Grunion Run 2025: Where, When, and How

Grunion run 2025 is here, and if you want to witness this incredible natural event, you’ll need to know the grunion run schedule. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know, including what grunion are, what a grunion run is, and why grunion run. We’ll also provide the full 2025 grunion run schedule, breaking it down month-by-month including observation-only (closed) season and open season. Plus, we’ll cover important regulations, including when you can take grunion, how many grunion you can take and whether you need a fishing license to participate. Keep reading for the most complete and up-to-date guide to the 2025 grunion run!

Breaking Down the Article:

• 2025 Schedule
• About Grunion
  • General Info
  • Regulations/Requirements
• Best Beaches in San Diego for Grunion Runs
• How to See a Grunion Run
• Full Moons vs New Moons and More

2025 Grunion Run Schedule

Grunion runs are a unique phenomenon where these small, silver fish come ashore to spawn on sandy beaches along the Southern California coast. Understanding when you can observe and legally catch them is key to making the most of the season.

Grunion Open vs. Closed Season

• Open Season: March, July, August (Grunion may be taken by hand only—no nets, holes, or traps allowed.)
• Closed Season: April, May, June (No grunion may be taken during this period, but observation is allowed.)

March 2025 (Open Season)

Day	Date	Time
Fri	3/14	10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Sat	3/15	10:50 p.m. – 12:50 a.m.
Sun	3/16	11:10 p.m. – 1:10 a.m.
Mon	3/17	11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Sat	3/29	10:05 p.m. – 12:05 a.m.
Sun	3/30	10:40 p.m. – 12:40 a.m.
Mon	3/31	11:20 p.m. – 1:20 a.m.

March is the last month of the open season before the three-month closure. If you’re looking to catch grunion, this is your last chance until July!

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April – June 2025 (Closed Season)

During these months, you may observe grunion runs but may not catch them. This is their peak spawning period, and the closed season is in place to help maintain their population.

Month	Grunion Runs (Observation Only)
April	4/13 – 4/16, 4/27 – 4/30
May	5/12 – 5/15, 5/26 – 5/29
June	6/11 – 6/14, 6/24 – 6/27

These months provide a great opportunity for families and nature lovers to witness the grunion spawn under the moonlight without harvesting them.

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April 2025 (Observation Only):

Day	Date	Time
Tue	4/1	Midnight – 2:00 a.m.*
Sat	4/12	9:40 p.m. – 11:40 p.m.
Sun	4/13	10:00 p.m. – Midnight
Mon	4/14	10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
Tue	4/15	10:45 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.
Sun	4/27	9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Mon	4/28	10:10 p.m. – 12:10 a.m.
Tue	4/29	10:50 p.m. – 12:50 a.m.
Wed	4/30	11:35 p.m. – 1:35 a.m.

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May 2025 (Observation Only):

Day	Date	Time
Mon	5/12	9:25 p.m. – 11:25 p.m.
Tue	5/13	9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
Wed	5/14	10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
Thu	5/15	10:55 p.m. – 12:55 a.m.
Mon	5/26	9:05 p.m. – 11:05 p.m.
Tue	5/27	9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
Wed	5/28	10:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.
Thu	5/29	11:25 p.m. – 1:25 a.m.

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June 2025 (Observation Only):

Day	Date	Time
Wed	6/11	9:35 p.m. – 11:35 p.m.
Thu	6/12	10:10 p.m. – 12:10 a.m.
Fri	6/13	10:50 p.m. – 12:50 a.m.
Sat	6/14	11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Wed	6/25	9:40 p.m. – 11:40 p.m.
Thu	6/26	10:25 p.m. – 12:25 a.m.
Fri	6/27	11:10 p.m. – 1:10 a.m.
Sat	6/28	Midnight – 2:00 a.m.*

*Note: For runs starting at or after midnight, the date of the previous evening is shown.

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July 2025 (Open Season Resumes!)

