Mullet on lures - 31st March 2012

People: Me

Duration: 6.30 am - 12.30 pm

Tide: HW at 12 pm

Weather: Light cold northerly breeze, overcast

Bait: Lures

Rigs:

Results: 2 Grey Mullet, 1 Golden Grey Mullet




Report: I got up at 5.30 am to try lure fishing for bass given the calm conditions, my third attempt to get my first bass on a lure this year. It was just getting light as I made my way down to the rocks. I have never seen the sea so calm at this mark nor seen the water so clear. The sea was flat, just gently lapping on to the shore. I would have prefered to have had at least a little turbulence in the water.

I began to work my way along the shore, scanning for some sign of fish activity. Then I spotted a disturbance on the water to my right, cast a Feed Shallow across the area but after a few minutes realized it was a shoal of small mullet. However, I reckoned there might be a bass lurking about waiting to pick off the smaller fish. But after about 10 minutes the lure spooked the fish and they moved off.

I continued working my way to the east towards a small bay that has been very productive in the Summer and Autumn. I was not long there when another fish shoal appeared. I cast the Feed Shallow across them and on about the third retrieve through the crystal clear water I could see a small fish dart at the lure as it passed, it was hooked! At first I thought it must be a bass but as it lept out of the water I could see that it was a mullet. It gave a good fight for such a small fish. That spooked the shoal and they disappeared. I doubt it was trying to eat the lure as it wasn't much bigger than the Feed Shallow, maybe it was trying to play with it or just wanted to chase it off but it must have snapped at the lure as it was hooked in the mouth.

I continued fishing in the same area, tried a few other lures and some soft plastics. Then another mullet shoal appeared. I lobbed a weedless Slug Go over the shoal and as I retrieved it through them I could see five or six fish turn and chase the lure and one was hooked under the chin. It again fought well and when I eventually got it onto the rock I realized that it was a golden grey mullet.

I made my way to the opposite side of the bay. Bass often show up here about an hour before high tide. There was no sign of any fish activity, the crystal clear water looked lifeless. Then I noticed a disturbance 20 m away. I clambered across the rocks and cast towards the fish activity. It looked like another mullet shoal was moving closer to the shore. Then I foul hooked one with a Feed Shallow. This was a bigger mullet, lept clear of the water, fought like a manic until I eased it into a shallow rock pool.

I fished on for about another hour but there was no more activity. I guess the water was just too clear and still for bass to come close and maybe its not warm enough yet for them to readily take lures.

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Nice bit of fishing Frank keep it up

Thats mad they took the lures and the size of them. They are some fighters though frank. Get them 5/6 lb and and you will forget about the bass !!!!!!!! Will be in Kerry at the weekend trying for them with the fly rod pat

They are some fighters though frank. Get them 5/6 lb and and you will forget about the Bass !!!!!!!! Will be in Kerry at the weekend trying for them with the fly rod pat

I can only imagine - those little ones fought hard enough. Good luck in Kerry - I must head over that way this year - never got around to it last year, too much going on and the weather was crap.

Ill be there most weekends from now frank so might try a session maybe even with the fly rod!!!

great fishing frank that a new one i have never hard of mullet taking lures bet there will be alot of people trying it now

well done frank great to see nice fishing

tried myself yesterday morning and got nothing either, they are being caught do

Frank,,intresting report......i hooked bout 10 mullet 3/4weeks ago on small tobys, ddnt get to land any, but got 2 in close be4 they escaped, had a lot of other missed takes,,,,,,,,

they're getting aggressive now ,interesting indeed but big well done frank

Thanks guys,
After the fight those three mullet gave I might consider having a serious attempt at fishing for them.

Thanks guys,
After the fight those three mullet gave I might consider having a serious attempt at fishing for them.

valium

gotta love the blind ambition of those wee mullet frank. 2 of them are near the same size as the lures
great result again man