River mullet - tips please!

[peteren]

Any tips on trying to catch mullet I've seen 3 miles up-river of a sea sluice, please?

Thought I had a big chub following a spinnerbait, when I realised it was a 4-5lb mullet. Changed to a 2" grub, and it followed that too, but veered off. Spotted a few smaller ones cruising nearby.
Never tried before; is breadflake best?
But would love to catch on a lure...

[peteren]

Any tips on trying to catch mullet I've seen 3 miles up-river of a sea sluice, please ?

Thought I had a big chub following a spinnerbait, when I realised it was a 4-5lb mullet. Changed to a 2" grub, and it followed that too, but veered off. Spotted a few smaller ones cruising nearby.
Never tried before; is breadflake best?
But would love to catch on a lure...

[jeff smith]

As you’ve had one follow your lure, it’s likely than the specie you’re seeing is a thin lipped grey mullet.
Try using a spinner, with beads substituted for the weighted body and a single size 4 longshank hook tied to a short 3inch length of mono, in place of the treble.
Bait the hook with pieces of rag worm and retrieve it very slowly.
If they’re thick lipped mullet then bread flake tactics, either float fished or using a feeder, and plenty of mashed bread for ground bait should do the trick.

[Brian Carragher]

One of the most frustrating species to target, you might get one in for every 5 you hook but by god do they go some

[Steve Moore]

I do a fair bit of mullet fishing now, but only with lures,
I fish a stretch of river about 4 miles up from sea.
It can be frustrating, but if the mullet are about in numbers I normally catch.
Best session was 11 in two hours.
My method is very simple, small spinner, with an inch of isome on the back, if I don’t use isome, I don’t catch.
I Wade in the river, normally on an low or incoming tide,

[Stewlaws]

One of the most frustrating species to target, you might get one in for every 5 you hook but by god do they go some

I was coastal and follow after follow but never converted on a spinning outfit.. spent hours

[Mike J]

Any tips on trying to catch mullet I've seen 3 miles up-river of a sea sluice, please?

Thought I had a big chub following a spinnerbait, when I realised it was a 4-5lb mullet. Changed to a 2" grub, and it followed that too, but veered off. Spotted a few smaller ones cruising nearby.
Never tried before; is breadflake best?
But would love to catch on a lure...

The bait that catches both species is live shrimp and the smaller you can use the better. Hook thro the end of the tail and fish 1/2 depth under the lightest float use can get away with.
Fish the flood tide right in the shallows where you see them rummaging around. Keep yourself and the rod low and dont be in a hurry to strike.
If mullet are there be prepared for bass as they will also take the shrimp. Mike Ladle used maggots but Ive not tried them myself.
Spring tide Monday so nows the time

Please report in your successes or otherwise.

.

[peteren]

Thanks All - hope to try soon. The river isn't truly tidal; retained at constant depth behind sluice at estuary. So I'm unsure if the mullet pass the sluice with every tide, or stay there a while.

[Brian Carragher]

Without knowing the area you mention, my guess would be that mullet are feeding on the algea and growth on the seaward side of the sluice

[suffolk si]

ive given up on them lol!

[stubbojo]

Without knowing the area you mention, my guess would be that mullet are feeding on the algea and growth on the seaward side of the sluice

and when feeding on algie , they can become mega hard to catch , had about a dozen sessions on them with fly tactics only had one hook up and that came off
used all the usual mullet flys , but they are buggers to catch , they just wont look at bread were i fish ,very shallow back water... full of the buggers .
i love a challenge so i will just keep trying till it clicks ....

[Sebas]

Float fished bread after baiting up with crumb as you would for Chub, or snip the treble off a size 3 mepps and tie on a size 4-6 single via a short length of braid and bait with rag. Spinning through your baited spots can be good.

Keep it simple, take one rod for each method and see what's better on the day.

Most importantly be prepared to get extremely frustrated

[peteren]

Thanks all, had one brief try with spinner and trailing grub - more half-hearted follows only. Thoughts turning more to pike now...

