Grunion Running And Belmont Shore a Favorite

Whether you are a California transplant or a life-long resident is irrelevant because having a chance to witness a grunion leaving the water to spawn on the beaches is remarkable — and most certainly a “right place, right time,” experience. 

And according to the state Department of Fish and Game, Belmont Shore is one of the best places to catch the run.

You just have to take a chance on where they will run.

For four consecutive days, twice a year, eager grunion watchers roam the beaches, barefoot, with their friends and family. All are buzzing with anticipation, waiting for what Karen Martin, a grunion researcher and Pepperdine University professor, calls a “natural phenomenon.”

“These fish wash up on the beach to spawn, entirely out of water,” Martin said with excitement. “This is unusual mating behavior, and something that you cannot witness anywhere else in the country.”

Grunion runs occur between March and August, and occasionally in February and September. Though seeing a run this late in August is rare, there have been reports of runs, Martin said.

It is a unique sight.

The female of the species partially bury themselves in the sand so they can lay their eggs in safety. Then the male grunion come through to fertilize the eggs — the eggs remain buried to incubate for about 10 days, then the baby grunion appear.

Though experts have narrowed down the time frame, and know when runs will take place. It still takes a bit of luck to be at the right beach, in the right place, at the right time, Martin said.

“It is not … rare to see the grunions spawning, in the sense that it doesn’t happen,” Martin said. “The schedules help people have an idea of what time and where to be, but the rest takes luck.”

Though this takes place every year, Martin said she is always surprised with the amount of Californians that have not taken in a grunion run. She recommends it to everyone.

 “It is simply beautiful, and something that everyone should see at least once.”

Grunion spawn up to six times a year, laying between 1,600 and 3,600 eggs per spawn. The spawning season begins on the nights of the full and new moons, when the tide is highest, which they use to get as far up the beach as possible to make sure the eggs are safe.

The process as a whole takes about 30 seconds, but some fish do remain stranded on the beach for several minutes. Generally, the grunion are in groups of 1,000 or more —they are not hard to spot to if you are in the right place, Martin said.

“There will be thousands of fish on the shore,” she said. “If you are in the right place, you will know it. The light will be shimmering off of them, it is beautiful — it really is a sight to see.”

Martin’s best advice for first-timers is to stay quiet, wait patiently and do not disturb the grunion. She said most people get over excited and start to yell and run, which scares them off.

For more information, and a schedule of grunion runs, click here.