Meet the Grunion program Friday night at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro will be holding its Meet the Grunion program Friday night.

The aquarium exhibit hall will open at 8 p.m., with a film on grunion to be screened at 9. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for seniors, children and students. Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash only).

Afterward, those who wish to participate will head to the beach to await the spawning run, which has a projected two-hour window of 10:35 p.m. to 12:35 a.m.

Grunion runs are a sight to behold. For four consecutive nights, beginning on full and new moon phases during spring and summer, the small silvery fish leave the water to spawn on beaches. The shoreline may glisten with fish as the silversides attempt to lay and fertilize their eggs.

Grunion may only be caught in the months of March, June and July, and only by hand. Catchers 16 and older must possess a valid state fishing license.

There is no limit to the number of fish that may be caught, but the California Department of Fish and Game asks that people only catch what they will eat.

The program will be offered again June 17 and July 16.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. Directions and parking information is available on the aquarium's website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Grunion scramble to get onto the beach to spawn. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Jumping sturgeon breaks boater's leg

A Florida boater's leg was broken when a 60- to 75-pound sturgeon jumped from the water and crashed into her. The incident occurred just days after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a warning to boaters about being cautious in waters populated by the fish.

Tina Fletcher, 25, of Cross City, Fla., was a passenger Sunday aboard an airboat on Florida's Suwannee River when the accident happened, FWC spokeswoman Karen Parker told the Gainesville Sun.

"She was riding on a 16-foot-long Freedom Craft air prop airboat when the fish jumped and hit her leg," Parker said. Witnesses told FWC officers that the fish slid back into the water after the incident.

This is the fifth reported sturgeon encounter in Florida waters since April, and the most serious.

Biologists are unsure why sturgeon jump, though they are certain they are not malicious. Theories include that the fish jump to communicate or as a dominance display.

"I have seen these encounters referred to as 'attacks.'  However, these fish are in no way attacking when they jump," said Allen Martin, regional freshwater fisheries biologist. "They are simply doing what they have been doing for millions of years: jumping. They aren't targeting the boaters.

Gulf sturgeon are anadromous, migrating from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, and can grow to more than 8 feet long and exceed 200 pounds.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A Gulf sturgeon in the Suwannee River. Credit: Noel Burkhead / U.S. Geological Survey

 

Volunteer beach cleanup Saturday at Dockweiler State Beach

The May Nothin' But Sand beach cleanup will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at Dockweiler State Beach, Playa del Rey.

Hosted by Heal the Bay, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of each month at different locales and are an opportunity to help keep our local shores tidy.

Volunteers should plan to meet at 11999 Vista Del Mar, at the end of Imperial Highway. All cleaning supplies will be provided, so volunteers are welcome to just show up (those younger than 12 need to be accompanied by a parent).

Attendees should plan on wearing closed-toe shoes and bringing their own drinking water and snacks as well as a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a jacket. More information on what to wear and bring is available on the Heal the Bay website.

Liability waivers can be printed in advance and must be signed before pitching in. Participants 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian sign their form.

Groups of 10 or more are asked to email Eveline Bravo or call (800) 432-5229, Ext. 148, to let organizers know they plan to join.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Sunset at Dockweiler State Beach. Credit: Los Angeles Times

'Grunion Fish-tival' Thursday at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro will hold a special "Grunion Fish-tival" on Thursday at 7 p.m. to supplement its regular "Meet the Grunion" program. The evening will include a film on grunion as well as the added opportunity to hatch grunion eggs, make grunion origami and other arts and crafts and interact with grunion researchers.

The cost to attend is $5 for adults and $1 for seniors, children and students. Tickets can be purchased onsite (cash only).

Afterward, those who wish to participate will head to the beach to await the spawning run, which has a projected two-hour window of 11:05 p.m. to 1:05 a.m.

Grunion may only be caught in the months of March, June and July; because grunion are not in season now, the outing is for observation only.

Runs are a sight to behold. For four consecutive nights, beginning on full- and new-moon phases during spring and summer, the small, silvery fish leave the water to spawn on beaches. The shoreline may glisten with fish as the silversides attempt to lay and fertilize their eggs.

