Finally, check out a website presenting grunion research, maintained by Dr. Karen Martin at Pepperdine University. Occasionally, they are found farther north, to Monterey Bay, California, and south to San Juanico Bay, Baja California. Plankton eaters in California grunion eat small, pelagic crustaceans as well as other zooplankton. @2021 - All Right Reserved - Fishing-Advisor.com, Can You Eat Grunion Fish? They can be eaten raw, grilled, or fried, and many people say that they taste similar to anchovies or sardines. Then add 3 tbsp of sea salt and 2 tbsp of whey or pickle brine. The biggest con when it comes to eating grunion is that they tend to be quite expensive since they are only available seasonally. One of the best ways to find out which beaches have had recent runs is to call the state and county beach lifeguards who can often tell if spawning has taken place. Although, smelt are not related to grunion, they deliver a similar delicate flavor. Finally, plan to stay late. They are known for their unique mating ritual, in which the female grunion lays her eggs on the beach, and the male grunion then fertilizes them. Smelt has a oily, mild taste and a soft texture. After theyve been fried, lay grunions on paper towels. The grunion has been known to many Southern Californians for more than 100 years, but there are still those who are skeptical of its existence. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. They are justifiably famous for their unique spawning behavior. Eggs are deposited during the highest tides of the month and incubate in the sand during the lower tides, when they will not be disturbed by wave action. You can grill them for 2-3 minutes on each side, fry them in a pan, or prepare them as grunion tacos. The fun, distinguishing thing about smelt is that you eat them whole: fins, backbones and all. Grunion are unusual and extremely interesting; I'd like to learn a little more about their life history. The maximum size So, what do grunion taste like? dentex), surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus), capelin (Mallotus villosus), and eulachon, or candlefish (Thaleichthys pacificus), a fish that at spawning time is so oily that it can be dried and burned as a candle. Batter your cleaned grunion with egg, flour (panko, breading, etc. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife produces an annual schedule of expected grunion runs. Since waves tend to erode sand from the beach as the tide rises and deposit sand as the tide falls, it is obvious that if grunion spawn on a rising tide the succeeding waves would wash the eggs out. The 6-10 inch fish has an odor and flavor like freshly cut cucumber. The species is found in the Pacific Ocean along the western coast of the United States. While the exact origin of the Blue Hawaiian is unknown, its thought to have been created in the 1940s, Read More What is Blue Hawaiian Syrup?Continue, Aluminum foil is a thin sheet of aluminum that is less than 0.2 millimeters thick. (CDFW) maintains a list of rules and regulations that apply to all fishing activities in Californias rivers and streams.