On the grunion hunt

For years since we moved to Huntington Beach, I have wanted to go on a grunion run. So when the call came last week that Bill Burhans, a seasonal interpretive specialist for the Department of Parks and Recreation, would be leading a small group of Amigo de Bolsa Chica members along the beach one night at 11:30 p.m., I happily tagged along (with my son in tow).

Now, you may have read Vic Leipzig and Lou Murray’s column last week about how successful the trip was. They were there; they know what we all witnessed. But it was so spectacular, I thought I’d add to the mix with this column. I’ve heard from so many people over the years who have spent many a late night in search of the elusive grunion, only to come home tired, wet and grunionless, I wanted to reiterate the hope that grunions spring eternal in Huntington Beach.

Some background from the definitive grunion site, www.grunion.org:

“California grunion are a species of marine fish found only along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California. They are justifiably famous for their unique spawning behavior. Grunion spawn completely out of the water and lay their eggs on many sandy beaches in California. Shortly after high tide, on specific nights, sections of these beaches sometimes are covered with thousands of grunion dancing about on the sand. The popularity of these grunion runs means that some nights there are more people lining the beaches than grunion in the run.”

Now, there’s no guarantee that any grunion will appear on said nights, but if they do, this is what happens afterward:

“The eggs remain buried in the sand throughout incubation, fully out of water for approximately two weeks. The larvae hatch when the eggs wash out by high waves during tides before the new and full moons. Grunion spawn at the age of one year, and live for two to four years. Because of their vulnerability during the spawning season, they are protected by a closed season. No taking of grunion is permitted during April and May. During other months, no gear is permitted so collection may take place only with bare hands, and a fishing license is required..”

So, those are your grunion basics. And if you want to have perhaps the ultimate grunion experience, I’d recommend a trip with Burhans. After all, he’s four for four this season — that’s right, all four nights he’s gone out to the beach on a run he’s seen grunions. But nothing like last week.

“The best count I have seen was with you and the Amigos de Bolsa Chica on May 26,” he told me.

And it might have to do with the spot where we were looking. He’d never been there before on a grunion run, but his hunches paid off, and as tens of thousands of bouncing silvery beauties came in with the midnight tide, he got excited. All of a sudden, a motto change from “Surf City” to “Grunion City” seemed like it might be in order.

Where exactly were we? I’m going to withhold that information for now, at the risk of inciting grunion chaos. But if you get a hold of Burhans, I’m sure he’ll lead you there.

Burhans has been volunteering at Bolsa Chica since the summer he retired from teaching in 2003. Most of his 30-year teaching carrier had been as a middle school science teacher with Long Beach Unified, and he uses his teaching skills well when schooling prospective grunion viewers along the shore.

“Bolsa Chica State Beach became a participant of the Grunion Greeter Project in 2005,” he said. “Dr. Karen Martin of Pepperdine University is the project director. Each season, we have approximately 10 nights of monitoring on schedule. These are usually two nights after the full moon or new moon high tide. The best time for grunion observation begins in mid-April and lasts until the end of June.”

So there’s still time, Huntington Beach, and if you see half the grunion count we saw May 26, you will still be awed. Some other tips, should you decide to go:

 Dress warm.

 Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.

 Bring a flashlight, but try not to use it until you know that the grunion have arrived. They will shy away from light and noise.

 This program is more of a scientific observation than the actual catching of the grunion.

If you plan to catch grunion, licenses are required for those 16 and older.

Finally, according to Bill, “In looking for other locations to observe grunion, I would look for isolated, gently sloping beach.”

Driving past the beach the day after the run was surreal. If only those joggers and bike riders knew what had been there just several hours before; swimming, slithering and spawning, while most of the city slept.

Father’s Day gift alert: Marvin Carlberg and I will be signing our new book, “Historic Postcards of Huntington Beach,” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Springdale Country, at 15802 Springdale St. (northeast corner of Springdale and Edinger Avenue). Free replica vintage color postcards with every book (plus, they’ll have my other local titles as well). Hope to see you!

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected] .