Grunion Run: Will They Show Up At Huntington Beach

We’re heading to Newport Jetty to meet up with our friend and see if it’s a good spot to wait for the grunion run tonight. Grunion run in SoCal goes from July 14–17, and the last time we tried it was way back in 2018 at Long Beach. We had the whole family out — nieces, nephews — everyone waiting for the grunion to show, but they never did. I’ve never had much luck with grunion. Sam, meanwhile, has hit multiple runs, including one night where the fish came in so heavy they were piling up to his ankles. He was having a blast — at least until it was cut short by a ticket for not having his fishing license on him. Back in the late ’90s, if you didn’t have your license on you and wear it visibly, you’d get cited on the spot. There’s a whole set of rules for catching grunion, so it’s always worth checking the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website to see what you can and cannot do. I’ve always wanted to experience catching grunion for myself. So this time, we picked the second night, hoping it’s the one. By 11:30, with the tide peaking and still no sign of the grunion, we decided to call it a night — I guess tonight just wasn’t the night for them to come to Huntington Beach. Even though we didn’t see any grunion, it was still nice being out there among people and families with kids who were waiting, watching, and enjoying the evening together, hoping to see them too. We’ll have to try again soon. The next grunion run is July 29th to August 1st.