California Fishing

California Grunion

2010-08-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

It's midnight or close to it. The waves of high tide are reaching further and further up the sandy beach. There's no moon to be seen and the only light sources, besides the glow of the city, are the headlamp I'm wearing and the flashlights of the other dozen or so people who have gathered on the beach this evening. The cool ocean mist is blowing in my face and picking up the light of my LED's making it difficult to focus through the haze. As a wave retreats back to the sea I scan around and see a flicker of light reflecting from something wriggling about in the sand. My heart rate accelerates and I sprint toward the source and in a rush I start grabbing for the sand. In my hand is the quarry for the evening and why I've been standing around for the last hour, the California Grunion, and what I've just done is better known as "Grunion Hunting."

The California Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) is a small fish similar to a smelt. The grunion has a greenish/blue upper with a silvery bottom and dark blue stripe running the length of the fish along the lateral line. Grunions grow to about 7 inches and spend most of the time just off-shore around 15 to 40 feet deep. The unique characteristic of the grunion and the subsequent method of take is their spawning behavior. The California Grunion are the only fish in California known to spawn completely out of water. Spawning runs from March to September for 3 to 4 nights at a time following the full moon at high tide. The spawning occurs with such regularity, that runs can be forecast well into the future and with a great deal of accuracy. On nights of the spawning run, the female fish comes ashore with one wave, digs herself into the wet sand to lay her eggs while the male fish attempts to wrap himself around her to fertilize the eggs. With the next wave they are gone just as soon as they appeared.
The Grunion Run is unique to Southern California (south of Morro Bay) and Northern Baja, Mexico. On nights of the run people flock to Southern California beaches to gather the fish in buckets, bags and anything else that will hold a fish. You are only allowed to catch the fish by hand (no nets, spears or any other aid) and there is currently no limit on how many you take, but responsibility to our fisheries dictates that we only take what we truly need. All you need is a California fishing license, a bucket or bag to store them, a bright flashlight and a little fortitude to make it through a late night on the beach, although there are worse places to spend a late night. The thrill of chasing after these little fish is without compare in my opinion. Sometimes you'll see them a good 20 yards away and make a sprint to try a beat the next wave only to have the fish wiggle out of your grasp when you finally get it. Other times there might be anywhere from 5 to 15 fish flopping around right a your feet as if waving a white flag in surrender.
The Grunion are a bony fish but a tasty fish nevertheless. To prepare them, start by removing the head and entrails and rinse with some fresh water. Dip the fish in some beaten eggs and them roll in flour with a little salt and pepper. Fry them in olive oil for a few minutes per side and you've got a pretty good meal. One women I spoke with on the beach recommended only a little salt and then a quick fry in oil.
For more info on the California Grunion and the schedule of runs, visit the California Department of Fish and Game website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp

Rainbow Trout

2010-07-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a member of the salmonid family native to the watersheds of the Pacific Ocean of North America, Asia and parts of India. Rainbow trout has been a long sought after game fish for sport fisherman. Rainbow Trout is a predatory fish with a voracious appetite it's main diet is aquatic insects such as mayflies, caddis and stone flies. The fish is a cold water species which is why it is mostly found in mountain lakes, streams and rivers. The Rainbow is one of the most commonly caught fish in California because it the most common fish in California hatcheries. It can be identified by it's numerous black spots and it's reddish lateral band extending from head to tail.

One of the largest Rainbow Trout caught in California weighed around 18 lbs and was caught in Lake Almanor. Although the average size is much smaller, including the one pictured. This little guy was caught on a Silver/Blue Acme KastMaster out of the Coffee Creek which flows into the North Fork of the Trinity River. Although small in size, rainbows typically have a lot of fight and using light tackle can be a real thrill.

Acme Kastmaster

2010-07-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

The Acme Kastmaster is a spoon type lure that comes in a multitude of sizes and colors. Designed by the Acme tackle company, the Kastmaster is definitely one lure you don't want to be without when trout fishing. I find the Silver/Blue (pictured) and the Gold colors to be the most productive though the newer painted spoons do offer some promise.

For more info on the Kastmaster visit www.acmetackle.com

Red Abalone

2010-07-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Red Abalone, Haliotis rufescens
The Red Abalone (shell shown at left with new 2008 tagging requirements) is a member of the Mollusk Family, prized for it's meat. Red Abalone is the only species of Abalone that can be harvested in California. Do to poaching and over fishing, Abalone populations have dwindled in the last few years, forcing the Department of Fish and Game to more closely regulate the species with strict methods of take, and daily and yearly limits. Currently one may take 3 per day and 24 per year. Freediving and Rock-picking are the only two legal methods of harvesting abalone.