[Chris Hammond]

One of the most frustrating species to target, you might get one in for every 5 you hook but by god do they go some

I was coastal and follow after follow but never converted on a spinning outfit.. spent hours

Likewise Stew. I've found a spot with a plethora of large mullet and can only raise follows with no takes on lures. ☹

[Bob Watson]

I recall reading an article about mullet where the angler waded out at low tide and waited for the tide and mullet to come to him. He was as mad dedicated as an eel angler.

I can't remember where I read it, not even if it was online or in a mag but I'd like to read it again.

[Stewlaws]

I recall reading an article about mullet where the angler waded out at low tide and waited for the tide and mullet to come to him. He was as mad dedicated as an eel angler.

I can't remember where I read it, not even if it was online or in a mag but I'd like to read it again.

A friend use use to stuff an onion sack with bread, place it on low tide and run a H block weight and fish to the mark... At least that's what he'd tell me. Was never so specific as to what he caught!

[Mike J]

I recall reading an article about mullet where the angler waded out at low tide and waited for the tide and mullet to come to him. He was as mad dedicated as an eel angler.

I can't remember where I read it, not even if it was online or in a mag but I'd like to read it again.

There is a mullet angler down my way that does just that. He fishes a wide muddy featureless shore and from his pics he does very well.
All the regular mullet anglers have been hard at it recently most are on the bread feeder in the creeks.

.

[Gary Coggon]

Resurrecting this as I’ve a foolish urge to mix my fishing a bit via mullet on baited spinners…

As you’ve had one follow your lure, it’s likely than the specie you’re seeing is a thin lipped grey mullet.
Try using a spinner, with beads substituted for the weighted body and a single size 4 longshank hook tied to a short 3inch length of mono, in place of the treble.
Bait the hook with pieces of rag worm and retrieve it very slowly.
If they’re thick lipped mullet then bread flake tactics, either float fished or using a feeder, and plenty of mashed bread for ground bait should do the trick.

Jeff, would you mind saying what bead colour you prefer, please?

I do a fair bit of mullet fishing now, but only with lures,
I fish a stretch of river about 4 miles up from sea.
It can be frustrating, but if the mullet are about in numbers I normally catch. Best session was 11 in two hours.
My method is very simple, small spinner, with an inch of isome on the back, if I don’t use isome, I don’t catch.
I Wade in the river, normally on an low or incoming tide,

Steve, what Isome colour works best for you, please?

Thanks, gents.

[Steve Dennington]

To get them on lures I think it depends whether they're thick or thin lipped mullet. I've only caught thick lipped and only on float fished breadflake with mashed bread as an attractor, but I think it's the thin-lipped that are caught on spinners (usually baited with ragworm).

[jeff smith]

Resurrecting this as I’ve a foolish urge to mix my fishing a bit via mullet on baited spinners…

As you’ve had one follow your lure, it’s likely than the specie you’re seeing is a thin lipped grey mullet.
Try using a spinner, with beads substituted for the weighted body and a single size 4 longshank hook tied to a short 3inch length of mono, in place of the treble.
Bait the hook with pieces of rag worm and retrieve it very slowly.
If they’re thick lipped mullet then bread flake tactics, either float fished or using a feeder, and plenty of mashed bread for ground bait should do the trick.

Jeff, would you mind saying what bead colour you prefer, please?

I do a fair bit of mullet fishing now, but only with lures,
I fish a stretch of river about 4 miles up from sea.
It can be frustrating, but if the mullet are about in numbers I normally catch. Best session was 11 in two hours.
My method is very simple, small spinner, with an inch of isome on the back, if I don’t use isome, I don’t catch.
I Wade in the river, normally on an low or incoming tide,

Steve, what Isome colour works best for you, please?

Thanks, gents.

Gary,
I use red beads on my lures but I really don’t think it matters what colour they are as I’ve also caught on lures made up with black and white beads.

[Steve Moore]

Resurrecting this as I’ve a foolish urge to mix my fishing a bit via mullet on baited spinners…

As you’ve had one follow your lure, it’s likely than the specie you’re seeing is a thin lipped grey mullet.
Try using a spinner, with beads substituted for the weighted body and a single size 4 longshank hook tied to a short 3inch length of mono, in place of the treble.
Bait the hook with pieces of rag worm and retrieve it very slowly.
If they’re thick lipped mullet then bread flake tactics, either float fished or using a feeder, and plenty of mashed bread for ground bait should do the trick.

