No, not a gaggle of Grun minions trotting through fields of clover ... but the annual spawning runs of a type of silversides fish belonging to the Atherinidae family (smelts). The Grunion (Leuresthes tennis) spawns from March through August along Southern California beaches during the months' highest tides. What makes this spectacular is that thousands will beach themselves with each crashing wave in a frenzied orgy to lay and fertilize eggs in the sand high up on the shore, before darting back to open water. All in about 30 seconds. Talk about speed dating !
Watching (and catching them) is a real Newport Beach tradition. We're planning to go and observe this week.
​Expected Run Times
Newport Beach, 201
Grunion runs occur over a 4-day period around the full and new moons from March to August when the month's highest tides occur. Grunion will beach themselves to dig spawning holes in a 2-hour window either side of the nighttime high tide. The complete expected schedule can be found on the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website.
Additional informational brochure: Grunion facts
Grunion pair
The female digs a shallow trench in the sand to deposit her egg, while the male wraps himself around to fertilize them with milt
Catching grunion
​Grunion may only be caught with your hands; children under 16 do not need a fishing license
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