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Halibut Fishing - Strategies for Finding & Targeting California Halibut [video + article]
Location is the number one challenge in early-season halibut fishing - check out this video & article masterclass from Vince Chiofalo...
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Grunion Run 2024 Schedule for California - Best Beaches List, Bag Limits and Tips
The Grunion Run 2024 schedule for California has been released and this page contains the latest information on the best beaches, dates and times to help you find the nearest grunions running to where you live.
California grunions (Leuresthes tenuis) are small silvery bait fish that breed by swimming up onto sandy beaches at certain moon and tide cycles up and down Southern California at night in warmer months, and going on a grunion run is a great way of seeing this unique species. The fishing can be great, too!
To find them, you need to know when they run and how to find them, which is where this detailed guide comes in. We'll explore locations, tips, dates and times to give you maximum chances of success next time you head out for a grunion hunt.
Grunion Run 2024 Schedule Page Guide
Information for going on a Grunion Run in California 2024
Grunion runs occur between March and August up and down Southern California when a combination of moon, tide and water temperature trigger the California grunion to swim right up to the beach to breed over a series of late-night high tides lasting three to four evenings. A run occurs approximately every two weeks.
Best beaches
What beaches have had Grunion Runs recently in Southern California?
Knowing the best beaches to find grunion runs on in California is obviously key to predicting where the next event will occur. In the past this year, confirmed Grunion runs have occurred in Southern California on the following beaches:
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Surfer's Knoll (Ventura County)
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Malibu Cove (LA County)
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Santa Monica Beach and Pier area (LA County)
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Redondo & Torrance Beach (LA County)
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San Pedro area beaches (LA County)
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Cabrillo Beach (LA County)
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Seal Beach (LA County)
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Cherry Beach (Long Beach, LA County)
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Huntington State Beach (Orange County)
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Newport Beach / Balboa Peninsula (Orange County)
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Capistrano State Beach / Doheney Beach (Orange County)
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Carlsbad State Beach (Orange County)
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Cardiff-by-the Sea Beach / San Elijo (San Diego)
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Coronado Ferry Landing Beach (San Diego)
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Campo Archelon (Baha, MX)
The first tip is to identify a nearby beach that's likely to see a grunion run, based on the above list. The locations been fairly consistent for the past few years, so previous runs are a good indicator for future activity.
Next, let's look at how to find grunions once you've identified a suitable area that might see a run.
Legals
What are the laws, bag limits and best tips for finding Grunions on Grunion Runs?
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Find an expansive sandy beach in or between Ventura County and San Diego County with access to open ocean like the stretch of Santa Monica Beach in LA County in the photo above. Avoid harbors, estuaries and lagoons with restricted access
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Avoid using head torches or lamps - grunion spook easily. Stay quiet and unseen until the run is well underway
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The third and fourth night of the run are usually the most reliable times to spot grunion
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You'll often hear or see birds circling or landing where the grunion are running, or just before
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If you can't find them, keep lights off and walk the beach as the run will often be concentrated in one area towards one end of a beach
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The months of April, May and June are officially no-take months
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Anyone over the age of 16 will need a CDFW fishing license to catch grunion