There is no limit to the number of fish that may be caught during open season (the next one begins June 3), but the California Department of Fish and Game asks that people catch only what they will eat. Catchers 16 and older must possess a valid state fishing license.

The program will be offered again on June 3 and 17 and July 16.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. Directions and parking information are available on the website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Grunion come ashore to spawn twice a month during spring and summer. Credit: Gary Florin / Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Fish and Game Q&A: Is a duck still a duck once it becomes sausage?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: My question is about possession of waterfowl when processed. A friend shot more than 250 ducks in the just-completed waterfowl season, so I asked him if he was breaking the law by having more than 14 ducks in possession. He said no because he had them regularly processed into duck sausage, and once processed they’re considered out of your possession. Is this correct? Another friend saves all his ducks throughout the 100-day duck season and then gives them all to a butcher to process into sausage. He contends if you process the meat through a meat grinder, then it’s not considered part of the possession limit anymore because it’s now processed.

If you smoke your ducks or process them through a meat grinder and put them in your freezer, are they then out of your possession? A clarification of the "in possession" rule would be greatly appreciated. (Mike)

Answer: Your friends are mistaken and could be cited for possessions of overlimits. Generally, the daily bag limit is seven ducks, and the possession limit is two daily bag limits. Possession is defined as "fresh, frozen or otherwise preserved ..." (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1.17). Making sausage only preserves the birds; they are still in possession until eaten or given away.

'Meet the Grunion' Thursday at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro will be holding its "Meet the Grunion" program on Thursday.

The aquarium exhibit hall will open at 8 p.m., with a film on grunion to be screened at 9. The cost to attend is $5 for adults and $1 for seniors, children and students. Tickets can be purchased on site (cash only).

Afterward, those who wish to participate will head to the beach to await the spawning run, which has a projected two-hour window of 10:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.

Grunion may only be caught in the months of March, June and July; since this is closed season, the outing is for observation only.

Runs are a sight to behold. For four consecutive nights, beginning on full- and new-moon phases during spring and summer, the small, silvery fish leave the water to spawn on beaches. The shoreline may glisten with fish as the silversides attempt to lay and fertilize their eggs.

There is no limit to the number of fish that may be caught during open season (the next one begins June 3), but the California Department of Fish and Game asks that people only catch what they will eat. Catchers 16 and older must possess a valid state fishing license.

The program will be offered again on May 19, June 3 and 17 and July 16.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. Directions and parking information are available on the website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Grunion spawn on the beaches during the annual grunion run. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

'Meet the Grunion' program at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro will be holding its "Meet the Grunion" program on Tuesday.

The aquarium exhibit hall will open at 8 p.m., with a film on grunion to be screened at 9. The cost to attend is $5 for adults and $1 for seniors, children and students. Tickets can be purchased on site (cash only).

Afterward, those who wish to participate will head to the beach to await the spawning run, which has a projected two-hour window of 10:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.

Grunion may only be caught in the months of March, June and July, so since this is closed season, it will be a observation only.

Runs are a sight to behold. For four consecutive nights, beginning on full- and new-moon phases during spring and summer, the small, silvery fish leave the water to spawn on beaches. The shoreline may glisten with fish as the silversides attempt to lay and fertilize their eggs.

There is no limit to the number of fish that may be caught during open season (the next one begins June 3), but the California Department of Fish and Game asks that people only catch what they will eat. Catchers 16 and older must possess a valid state fishing license.

The program will be offered again on May 5 and 19, June 3 and 17 and July 16.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. Directions and parking information is available on the website.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A grunion burrows into the sand to lay her eggs. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Volunteer beach cleanup Saturday at Will Rogers State Beach

The April Nothin' But Sand beach cleanup  will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades.

Hosted by Heal the Bay, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of each month at different locales and are an opportunity to help keep our local shores tidy.

Volunteers should plan to meet at the Heal the Bay tent that will be on-site. All cleaning supplies will be provided, so volunteers are welcome to just show up (those younger than 12 need to be accompanied by a parent).

Attendees should plan on wearing closed-toe shoes and bringing their own drinking water and snacks as well as a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. More information on what to wear and bring is available on the Heal the Bay website.

