Grunion runs in San Diego: when the fish come ashore, and when you can catch them
On spring and summer nights after the highest tides, from March to August. April through June is look-only; in March, July and August you can catch up to 30 by hand with a license. CDFW posts each year's dates in advance.
- Season
- Mar–Aug
- Look only
- Apr 1–Jun 30
- Limit
- 30
- Time
- ~9:30 p.m.–2 a.m.
Nights after the highest tides
Peak spawning, closed to take
Hands only, license 16+
Second hour is usually better
The short version
- California grunion spawn on sandy beaches for a few nights after the new and full moons, from March through August.
- CDFW publishes predicted run times each year for Cabrillo Beach; San Diego runs come about five minutes earlier, and the second hour of each two-hour window is usually best.
- Taking grunion is banned from April 1 through June 30, the peak spawning months; since 2022 the daily limit is 30.
- You must use your hands only, can't dig holes, and need a fishing license if you're 16 or older.
- In 2026, open-season runs fell in early and mid-March and from July through the end of August; the 2027 schedule isn't out yet.
Grunion do something almost no other fish does: they spawn out of the water. On a handful of nights after the highest tides, they surf onto the sand, the females dig in tail-first to lay eggs, and the males curl around them. Then they ride the next wave back out. On a good night the beach shimmers silver. It's one of the strangest free shows on the coast.
Grunion beaches
Beaches named in 2026 local coverage plus other wide sandy beaches; grunion can appear on any of them. Pins from OpenStreetMap.
Look-only months vs. open season
| Months | What's allowed | |
|---|---|---|
| Open season | March, July, August | Catch up to 30 by hand; license required at 16+ |
| Closed season | April 1 to June 30 | Watch only; peak spawning |
How the 2026 season ran
Runs come in four-night bursts about every two weeks. In 2026 the open-season runs were March 3–6 and 18–21, then July 1–2, 14–17 and 29–31, August 1, August 12–15 and August 28–30, with windows starting between about 9:30 p.m. and midnight. CDFW usually posts the next year's dates early in the year; we'll add 2027 when they're out.
How to see one
- 01
Check CDFW's schedule
Use the predicted two-hour window and arrive at the start. San Diego runs are about five minutes ahead of the listed Cabrillo Beach times.
- 02
Pick a dark, quiet beach
Lights, noise and crowds scare off the first scouts. Use a red light if you need one, and leave dogs at home.
- 03
Watch the first scouts
A few fish land first. If they're left alone, the main run follows; the second hour is usually better.
- 04
Know the rules if you catch
Hands only, no holes, 30 fish max, open months only, and a license if you're 16 or older.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife · 2026 schedule, checked October 6, 2026
Run dates and times, San Diego offset
California Department of Fish and Wildlife · May 16, 2022
April closure and 30-fish limit
- Primary14 CCR §28.00
California Code of Regulations (Justia) · Checked October 6, 2026
Season and rules
- BackgroundGrunion Greeters
grunion.org · Checked October 6, 2026
Volunteer program
Times of San Diego · July 15, 2026
San Diego beaches, viewing tips