Gone in 30 seconds

Now that “Sex and the City” is over, it’s time to tune into “Sex on the Beach.” Though grunion may not have the cachet of Sarah Jessica Parker, the 5- to 6-inch silvery Leuresthes tenuis are eerily successful at luring humans to Southern California beaches. Using their rather public spawning frenzy as bait, they hit the shoreline late at night and suddenly hundreds of wet and shivering people are trudging along the sand in the dark, straining for a glimpse of the spectacle. In summer, the human horde can swell to more than 1,000. One swish of the tide pushes the fish onto the sand. The females burrow and lay about 1,000 to 3,000 eggs in a nanosecond; then as many as eight males fertilize the eggs. They all whoosh back out to sea after a total mating time of 30 seconds, perfect for gawkers with short attention spans. But not everyone is there to watch. Those with California fishing licenses can hunt the slippery grunion but only with their hands -- no nets or other devices, or hole-digging allowed -- and hunting is suspended during April and May, the height of spawning. Grunion run from Point Conception, west of Gaviota, Calif., south to the Mexican border, but a prime viewing spot is Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. A Cabrillo Marine Aquarium program elevates the experience by explaining the grunion trysting and staging a pre-show with grunion eggs that hatch before your eyes. After that, it’s a short walk to the beach to see the real thing (bundle up and bring flashlights). Programs start at 9 p.m. March 9 and 22, and continue through July with one caveat: Sometimes the fish don’t show. Tickets: $5 adults, $1 seniors and children. Go to www.cabrilloaq.org or call (310) 548-7562.