Late-April Update, 2009 Grunion Runs

A Message from Karen Martin, Ph.D., Pepperdine Professor of Biology

April and May are closed season for California Grunion: No take (except for photos)!

Greetings Grunion Greeters!

After such a big beginning, the new moon runs in late April were not quite as spectacular. Still, many intrepid California Grunion appeared on many beaches. Greeters reported strong runs again from northern Baja California throughout southern California up to Leo Carrillo State Beach in northern Malibu. Your reports help to clarify what is happening.

Tamara and Sabreena Greet the Grunion!
Photo by Sabreena Kasbati

Farther north in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, just a few scouts made it ashore. Perhaps they are waiting for the full moon runs in mid May. Carly in Santa Barbara reported, "No grunion were spotted spawning on the beach, but they were visible swimming in the water from the pier."

We always suggest that you arrive on the beach around the time of the local high tide for the runs. Sometimes you may have to wait for awhile to see fish. Other times, as Erica reports, "The grunion greeted us! The run had already started at 11:15 when we arrived."

"Last night there was still a very large run taking place, most certainly a strong 4. The tide had receded a couple of feet from peak high tide and there were grunion eggs en mass for a couple hundred yards covering the sand. You could also see at the higher tide line where the sand had been disturbed earlier by spawning grunion so it was a long run and still going strong at 12:30 when we left. Very cool." -- Robin

A Group of Grunion Spawning
Photo by Mimi DiMatteo

The runs were more localized and concentrated this time. Several Grunion Greeters reported runs in only one area of their beach. Sherri saw "Grunion concentrated adjacent to lifeguard station with floodlights on." Mami saw "About 20 meters south from the pier, the Grunions showed up one or two washed in by the waves. We walked for about 200 meters or more, we saw Grunions every 10 meters, 2 to 20 at a time."

"Again yesterday the grunions showed up in the same spot. Maybe a W3 this time, but what I don't understand is that always in a very small spot, very localized. Just 25 yards south not even 1 grunion in over 1 mile. Not even 1. It's like there is an invisible line they do not cross. Same Sunday and Monday. W3 one day W2 next day but the grunions will not go south. I know of several beaches with similar beach slope. Next to my home, nada, not even 1. There are so many of them north I figure at least 1 grunion will check another love hotel but nope. They like their little cozy cove. Must be a grunion thing." -- Peter

Lilian calls the Hot Line!
Photo by Elisa Ang

Poachers

April and May are CLOSED SEASON: no take! Greeters sometimes take the opportunity to educate the public that may not know the rules. Sabreena did, and “Poachers dumped full buckets of fish back when asked to.” Alexander found "The poachers were a group of foreign students obviously not versed in the laws of the seasons. They were gleefully grabbing up the fish and putting them in a bucket. I told them it was illegal, they soon left."

Mark has seen a number of poachers at Long Beach. He reports

"Same 4 poachers from last year had buckets again and acted like they didn't understand us. We advised them this was closed season and they continued to catch the grunion. We reported them on the CAL-TIP hotline and also called the Long Beach Police and asked them to send the Marine Patrol. This time the Marine Patrol came within 10 minutes and caught the guys with Grunion in their buckets. They had the guys on the hood of the truck for at least 15 minutes then allowed them to leave. I'm not sure if they ticketed them. Good job by the Long Beach Police, Marine Patrol. They came through for us tonight!"

Lots of California Grunion!
Photo by Toni Johnson

Possible harmful algal bloom

When volunteer citizen scientists go out for Grunion Greeting, you also make a lot of observations about your surroundings on the beach. Based on those observations it appears that we may be entering a period of a harmful algal bloom (HAB).

Evidence for HABs include changes in the behavior of marine animals. The diatom Pseudonitzschia produces Domoic Acid (DA), a neurotoxin that causes disorientation, seizures, and sometimes death in vertebrates. This is often first observed in sea lions and sea birds, both high on the ocean food chain.

It also apparently affects the behavior of the California grunion. Some fish may become disoriented on shore and unable to return to the ocean, so you are reporting increased numbers of stranded fish (usually very rare) and fish with their heads down instead of their tails buried in the sand. It’s likely that other fish are affected by DA toxicity also, but they are not usually visible to land-based observers.

Predators

Greeters reported seeing sea gulls, guitarfish, herons, night heron, baby seal, sea lion, leopard sharks, rat, cat, dog, "unidentified flying object (small white bird)" – Tony

"Fairly continuous stream of grunions coming on shore. One great blue heron and one shovelnosed guitarfish spotted feeding on the grunion." –Mary

Shovelnose guitarfish beaches while pursuing grunion
Photo by Katie Ansorge

Grunion FISHtival at Cabrillo Aquarium May 9!

Aquarium Director Mike Schaadt invites the public to the next Grunion Run at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, "something we're calling the "Grunion Fishtival". Larry Fukuhara, Programs Director, is laying the groundwork for a special run each year where we celebrate these wonderful fish." More info here. 

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to greet the grunion. The magical moonlit phenomenon is something few have experienced. All of your reports increase our knowledge. Please sign up to greet in May and thanks for making your reports promptly.

May the fish be with you!

Black Crowned Night Heron Waits for Grunion
Photo by Lisa Bock

Grunion Greeter Comments

"Linda engaged a young couple with such enthusiasm I think they might become future Grunion Greeters, though they seemed to think GGs were there to greet the public that came out to see the grunion." – Barnacle Bob

"They got a little heavy W2 for a brief period but then started to fade out. There was no one else on the beach at all. It was small scale but still exciting!" -- Tracy

"It was very interesting to see them on a different beach. Numbers were signifigantly higher than my usual beach. My daughter invited several of her friends that had never seen grunion. They were impressed."—Sara

Confused about whether to call it W-1 or W-2. Saw hundreds of fish but not all at once. Clarification please. Most at one time a couple hundred. Mike

"This run may have been a 5, but to be conservative, I have reported a 4." – Cate

"We thought, since last year on our first grunion greet we saw a run, that it was easy to see runs. Unfortunately, we are 0-2 this season. Hopefully when we go again in June we will get to see some fish!" –Kim

"It was a good run last night. W-3 all along the beach. My wife enjoyed the run as well especially with her new hip joint. She used her hiking sticks since sand is pretty difficult to negotiate." -- Phil

"Grunion were heavy from the north rocky area, through the area of the bathroom building. There were 7 greeters present. We called it a W4.5, because it was so nearly a W5." –Mimi

"Beach very eroded- Between the berm and the narrow lower beach, the grunion were very dense; however, as the tide went out, they kept coming. Amazing night; 10:30 – 12:30; 3+ possibly 4; hard to gauge when the open beach to the berm is so narrow." – Douglas

"The run was a strong W-3 nearing a W-4. It was the full length of the beach with many areas where they were too thick to see sand. The run lasted with lots of fish from 10:20- 12:00." – Donna

"It was an AWESOME run!! Thank you! And thank you for allowing us to be part of this program – we are really enjoying it!!!" –Jaimie

Quick Getaway!
Photo by Donna Stern