SD Grunion Run with Beach Ecology Coalition - La Jolla Shores

07/26/2025 11:00 PM - 07/27/2025 01:00 AM PT

Category

Birding Outings

Admission

  • Free

Location

La Jolla Shores Park
8300 Camino Del Oro
La Jolla, CA 92037

Summary

Join San Diego Bird Alliance and the Beach Ecology Coalition to observe this unique fish phenomenon! Participate in community science and see fish that are seen nowhere else in the world!

Description

San Diego Grunion Run

July 26, 2025

11:30p - 1a

With Roslyn Rivas and Willow Eichler from San Diego Bird Alliance and Melissa Studer from Beach Ecology Coalition

California grunion, only seen along the coast of Southern California and North Baja California, have a unique behavior: they come up on the sand to breed. This happens in concert with the lunar phases, and can only be seen at night. Interestingly, their breeding behavior is the only reason scientists know these fish exist! Beyond the breeding season, the grunion return to open sea and are not seen again until breeding begins again. California grunion have not been reported anywhere else in the world! This makes the grunion a unique source of food for birds migrating through San Diego in the springtime. These fish also connect us, through time, to Kumeyaay, Luiseño, Tongva, and other native peoples and cultures across this coastal region where the grunion spawn. People have observed, caught, and eaten these fish for centuries. Read more about the phenomenon in this Patch article.

San Diego Bird Alliance is committed to offer unique nature learning opportunities and foster connections between people and the land. A community science aspect will also be built into these outings, using the Grunion Greeter guidelines at GRUNION.ORG - you can be a part of the science! The reported observations help support Beach Ecology Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving ecological beach management.

 

Loud noises and bright lights drive away grunion. Fish will be caught by hand ONLY and observed briefly. A fishing license is not required to observe the run. We will be limiting catch to a few fish, and returning all caught fish to the water after observing them.

Ages 10+ 

Registration is limited to 12 participants, as any large disturbance on the sand can drive away the grunion before a run even begins. Specific meeting details will be provided in an email prior to the trip.

 

Wear something warm! You may want to bring a small flashlight. We will be on the open coast into late night. While there is no requirement to stay for the full event, the CDFW states that the second hour of the run is usually busier. Since this event is after the peak season for grunion, and because of the nature of wildlife, we cannot guarantee we will see fish in large numbers or at all. 

 

Mission Statement

"To enhance ecosystem conservation and beach management to balance natural resource protection and recreational use."

 

Objectives

  • To develop and identify best practices for beach management that combine conservation and restoration of natural resources with human recreational opportunities on sandy beaches in California.
  • To provide educational outreach for beach workers, managers, scientists, and the public on management methods, for greater professionalization, broader consensus, and more consistent implementation of best management practices.
  • To promote research, information and expertise exchange among beach workers, managers, scientists, and the public toward better understanding of natural resource management on sandy beaches.

 

This organization is based in southern California and has members statewide. Our headquarters are in Malibu, California. Contact us via info@beachecologycoalition.org

 

For your entertainment, learn about the grunion along with some of the other unique and amazing wildlife in San Diego!

PBS Documentary Featuring the Grunion

A PBS Nature special, "San Diego: America’s Wildest City", premiered on National PBS on Wednesday 11/6/24 at 8 pm as part of their "Nature" series. A film by @daysedge @pbsnature @terramater. If you're in San Diego, the film is being shown at the San Diego Natural History Museum on the IMAX big screen daily November 22, 2024 through December 31, 2025. Watch the trailer. The documentary is available on PBS, You Tube and Apple TV as well.