Southern California Grunion Run

Have you ever heard of a grunion run? Since there are only limited opportunities to observe a grunion run, let alone take advantage of one, many people do not have a clue as to what a grunion is.

California Grunion

California grunion are fish that live in the sea off the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California. During the months of March through at least August, these little silvery fish literally swim out of the water to spawn.

A Southern California Grunion Run

Grunion run three or four nights after the new and full moon between 9:30 PM-ish to 12:30 PM-ish during their season. Several hours after high tide, thousands of these small fish may, or at times, may not wash up from the sea onto the shore. The females will dig tail first into the sand, usually up to their pectoral fins, and deposit their eggs, while males will twist around the females to fertilize the eggs. Sometimes several males will attempt to fertilize the same female’s eggs. After fertilizing the eggs, the males will start splashing back towards the sea while the female will wait for the next wave to take her home. It can take several hours for a grunion run to complete.

High Tide and Hatching

Grunion eggs will incubate for around ten days or until the next high tide, when sea water and agitation from the waves apparently triggers a hatching. The little grunion are then washed into the water.

Grunion Facts

What are some interesting grunion facts?

A grunion’s average length is five inches, with a maximum between six and seven inches.

Grunion live two to three years.

Grunion only grow during the fall and winter months.

No one knows exactly how grunion choose the times that they do to spawn.

Grunion were named by the Spanish after the Spanish word for grunting.

Grunion do not have any teeth.

Fishing a Grunion Run in Southern California

You can fish for grunion during March, June, July, and August. April and May are closed to fishing, so you can only watch the grunion run during these two months.

In order to fish for grunion, you must get a California state fishing license if you are sixteen years old or older. You can only fish during for grunion when they run using your hands. Finally, you cannot dig a whole in the sand to help you catch any wayward grunion. And, do not forget that you should only fish for what you will use.

Grunion Run Pictures
More Grunion Run Pictures
Grunion.org
 

-Laura Evans

Laura Evans is a native Californian and has traveled extensively throughout the Southwest. She is a Tutor, an Antique Dealer, and a Freelance Writer. Visit her at Antiques and Collectibles