WHAT’S A GRUNION?
SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2022
There is a unique phenomenom that happens on the beaches of California, particularly Southern California and Baja California. During certain summer nights during high tide, some beaches become a flurry of activity.
Meet the grunion. A California endemic species of fish related to the jack smelt and top smelt. While similar in looks, when it comes to their breeding, the stand alone.
California grunion spawn on beaches from two to six nights after the full and new moon beginning soon after high tide and continuing for several hours. As a wave breaks on the beach, the grunion swim as far up the slope as possible. The female arches her body while keeping her head up and excavates the semifluid sand with her tail. As her tail sinks, the female twists her body and digs tail first until she is buried up to her pectoral fins. After the female is in the nest, up to eight males attempt to mate with her by curving around the female and releasing their milt as she deposits her eggs about four inches below the surface. After spawning, the males immediately retreat toward the ocean. The milt flows down the female’s body until it reaches the eggs and fertilizes them. The female twists free and returns to the sea with the next wave. The whole event can happen in 30 seconds, but some fish remain on the beach for several minutes.
Depending on the conditions, sometimes large swaths of fish are on the beach, turning the sand into a silvery spectacle. It is an amazing sight to see.
The eggs that are fertilized will go out on the next high tide and soon become embryos. Due to the harsh conditions of Nature, only a handful per 100,000 eggs will become full grown adults. Not an endangered species, but it seems the silver ’rivers’ of fish are become less and less common. The reduction of spawning habitat due to beach erosion, harbor construction, and pollution are believed to be the most critical problems facing the grunion species.
It is legal to catch them, with one caveat; only bare hands can be used. If you’re 16 or older, the State requires a fishing license. No nets, buckets, or digging of holes to entrap them are allowed. Sounds easy enough, but the fish can sense vibrations in the sand so any footsteps can get them to scurry away quickly back into the water. There are no limits to how many you can catch, but only the experienced, or the quick footed can yield some significant numbers.
I took my daughters to their first time one summer night. They had no preconceived ideas of what adventure awaited them. I mentioned to them the the first fish they’ll see are the scouts. I said to not scare or chase them, and refrain from shining any lights into the water. If the scouts feel it’s unsafe to come ashore, the school will move elsewhere.
After a thrilled pack 2 hours of running up and down the beach, filling their bags with fish, we cleaned up and loaded the car. My middle one said it was the best thing we’ve ever done as a family. I’m not sure because it was that fun, or she felt neglected on all the other family stuff!
My family slept well as I cleaned and scaled the several dozen grunion that night. Some people choose to not clean them, as when deep fried long enough, the whole fish becomes edible. I put a little Hawaiian salt on them, closed them in a re-closable bag, and cooked them the next evening. Some people squeeze lemon, others dip in buttermilk. I thanked my kids for providing the meal that night. They all smiled and reflected how fun it was to catch dinner.