Abalone feeds mostly on kelp, specifically Bull Kelp, and can live upwards of 30 years. The legal size for Abalone is currently (2010) 7 inches measured across the widest part of it's shell. Divers and rock pickers must carry a fixed caliper measuring device to be sure of a legal sized abalone.

About

2008-11-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

My name is Eric, I'm embarking on a fishing journey sure to last several years. I'm participating in the California Fishing Passport Challenge. "This is a new fishing incentive and angler recognition program designed to highlight and promote fishing throughout the state. A California Fishing Passport book serves as the basis of the program and it lists 150 different species of popular fresh and saltwater finfish and shellfish that occur throughout the state." My goal is to not only catch the 150 species listed but also learn a bit about each species and share that with you. Several of these species, I've already caught (most, I have not) but will begin with a clean slate. I'll keep my tally on the side bar as well as make posts along the way documenting my fishing fun. Feel free to contact me with info, comments and free charters as you wish.

For more info on the program, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov

California Fishing Passport - Species List

2008-11-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

Inland Warmwater Species

Largemouth Bass
Redeye Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Striped Bass
White Bass
Black Bullhead
Brown Bullhead
Yellow Bullhead
Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
White Catfish
Common Carp
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Sacramento Perch
Tule Perch
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Green Sunfish
Redear Sunfish
Warmouth
Tilapia

Inland Coldwater Fishes

Rainbow Trout (inland)
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Lake Trout
Mountain Whitefish
Chinook Salmon (landlocked)
Kokanee Salmon
California Golden Trout
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Coastal Rainbow Trout (stream resident or sea-run)
Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout
Goose Lake Redband Trout
Kern River Rainbow Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Little Kern Golden Trout
McCloud River Redband Trout
Warner Lakes Redband Trout

Inland Shellfish

Red Swamp Crayfish
Signal Crayfish

Anadromous Fishes

American Shad
Striped Bass
Coastal Rainbow Trout (steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
White Sturgeon

Ocean Fishes

Blue Shark
Sevengill Shark
Brown Smoothhound Shark
Leopard Shark
Shortfin Mako Shark
Shovelnose Guitar Fish
Soupfin Shark
Spiny Dogfish
Swell Shark
Thresher Shark
Bat Ray
Round Stingray
Thornback
California Grunion
Silversides (jacksmelt, topsmelt)
Smelt (surf, night)
Jack Mackerel
Pacific Chub Mackerel
Barred Surfperch
Black Perch
Calico Surfperch
Pile Perch
Rainbow Seaeperch
Redtail Surfperch
Rubberlip Seaperch
Shiner Perch
Silver Surfperch
Spotfin Surfperch
Striped Seaperch
Walleye Surfperch
Black Croaker
California Corbina
Spotfin Croaker
White Croaker
Yellowfin Croaker
California Halibut
Diamond Turbot
Fantail Sole
Pacific Halibut
Sand Sole
Sanddab
Wolf-eel
Monkeyface Prickleback
Starry Flounder
Bocaccio
Black Rockfish
Black-and-Yellow Rockfish
Blue Rockfish
Brown Rockfish
California Scorpionfish
Chilipepper
Copper Rockfish
Gopher Rockfish
Grass Rockfish
Kelp Rockfish
Olive Rockfish
Starry Rockifish
Treefish
Vermilion Rockfish
Yellowtail Rockfish
Cabezon
Kelp Greenling, Rock Greenling
Lingcod
Barred Sand Bass
Kelp Bass
Spotted Sand Bass
Sargo
White Seabass
Ocean Whitefish
Blacksmith
Halfmooon
Opaleye
California Sheephead
Albacore Tuna
Bigeye Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Dolphin Fish
Opah
Pacific Barracuda
Pacific Bonito
Skipjack Tuna
Striped Marlin
Swordfish
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowtail

Ocean Shellfish

California Spiny Lobster
Gaper Clam
Pacific Littleneck Clam
Pismo Clam
Pacific Razor Clam
Nuttall Cockle
California Mussel
Giant Rock Scallop
Dungeness Crab
Red Rock Crab
Red Abalone
Red Sea Urchin
Humboldt Squid
Market Squid