Local News in Brief : Countywide : Grunion Fair Game Again on Beaches

After a two-month period during which they were allowed to come ashore to breed unmolested, the small silver fish known as grunion are fair game again for people who don’t mind splashing in the surf in the middle of the night.

Pat Moore, spokesman for the state Department of Fish and Game, said open season began Thursday night and the first “run” will last through Sunday. Four-day appearances will then occur June 16-19, July 1-4, July 15-18 and July 30-Aug. 2.

The last run before the season closes until next year will be Aug. 14-17, he said.

Grunion-grabbers over 16 years of age must have fishing licenses. Grunion hunters of all ages are allowed to use only bare hands--no shovels, gloves, buckets or other gear.

The fish, which average about 6 inches, swim onto beaches at certain periods of the moon as part of their reproduction process, Moore said.

In Orange County, they prefer broad, dimly lighted beaches such as portions of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, usually between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.