It didn't help the disappointment that a young couple strolling Ocean Beach enthused about the multitudes of grunion that had slithered about the previous night at the same spot. Like fishing with lines, hooks and bait, grunion spotting has as its lore such things as the run that got away or the rich cache just a beach away. Indeed, grunion hunting is a spring and summer pastime here for those who like to see the mating routine and catch the fish by hand, both for fun and to cook and eat. The next expected opportunity to see grunion spawning is this week, through Thursday. Joe Zink, a Normal Heights apartment manager, stalked Ocean Beach one recent night in hopes of seeing what he saw last year for the first time.
Some people just choose a beach, sit in chairs and wait.
It is legal to catch grunion, Thompson said, but there are some restrictions. Anyone 16 or older needs a fishing license. The fish must be caught by hand and without any nets or traps, including digging pits. And wardens ask that people take only the fish they can use. Catching them is restricted on some dates.