As long as you are not participating in the hunts and are in no way pursuing the fish or assisting your son in pursuing or capturing any fish, then you do not need a license. Remember that California grunion season is closed during April and May each year (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 28.00).

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at [email protected].