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The best (and only legal) way of catching grunion is with your hands
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There is a bag limit of 30 fish per person in months when take is allowed (see below for a list of months when take is allowed)
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Make sure you read the California Fish & Wildlife's list of regulations for grunion hunters
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Listen to Episode 54 of the Western Outdoor News podcast on Grunions Runs and finding Grunions
Fishing tips
Tips for Shark and Surf Fishing on Grunion Runs: Baits, Tides, Species and Guiding Services
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Grunion runs often attract soupfin sharks, leopard sharks, bat rays, halibut, croaker, white seabass and surf perch
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Grunion are often too small to use as bait, so try half a fresh mackerel, bonito chunk, croaker head or baitfish-pattern lure like a jerkbait or swimbait instead
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The periods just after or before the run with a big outgoing tide often produces the best action
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Read this in-depth article written by a professional guide: How To Catch Large Predatory Fish (Sharks, Rays etc) on a Grunion Run
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For information on professional guiding services for grunion run fishing sessions, click here
Run schedule
The Grunion Run 2024 schedule for California is listed below with full dates and times for all grunion runs throughout the year – March, April, May, June, July and August
March
Grunion Runs in March 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | 3/10/24 | 22:30 PM | 00:30 AM | Yes |
Mon | 3/11/24 | 23:05 PM | 01:05 AM | Yes |
Tues | 3/12/24 | 23:40 PM | 01:40 AM | Yes |
Weds | 3/13/24 | 12:20 PM | 02:20 AM | Yes |
Mon | 3/25/24 | 22:20 PM | 00:20 AM | Yes |
Tues | 3/26/24 | 22:40 PM | 00:40 AM | Yes |
Weds | 3/27/24 | 23:00 PM | 01:00 AM | Yes |
Thurs | 3/28/24 | 23:20 PM | 01:20 AM | Yes |
April
Grunion Runs in April 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mon | 4/08/24 | 09:50 PM | 11:50 PM | No |
Tues | 4/09/24 | 10:25 PM | 12:25 AM | No |
Weds | 4/10/24 | 11:00 PM | 1:00 AM | No |
Thurs | 4/11/24 | 11:40 PM | 01:40 AM | No |
Tues | 4/23/24 | 09:30 PM | 11:30 PM | No |
Weds | 4/24/24 | 09:55 PM | 11:55 PM | No |
Thurs | 4/25/24 | 10:20 PM | 12:20 AM | No |
Fri | 4/26/24 | 10:50 PM | 12:50 AM | No |
May
Grunion Runs in May 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | 5/26/24 | 11:20 PM | 1:20 AM | No |
Sat | 5/25/24 | 11:40 PM | 12:40 AM | No |
Fri | 5/24/24 | 10:00 PM | Midnight | No |
Thurs | 5/23/24 | 9:30 PM | 11:30 PM | No |
Fri | 5/10/24 | 11:10 PM | 1:10 AM | No |
Thurs | 5/9/24 | 10:30 PM | 12:30 AM | No |
Weds | 5/8/24 | 9:50 PM | 11:50 PM | No |
Tues | 5/7/24 | 9:15 PM | 11:15 PM | No |
June
Grunion Runs in June 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thurs | 6/6/24 | 9:30 PM | 11:30 PM | No |
Fri | 6/7/24 | 10:15 PM | 12:15 AM | No |
Sat | 6/8/24 | 10:55 PM | 12:55 AM | No |
Sun | 6/9/24 | 11:40 PM | 1:40 AM | No |
Fri | 6/21/24 | 9:10 PM | 11: 10 PM | No |
Sat | 6/22/24 | 9:50 PM | 11:50 PM | No |
Sun | 6/23/24 | 10:35 PM | 12:35 AM | No |
Mon | 6/24/24 | 11:20 PM | 1:20 AM | No |
July
Grunion Runs in July 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fri | 7/5/24 | 9:25 PM | 11:25 PM | Yes |
Sat | 7/6/24 | 10:05 PM | 12:05 AM | Yes |
Sun | 7/7/24 | 10:40 PM | 12:40 AM | Yes |
Mon | 7/8/24 | 11:20 PM | 1:20 AM | Yes |
Sun | 7/21/24 | 9:45 PM | 11:45 PM | Yes |
Mon | 7/22/24 | 10:30 PM | 12:30 AM | Yes |
Tues | 7/23/24 | 11:20 PM | 1:20 AM | Yes |
Weds | 7/24/24 | 12:05 AM | 02:05 AM | Yes |
Aug
Grunion Runs in August 2024
Day | Date | Start Time | End Time | Take Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | 8/4/24 | 9:50 PM | 11:50 PM | Yes |
Mon | 8/5/24 | 10:25 PM | 12:25 PM | Yes |
Tues | 8/6/24 | 11:00 PM | 1:00 AM | Yes |
Weds | 8/7/24 | 11:30 PM | 1:00 AM | Yes |
Mon | 8/19/24 | 9:35 PM | 11:35 PM | Yes |
Tues | 8/20/24 | 10:20 PM | 12:20 AM | Yes |
Weds | 8/21/24 | 11:10 PM | 1:10 AM | Yes |
Thurs | 8/22/24 | Midnight | 2:00 AM | Yes |
Thank you for reading this complete guide to Grunion Runs and grunion hunting in Southern California.
If you're interested in learning more about grunion runs or shark and surf fishing, please get in touch or book a guided trip for a great chance of seeing a grunion run in person in and catching some awesome fish.
Please note that whilst we strive to ensure information on this page is accurate and up-to-date, we take no responsibility for incorrect data or information. It's your responsibility to check local laws and regulations before going on a grunion run.
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