FISHING : Grunion Runs Start on March 18

They leap, hurdle and vault out of the ocean onto South Bay beaches. At times a beach may be covered with the glistening, wriggling fish.

The mysterious little silvery fish called grunion will start a four-night run on March 18.

Each year grunion runs have been billed as one of nature’s most extraordinary reproductive phenomenons. The small, sardine-size fish of the Silversides family are among the few species of fish that actually come ashore to lay their eggs on sandy beaches. Females can lay as many as 3,000 eggs.

The males then follow and dance around the females, in the process fertilizing the eggs. Then the fish catch the next wave out to sea.

Grunion egg pockets are left to mature in the sun-warmed sand for about 10 days, at which time the next high tide occurs and they are washed out to sea.

The eggs hatch within three minutes after being freed from their sandy nests.

The California Department of Fish and Game offers some reminders for licensed anglers who wish to catch grunion:

Grunion can only be taken by hand. It is illegal to dig holes in the sand or scoop them up by net, bucket or any other utensil.

There is no limit to the number of grunion a licensed angler can catch, but it is unlawful to waste fish.

For those who wish to be a grunion observer instead of a grabber, it is best to do so during April and May, when the grunion are protected.

Special grunion seminars and trips to the beach to observe the spawning are conducted each year by the Cabrillo Marine Museum. Information: (213) 543-7563.

Freshwater Note: Fishing Santa Ana River Lakes, two Torrance anglers caught heavyweight trout. David Wilfong landed an 11 1/4-pound trout and Sei Tamada an 11-pounder.

South Bay Catches: Last week’s rain and windstorms kept most of the sportfishing fleet from operating. But weekend trips from most South Bay landings found bass and rockfish plentiful.

John Ramon of Rancho Palos Verdes, fishing the Point Fermin area aboard the Samber, caught the whopper of the week, a 41-pound white seabass.

Jim Douglas of Lawndale, fishing off San Clemente Island aboard the Top Gun, caught a 23-pound yellowtail.

Lou Rudin of Rancho Palos Verdes, fishing the bay aboard the City of Redondo, caught a 16-pound halibut.

Chris Mansfield of Malibu, fishing the Topanga beach area, caught a 15-pound halibut.

1991 GRUNION RUNS

Open Season

March 18. . .10:20 p.m.-12:20 a.m.* 19. . .10:50 p.m.-12:50 a.m.* 20. . .11:40 p.m.-1:40 a.m.* 21. . .12:45 a.m.*-2:45 a.m.* 31. . .9:35 p.m.-11:35 p.m. June 1. . .11:50 p.m.-1:50 a.m.* 2. . .12:30 a.m.*-2:30 a.m.* 14. . .11:15 p.m.-1:15 a.m.* 15. . .12:10 a.m.*-2:10 a.m.* 16. . .1:15 a.m.*-3:15 a.m.* 17. . .2:20 a.m.*-4:20 a.m.* 28. . .10:25 p.m.-12:25 a.m.* 29. . .10:55 p.m.-12:55 a.m.* 30. . .11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.* July 1. . .12:10 a.m.*-2:10 a.m.* 13. . .11:05 p.m.-1:05 a.m.* 14. . .Midnight-2 a.m.* 15. . .12:50 a.m.*-2:50 a.m.* 16. . .2 a.m.*-4 a.m.* 28. . .10:40 p.m.-12:40 a.m.* 29. . .11:15 p.m.-1:15 a.m.* 30. . .11:55 p.m.-1:55 a.m.* 31. . .12:40 a.m.*-2:40 a.m.* August 11. . .10:55 p.m.-12:55 a.m.* 12. . .11:45 p.m.-1:45 a.m.* 13. . .12:35 a.m.*-2:35 a.m.* 14. . .1:35 a.m.*-3:35 a.m.* 27. . .11:05 p.m.-1:05 a.m.* 28. . .11:45 p.m.-1:45 a.m.* 29. . .12:40 a.m.*-2:40 a.m.* 30. . .2 a.m.*-4 a.m.* Closed season April 1. . .10 p.m.-midnight 2. . .10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.* 3. . .11:05 p.m.-1:05 a.m.* 16. . .10:50 p.m.-12:50 a.m.* 17. . .11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.* 18. . .12:25 a.m.*-2:25 a.m.* 19. . .1:35 a.m.*-3:35 a.m.* 30. . .10:25 p.m.-12:25 a.m.* May 1. . .10:55 p.m.-12:55 a.m.* 2. . .11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.* 3. . .12:10 a.m.*-2:10 a.m.* 15. . .10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.* 16. . .11:20 p.m.-1:20 a.m.* 17. . .12:20 a.m.*-2:20 a.m.* 18. . .1:25 a.m.*-3:25 a.m.* 30. . .10:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.* 31. . .11:10 p.m.-1:10 a.m.* *Where time of expected run is after midnight, date of previous evening is shown.

Times given reflect probable two-hour interval during which a spawning run may occur.