Liability waivers can be printed in advance and must be signed before pitching in. Participants 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian sign their form.

Groups of 10 or more are asked to email Eveline Bravo or call (800) 432-5229, Ext. 148, to let organizers know they plan to join in.

-- Kelly Burgess
Twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Children play with their dog at Will Rogers State Beach. Credit: Los Angeles Times

'Shark Men' premieres Sunday on National Geographic Channel

Expedition leader Chris Fischer, marine biologist Michael Domeier and crew are back for another season of "Shark Men," premiering Sunday at 9 p.m. on National Geographic Channel with two hourlong episodes. Additional episodes will follow, airing at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights through June 12.

Though the name of the series has changed (it was “Expedition Great White” last year) the focus is still the same -- attempting to learn more about the mysterious great white shark and its life cycle -- where the sharks are born, where they migrate, how they mate, and where they congregate.

Using a specially designed, 126-foot-long mothership that includes a 37-ton hydraulic platform for hoisting a living shark out of the ocean, the crew returns to Mexico's Guadalupe Island, 160 miles west of Baja California, in the hopes of landing, tagging and releasing sharks -- specifically females -- alive. This season, they also secure a permit to hook a white shark at Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of San Francisco, and also travel to just off the shores of Malibu, hoping to catch juvenile great white sharks in an effort to learn more about the younger years of the apex predator's life cycle. 

"Shark Men" episode descriptions through April are after the jump (the rest of the descriptions are still pending):

Extreme angler Jeremy Wade back for third season of 'River Monsters' beginning April 10 on Animal Planet

Extreme angler and biologist Jeremy Wade is back, tracking down and fishing for some of the most threatening-looking freshwater fish worldwide for season three of "River Monsters," premiering April 10 at 10 p.m. on Animal Planet.

"This season, I get into even more unfamiliar territory," Wade said in a press release. "The destinations are diverse, the stories strange, and the fish every bit as fearsome but in unexpected ways. I encountered fish with invisible powers, others that live to a century, the largest true freshwater fish so far and the longest struggle I’ve had with a live fish to date."

This season will feature seven new episodes plus two specials, "Tribal Fishing" and "Most Bizarre."

The "River Monsters" series schedule and episode descriptions are after the jump.

Volunteer beach cleanup Saturday in Playa del Rey

The March Nothin' But Sand beach cleanup will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at Toes Beach in Playa del Rey.

Hosted by Heal the Bay, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of each month at different beaches and are an opportunity to help keep local shores tidy.

Volunteers should plan to meet at the Heal the Bay tent that will be onsite. All cleaning supplies will be provided, so volunteers are welcome to just show up (those younger than 12 need to be accompanied by a parent).

If it is raining steadily at the start time, the cleanup will be canceled. However, if the rain has stopped or it is just raining lightly, the cleanup will continue as scheduled.

Attendees should plan on wearing closed-toe shoes and bringing their own drinking water and snacks as well as a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a jacket. More information on what to wear and bring is available on the Heal the Bay website.

Liability waivers can be printed in advance and must be signed before pitching in. Participants 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian sign their form.

Groups of 10 or more are asked to e-mail Eveline Bravo or call (800) 432-5229, Ext. 148, to let organizers know they plan to join in.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A beachfront location that the locals call Toes Beach. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Volunteers needed for dead fish cleanup in Redondo Beach's King Harbor

Heal the Bay has put out word that volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help clean up the massive amount of dead fish in Redondo Beach's King Harbor.

Anybody with even a couple of hours to lend a hand would be helpful, as Redondo Beach officials said it will take several days to clean up the millions of fish after the sudden die-off that began Monday evening.

Water, food and sunscreen will be provided to volunteers. No experience or supplies are required.

Volunteers should check in at the old Red Onion site at 655 N. Harbor Drive, just north of the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach. There will be other volunteers there giving directions on how to help.

"The quicker we remove the decaying fish, the better opportunity we have for recovery," Bill Workman, Redondo Beach's city manager, told The Times' Tony Barboza. "Time is of the essence; we have to move quickly."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Some of the millions of dead fish floating in King Harbor marina in Redondo Beach on Tuesday. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times