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Mullet from the south coast

02 August 2008

A recent email from Mick Donnelly reminded me just how much fun catching mullet can be. It's a pity that there isn't time to do everything. Anyway, I thought Mick's account was worth a webpage and it makes up for my deficiency in mullet fishing.

Hi Mike

Just though I’d update you on my continuing mullet education, yesterday I spent a beautiful day at a local beach/estuary. I’ve been there a number of times and seen a few fish but never had any luck. I saw several fish there yesterday too and had some takes but no joy. I was fishing bread under a float from up tide as it was flooding and still about 5 hours off high water. This was very reminiscent of trotting on a river for chub or roach.

I was with my fishing buddy David and he was using his fly rod to chase the bass, he’s had some success with this in the past but I only saw one or two very small bass there yesterday. David’s had a mullet on bread there before and he’s spotted a location there where mullet gather on the ebb, I have to admit my scepticism was gaining strength as I looked at the water and couldn’t see any fish but this changed when, some distance down tide, I witnessed subtle signs of interest from fish at the bread he’d scattered over the water earlier.

The fish came in closer and at least one of them was taking the bread very positively, albeit in a discriminating fashion. It was getting very tense as I witnessed fish ignoring the two hook rig I’d baited with crust fished just under the surface. Mr. Positive Mullet must have been getting greedy though because he came back for more and after some careful inspection, took one of my baits.

This fish fought very hard and took a lot of line. For a while it was quite difficult trying to regain any line on it. Eventually this fish did 'play out' and I handled him out. An interesting point is that once again the fish was shadowed by a shoal mate during the fight. David snapped some photos as I was playing the fish and you can spot this shadow quite plainly.

It was a very satisfying fish, I’m doing my best to smile in the trophy shot honest. I learned a lot about Mullet, seeing fish circling the bait like mini sharks as if deliberately inspecting for the line that might be attached, that’s convinced me of the benefit of fine tackle. I had a few more takes but could only pull the hook into one more fish (it threw it with a leap).

Yours Mick Donnelly.

I really enjoyed Mick's anecdote and David's excellent pictures, it took me back to my early dauys of trying to catch mullet. I'm sure that he'll catch plenty more in the future and I look forward to hearing about them.

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you.'get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

It's on!

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Still going.

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Got it!.

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Nice one Mick!

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