The Grunion Are Running at Cabrillo Beach

You could be arrested for having sex on the beach in Southern California, but one group has special dispensation. The Grunion, a seven inch fish in the Silversides family, spawns on Southern California beaches with impunity. From March through July, the fish flop up onto the beach 3 or 4 nights after the new and full moons to do their mating dance. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro offers a lecture program on good grunion viewing nights. April and May is closed season on Grunion. You can look, but don’t touch. During Open Season in March, June and July, you can catch Grunion only with your bare hands. Fish grabbers 16 years old and over need a fishing license. If you're not near San Pedro, you'll find grunion spawning in the middle of the night on other LA area beaches as well.
What: Grunion Lecture and Grunion Run
When: March 28, 2009 - Aquarium opens at 8 pm, lecture at 9 pm, expected hours for Grunion to appear are on the Aquarium web site.
Where: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, California USA 90731
Cost: $5 for Adults, $1 Seniors, Students and Children for Aquarium program, seeing the Grunion on the beach is free.
Info: www.cabrilloaq.org, (310) 548-7562
For a complete list of all the nights and times when Grunion are expected, visit the Department of Fish and Game website.

If you need a fishing license, visit Fishing License Rates and Where to Get a Fishing License in Southern California.