How to watch the 2017 summer grunion runs

The annual chance to get an up-close look at nature in action — the grunion run — has arrived.

Each summer, when the moon is new or at its fullest, the grunion come ashore on Southern California beaches to lay eggs and complete the procreation cycle. Grunion are fish that range from five to seven inches in length and are part of the New World silversides family, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“It’s a fun outdoor activity with friends. [It] reminds me of the rural life,” said Ann Le, currently a resident of Fresno, who remembered the times she and her friends went on grunion runs in the Southern California community of Seal Beach.

Grunion typically live in the waters off the coast from Point Conception, Calif., to Point Abreojos in Baja California, though they occasionally can be found further north and south.

In the grunion run, the fish swim as far from the water as possible to mate. After spawning on the beach, the males return toward the water while the females twist free and retreat with the next wave.

People 16 and older who have a valid California sport fishing license, including the ocean enhancement stamp, are allowed to catch grunion.

“When they come with the waves onto the shore and when the waves retreat, you just catch them with hands,” said Darlena Tran of Garden Grove, Calif., explaining the permitted way to catch grunion.

For the location of grunion runs and the schedule for July and August, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.