Countywide : Monday Is Final Night in Spring Grunion Run

Grunion, that gourmet’s delight, will be back on coastal beaches at the witching hour Monday for the last spring run where the taking of the slippery, silversides is legal.

Thousands of the small fish are expected to ride the high tide to spawn on beaches from Ventura to San Diego from 12:08 a.m. until 2:08 a.m., state Department of Fish and Game spokesman Patrick Moore said.

Grunion runs during the months of April and May are off limits to anglers so that the fish stand a chance of laying enough eggs on sandy beaches to guarantee their return next year, Moore said.

There is no harm in just watching during off-season months, but Moore said violators are subject to misdemeanor citations from game wardens.

There is no way to predict where the grunion will wriggle ashore.

But if you’re lucky enough to pick the right stretch of sandy beach, these epicurean treats (when fried to a golden brown) are easy to catch.

The grunion rush the shore within an hour or so after the high tide has peaked. The females use their tales to dig a hole in the sand, where they deposit anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 eggs each. The eggs are quickly fertilized by males, then both slip quickly into the sea, often on the next wave.

To give them a sporting chance, only bare-handed angling is allowed. Fishing with buckets, nets, shovels, or holes in the sand is strictly forbidden and is punishable by misdemeanor fines of up to $500. Anglers older than 16 must have fishing licenses.

After Monday the grunion season will reopen June 9, when they hit the beaches at 10:32 p.m. for four successive nights. Similar runs will occur right after the new and full moons on June 23, July 8 and July 23.