Day	Date	Time
Thu	7/10	9:25 p.m. – 11:25 p.m.
Fri	7/11	10:05 p.m. – 12:05 a.m.
Sat	7/12	10:45 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.
Sun	7/13	11:25 p.m. – 1:25 a.m.
Thu	7/24	9:35 p.m. – 11:35 p.m.
Fri	7/25	10:15 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Sat	7/26	10:55 p.m. – 12:55 a.m.
Sun	7/27	11:35 p.m. – 1:35 a.m.

July marks the return of grunion catching season!

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August 2025 (Prime Season)

Day	Date	Time
Sat	8/9	9:55 p.m. – 11:55 p.m.
Sun	8/10	10:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.
Mon	8/11	11:15 p.m. – 1:15 a.m.
Tue	8/12	12:05 a.m. – 2:05 a.m.*
Sat	8/23	10:00 p.m. – Midnight
Sun	8/24	10:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.
Mon	8/25	11:15 p.m. – 1:15 a.m.
Tue	8/26	11:50 p.m. – 1:50 a.m.

August is your last opportunity for grunion fishing, as warm weather and late-night tides make for ideal conditions!

About Grunion Runs

Have you ever heard of a Grunion Run? Every year from March through August, a mystifying phenomenon takes place right here, at our local beaches. Small fish make their way onto our sandy shores during the high tides of full and new moons.

They do so for what is predicted to be 4 nights in a row in correspondence with each full and new moon during the spring and summer months.

These mysterious fish are called “grunion”, and the eventful nights in which they appear are termed, “grunion runs”. As they come up onto the shore, the female grunion will lay their eggs as high up on the beach as they can.

Subsequently, the male grunion will fertilize the eggs as a “grunion run” is actually how these fish spawn. For current regulations visit the government site here. Keep in mind that April and May are strictly observation only.

Regulations

During the open season, anyone 16 or older must have a valid CA fishing license (with the saltwater enhancement stamp). Grunion can only be caught by hand—digging holes to trap them is not allowed. The daily bag and possession limit is 30 grunion per person.

The use of any tools, hole digging, and other mechanisms (including nets) is prohibited and you can be fined if caught doing so.

Best Beaches for Grunion Runs

There are always exceptions, but the following five characteristics have proven to hold merit when finding the best beaches for grunion runs – Beaches that are quiet with minimal foot-traffic, have minimal artificial light, are sandy rather than rocky, are relatively flat (with a gradual slope rather than steep), and long and wide. Let’s take a look at each factor with more detail.

Best Beaches in San Diego County for Grunion Runs

San Diego County offers several prime locations for witnessing the grunion run 2025. Below are some of the best beaches for observing and participating in grunion runs, including both open season and observation-only locations.

1. Silver Strand State Beach

Why It’s Great: A long stretch of sandy beach with minimal light pollution, perfect for spotting large grunion runs.
Regulations: Open for grunion catching during the designated open season.

2. Coronado Beach

Why It’s Great: Wide sandy shores and relatively low crowds make this a great place to experience the grunion run.
Regulations: Open for catching grunion during the allowed season.

3. La Jolla Shores

Why It’s Great: A well-known spot for marine life, La Jolla Shores often sees strong grunion runs.
Regulations: OBSERVATION ONLY—taking grunion is not permitted at this location.

4. Black’s Beach

Why It’s Great: A remote and less crowded beach, making it easier to witness grunion runs with minimal light disturbance.
Regulations: Open for catching grunion during the designated season.

5. Del Mar Beach

Why It’s Great: This beach has a reputation for consistent grunion activity, and its accessibility makes it a great spot for families.
Regulations: Open for grunion catching during the permitted season.

6. Oceanside Beach (Near the Pier)

Why It’s Great: A northern San Diego County hotspot for grunion runs, especially around the pier.
Regulations: Open for grunion catching in season.

Tips for the Best Grunion Run Experience

• Arrive late at night, after high tide, for the best chances of witnessing the run.
• Keep flashlights to a minimum—excessive artificial light can deter grunion from coming ashore.
• Check the 2025 grunion run schedule to plan your visit during peak spawning times.
• If you plan to catch grunion, a valid California fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.

Whether you’re observing or catching grunion during the grunion run 2025, these beaches provide some of the best opportunities to experience this unique natural event!

