SaN PEDRO - GRUNION HUNTING
                          

For a new twist in fishing, try grunion hunting!  Grunions are little fishes that swim up to the beaches during the night to spawn.  The females lay the eggs on the beach, while the males come in shortly to fertilize them. When they swim ashore, grunion hunters use their hands to catch the little grunions and drop them into their fishing pails.
         There are many places to go grunion hunting in the Los Angeles/Orange County area when grunion hunting season starts.  Many of the best beaches are closed during the night.  However, I think the best place is the San Pedro beachfront.   Few regulations exist.  With a couple of friends, we caught over three hundred fish on one hot night.
        The grunion season starts in April and lasts until August.  Technically by law, you are not supposed to grunion hunt without a fishing license.  It is illegal to grunion hunt from April to May.  It is also against the law to hunt with any type of tool other than a flashlight, including nets; digging holes on the beach is also not allowed.
        Try not to hunt with a flashlight.  Flashlights help you see in the darkness, but light scares the little grunions.  It helps if you possess perfect vision. Also try to stay away from a large group of people when grunion hunting.

Click here to go back to main page.