Mullet I think

[10 brownie points]

On Monday a couple of us went for a walk along a beach just outside Tralee Co. Kerry.

On our way back to the caravan park we walked along a sandbar which had a small stream running along the back of it which came down from the hills nearby. When we came to cross the stream the tide was on the way in and the level of the stream had risen a foot and a half or so and rising...

When we got across I noticed 3 guys fishing (spinning) but not catching anything.

The father-in-law said that there were mullet in the stream when the tide was running in.

I sat and watched the river for a while and sure enough there were fish in it and they were clearly taking something from the surface.

What were do you thing they taking? What is used to catch these and has anyone tried to fly fish them (using what)....???

:confused:

 

[ 06. August 2002, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: Lewis from Limerick ]

[Leon Roskilly]

The principle diet of mullet are the micro-organisms and algae that live in the mud, amongst the silkweed and float upon the surface.

 

Mullet have huge intestines which can slowly digest the 'goodness' out of mud.

 

Especially on calm days, you can often see mullet slurping at the surface, leaving people puzzled as to what they are up to. Taking insects? sexual displays?

 

What they are doing is sucking in the almost invisible surface film of debris, containing their favourite micro-organisms.

 

Mind you, for a fly-fisherman, the sight can be almost irresistible!

 

Yes mullet can be taken on the fly, have a look at:

 

http://www.hartflyfishing.demon.co.uk/mull...et_fishing.html

 

http://www.mikeladle.com

 

Although microscopic life provides their more usual food, if there is a ready supply of more solid matter, expecially 'floculent' material the mullet can be educated to a richer diet.

 

Watch them at the outfall of a sewer pipe!

 

Or, picking up scraps in harbours where fish are cleaned.

 

Or sucking at an angler's breadbag, once he's 'educated' them to bread (it usually takes 3 days or so of pre-baiting).

 

Thick-lipped mullet are sometimes taken on small mepps spinners, but thin lips are the more usual quarry of this technique. Strangely, they are keen to follow a spinner without striking.

 

Removal of the treble, to be replaced by a small single hook to 2 or 3 inches of mono, and baited with harbour rag does the trick. equally strangely, they will rarely take harbour rag unless it's towed behind a spinner!

 

Tight Lines - leon

Medway Mullet Group

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/medway

 

National Mullet Club

http://www.go-fishing.co.uk/mullet.htm

 

ps In UK waters, it takes around 10 years for a mullet to reach breeding age, at around 3lbs. They aren't good eating and, having seen what they eat, I wouldn't eat one! Far too valuable a sports fish to be taken and not returned.

 

[ 09. August 2002, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

[10 brownie points]

Thanks Leon for all that info (plus links).

Now a little bit of reading to do (so long as the boss doesn't catch me).