and
in 1947 the closure was shortened to April through
May. This closure is still in effect to protect grunion
during their peak spawning period.
During the open season, a fishing license is required
for persons 16 years and older to capture grunion.
Grunion may be taken by sport fishermen using their
hands only. No holes may be dug in the beach to
entrap grunion. There is no bag limit, but fishermen
may take only what they can use--it is unlawful to
waste fish. Under these regulations, the resource
seems to be maintaining itself at a fairly constant
level. While the population size is not known, all
research points to a rather restricted resource that is
appropriately harvested under existing law.
While grunion spawn on many beaches in southern
California, the Department of Fish and Game 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 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.
Additional grunion information and volunteer
programs may be found at: www.grunion.org.
For a current schedule,
send a self-addressed, stamp envelope to:
GRUNION
California Department of Fish and Game
4665 Lampson Ave. Suite C
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Or download a schedule from the Department Web site at
www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp * Where the time relating to the expected run is after
midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.

Sunday, March 13 (Starts at 7:00 a.m.)

Grunion Run 10K & 5K Run/Walk & Kids 1K Run

The 10K starts at 7 a.m.; 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. and Kids 1K at 9:15 a.m. Awards are scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Pre-registration is available online at www.festivalofwhalesgrunionrun.com. After the Run, hop back on the Festival's FREE shuttle and join everyone at the Whale of a Pancake Breakfast!

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