Jeff, would you mind saying what bead colour you prefer, please?

I do a fair bit of mullet fishing now, but only with lures,
I fish a stretch of river about 4 miles up from sea.
It can be frustrating, but if the mullet are about in numbers I normally catch. Best session was 11 in two hours.
My method is very simple, small spinner, with an inch of isome on the back, if I don’t use isome, I don’t catch.
I Wade in the river, normally on an low or incoming tide,

Steve, what Isome colour works best for you, please?

Thanks, gents.

I’ve caught on most colours.
But I prefer reds, green, and brown.

[Gary Coggon]

Many thanks, chaps. Time to get some new toys/bits on the way…

[stubbojo]

had a few follows off mullet this summer targeting bass , but all shy off last second , wont even look at bread in the harbour i fish even though i have done the onion sack trick

tried small mepps .....nothing and there are hundreds of mullet in front of me at times
closest i have come is to fish a small black dawl bach fly and red ......but then they came off .....as soft mouthed but i will have one for sure in the end ....

[Oldskoolfool]

I used to use a different tactic on a nuddy Welsh harbour - firstly at low tide I'd dig for harbour ragworm and turn over a small area then fist over the diggings when tide came in using theceorms id dug earlier- seemed to attract the mullet and flat fish really well . I have done ok with bread but in my hands it's either going or not as a bait. Agree its very frustrating but rewarding.

I'd also recommend fishing in very shallow water as often more productive. Fly also work pretty well I find but hook ups an issue.

Quick look ny old diaries shows I did better in open se vs creeks/harbours - no idea why

[Gary Coggon]

had a few follows off mullet this summer targeting bass , but all shy off last second , wont even look at bread in the harbour i fish even though i have done the onion sack trick

tried small mepps .....nothing and there are hundreds of mullet in front of me at times
closest i have come is to fish a small black dawl bach fly and red ......but then they came off .....as soft mouthed but i will have one for sure in the end ....

Steve - all my experience is sofa-based but not going to let that stop me… From trawling t’intergoogle, I’m going to go with purpose-built baited spinners based on silver blade, bead body (one utube says yellow outfishes every other colour) and smallish Power Isome-baited hook trailing 3-6” behind. As Steve M says above, no bait, no catch. Contrary to legend, works for thick-lipped too, apparently.

[Gary Coggon]

https://www.mrfishjersey.com/cdn/shop/p ... 1604768664

[fishder]

Great info there hope to give them a try this summer.

[Steve Moore]

Started my Mullet fishing campaign on Saturday.
Managed to catch one and lost another.
Had two chub to 3.5lb and a small bass to boot.

Yesterday was a total failure but did manage a small bass.
Quick sess after work tonight and managed 3 mullet. One of them took the spinner at the very last moment and nearly beached itself.
Still can’t suss the buggers out, but I know if I don’t tip my spinners with isome they won’t take it.

[Stewlaws]

Was at Paignton Harbour and another spot on the Exmouth region and bread just doesn't get a sniff. It rolls right past their mouths in little over a ft of water, then all of a sudden it may drop back and mouth a piece, didn't see a single positive feed on bread, but they were hitting the surface spectacularly, unsure what they were feeding on .... my thoughts was a fly rod was the order of the day on the estuary.
Harbour mullet are just another breed I'm sure !!

[Pikerd74]

Was at Paignton Harbour and another spot on the Exmouth region and bread just doesn't get a sniff. It rolls right past their mouths in little over a ft of water, then all of a sudden it may drop back and mouth a piece, didn't see a single positive feed on bread, but they were hitting the surface spectacularly, unsure what they were feeding on .... my thoughts was a fly rod was the order of the day on the estuary.
Harbour mullet are just another breed I'm sure !!

I think they have seen the floating piece of bread one too many times, I have had many a frustrating hour trying to tempt them. My next mullet session I plan to use zigbugs to see if that fools them. They are the ultimate in finicky feeders at times.