During the open season (March, June, July, August & September), a California fishing license is required for people 16 years and older. Grunion may be taken by hand only. No holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them. There is no bag limit, but take only the fish you can use.
The times below are merely guidelines offering a two-hour span in which spawning runs may occur. Subtract five minutes for San Diego beaches, and add 25 minutes to find the time for Santa Barbara beaches. The best runs normally occur on the second and third nights of the four-night period. The second hour is usually better than the first hour.
July
- 2 Th 10:00 p.m. – Midnight
- 3 Fr 10:45 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.
- 4 Sa 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
- 5 Su 12:20 a.m. – 2:20 a.m.*
- 15 We 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- 16 Th 10:05 p.m. – 12:05 a.m.
- 17 Fr 10:40 p.m. – 12:40 a.m.
- 18 Sa 11:15 p.m. – 1:15 a.m.
- 31 Fr 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
August
- 1 Sa 10:35 p.m. – 12:35 a.m.
- 2 Su 11:25 p.m. – 1:25 a.m.
- 3 Mo 12:15 a.m. – 2:15 a.m.*
- 14 Fr 9:50 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.
- 15 Sa 10:20 p.m. – 12:20 a.m.
- 16 Su 10:55 p.m. – 12:55 a.m.
- 29 Sa 9:40 p.m. – 11:40 p.m.
- 30 Su 10:25 p.m. – 12:25 a.m.
- 31 Mo 11:15 p.m. – 1:15 a.m.
September
- 1 Tu 12:10 a.m. – 2:10 a.m.*