M, S - December 17, 2020

MULLET, SEA

Scientific Name:

Mugil cephalus

Salt/Fresh:

Salt

Also Known As:

Sea Mullet; River Mullet; Hardgut Mullet; Bully Mullet; Poddy Mullet; Mangrove Mullet; Grey Mullet; Flathead Mullet; MULLET, SEA

Rating:

Countries:

Australia

New Zealand

Description:

Sea Mullet is a wide spread mullet of tropic and temperate waters.

How To Identify:

Sea Mullet is the largest of the Mullet family, like most mullet it is elongate in profile with a quite broad head. Their colouration will depend whether they have been out to sea for a while or in the estuaries. Out to sea they tend to be much more silver with a greeny-olive back, however when in the estuaries they tend to be more a dull grey with a blue to brown back. They have been reported to grow as large as 8kgs but more common around the 0.5 to 1.5kgs.

How To Catch:

All Mullet can be quite tricky to catch, however the best way is to catch Sea Mullet is when they are in the estuaries and it is best to use small baited hooks with bread, dough, peeled prawn, worms or maggots. Depending on where the fish are feeding you can use unweighted baits, suspended under a light float or very light lead. Very light tackle should be used.

Where Found:

In Australia Sea Mullet are found from Central Queensland, down through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and across to Western Australia to about half way up the coastline, also found in the North and East of Tasmania. In New Zealand (known as Grey Mullet) they are found around the top of the North Island. Like all Mullet they mainly live in river systems, bays, harbours and Estuaries. The Sea Mullet school up during spawning and will on mass migrate up and down the coast in very large schools. They will also travel up river systems to quite brackish water.