How To See A Grunion Run

For your best chance at seeing a grunion run, look for beaches that have the following characteristics. When grunion run, they prefer beaches that won’t present dangers or disturbances.

Quiet

When I say quiet, I’m referring to noise caused by people. This could mean crowds and it could also mean machinery and other man-made/man-caused noise. Think about it, if you get close enough to a fish in the water, it’ll get spooked right? If that’s a fish’s natural reaction in the water, imagine how it might feel during a similar encounter out of the water. Yup, probably a little more spooked!

Now obviously there comes a point that the fish will see you, but better just one or two people than huge crowds.

Little-to-no artificial light

This applies to the artificial light already present due to shops, houses, and people on the beach as well as that flash light you’re holding! Yes, you heard that right. If you want your best shot at experiencing one of these runs, ditch the flash light, or at least keep it too a minimal.

I admit, I will bring flashlight, but I’ll keep it turned off until I see a really big wave wash ashore and that’s when I turn it on. I only point it away from the water and up the sand so I don’t spook the rest of the grunion that are still waiting to come ashore. This one, although tough to commit to, is very important and very self-explanatory.

Fish don’t like things out of the ordinary, light being no exception. This goes hand-in-hand with the first factor (quiet). If you’re on a busy beach, odds are that other people are shining light on the beach and in the water, thus, spooking the fish.

Sandy

In considering the logistics of a grunion run, sandy beaches make it a whole lot easier for the fish as well as for us to catch the fish. These fish will be out of water thus, having little coordination on the sand. Rocks or even pebbles would only further complicate the matter for them and for us.

Scurrying around in the dark on a flat, sandy beach is tough enough as it is, don’t force rocks into the equation. It’ll only overcomplicate things for you and might add a little danger too.

Flat – Not Steep

This last one helps us just as much as it helps the Grunion. If the beach is too steep, the female Grunion won’t have enough time to burrow their eggs in the sand and the males won’t have enough time or accuracy to fertilize them.

Similarly, if the fish are on the beach for even less time, we would have less time to spot and grab them. It’s already tough enough considering the typical run isn’t always one where grunion cover the beach.

Sure, those happen, and if you’re there you’ll have no trouble grabbing as many as you need, but for the most part, you’ll likely be hunting around for them as they bolt up and down the sand.

Long and Wide

*Important* This characteristic is the most important to note for all the first-timers out there. If you’ve never paid attention to tides and don’t know a whole lot about the specific beach you’re headed to, you’re just not going to be successful (most of the time).

Take for instance, Torrey Pines, Oceanside by Cassidy Street, Del Mar (south), Blacks Beach (in some areas) and many North County beaches; they may all seem like terrific options for grunion runs, but are they? Blacks Beach could be depending on the spot you choose and which night you go, Torrey Pines likely won’t be, plus it’s more pebbly than sandy.

Del Mar could be in some areas. Oceanside could be further north. Why are these not ideal? Because grunion runs always occur at high tides! Not just any high tides either, they usually occur at some of the highest high tides of the month. If you haven’t caught on yet, it’s really good you’re still reading.

The problem with these beaches is that during high tide, the beach is often completely submerged. Especially the case at Torrey Pines, during a high tide of more than 5 feet, you’ll likely be pushed up against the bluffs. It’s not safe and it’s not smart.

Which Night of a Grunion Run is Best to See the Grunion?

In my experience, the second and third night of a grunion run have resulted in the best showings although I’ve heard nights 3 and 4 are more popularly considered the best nights to see a grunion run. Here’s my detailed article explaining tidal differentials and everything else that leads to determining the best night of a grunion run.

Is a Full Moon or New Moon Better to See a Grunion Run?

I’ve always preferred full moons over new moons when going out to witness a grunion run. I have two reasons for this.

1. Full moons provide better natural light that won’t spook the fish as easily.
2. The fishing has been better for me on these nights as well.

It’s an incredible event to see in person and it brings a different perspective to the world of surf fishing. These sardine-like baitfish draw in predators of all types from the deeper waters. This results in frenzies of all sorts and endless possibilities to catch big game-fish from the surf. What will the new season bring? We’ll just have to wait and see. But, get out there and go see a grunion run!