The mullet is a great sporting fish and for most of us represents the first ‘silver’ fish we capture. Plentiful and predictable, mullet grow to a good size and offer a lot of fun spearfishing, being much more numerous (and somewhat less paranoid) than the more elusive bass. Grey mullet come in three main varieties. The Thick Lipped Grey Mullet is the largest of the bunch, getting up to 13 pounds. The Thin Lip Grey Mullet reaches nearer 6 pounds but is otherwise similar. The Gold Spot Mullet is smaller still reaching no more than 4 pounds and having a distinctive gold spot on the gill plate. All three types seem to behave in the same way so are described together.
Minimum size:
33cm/13in – correct for 2020
When to catch grey mullet:
24-7/365 the mullet are always somewhere!
Where to catch grey mullet:
Everywhere! The mullet are very prolific and show up in most places. incidentally we get some of the biggest Grey Mullet in the World in the UK so enjoy!
Behaviour and hunting:
Mullet tend to shoal but can be seen as single fish too. They are generally seen in water 1m-15m deep but seldom deeper than that. Mullet will tend to follow a straight course and this makes them a good sporting proposition for divers. Once hit they fight hard and are every bit as strong as a bass- if not stronger.
They can be found in pretty much every scenario bass can, and the same principles described for hunting on the bass page all apply to mullet. The two species are often found together
Mullet hunting in the shallows is very productive and they love depths from 3-6m making them an ideal fish to hunt. If surprised they will bolt. But if encountered on the move they tend to pursue a straight course allowing a shot to be taken.
Mullet will also go in holes at slack tide, and large groups of 7 pound plus fish will often be found swarming a network of holes, again at about 6m.
Use agachon, available cover and relaxed, slow movements for the best chance of getting a big one.
Tip:
Do not string them through the gills if you are shore diving. The gills will break and the fish will fall off as you walk. Not fun if you just got to the top of the cliff before you realise! Use a sharp RA stringer through the top of the head.
Dive report:
“Levelling out at 6m and digging in amongst the boulders, a stream of large mullet came past in the current, seemingly never ending. Every time I tried to raise the gun they shied away. I held the gun steady and waited for a big one to cross in front. Firing the Rob Allen 90 Alu railgun, I hit a nice 4 pounder and it took off, fighting all the way to the surface and swimming all over the place before I finally caught up with it.”
Eating:
5/10 – Some dispute exists over the eating of mullet. They have a tendency to taste rather muddy if taken from brackish or harbour water, but open water mullet do not. The most important thing is that mullet take flavour beautifully. Try Gravlax, smoked, tandoori, curried, or cooked with ginger and spring onions with a dark soy sauce. Baked in steaks with onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and anchovies is also great! Get creative!
Weapon of choice:
Skorpia 90