Remedy for Mullet Madness

Mullet have always been fish I have had a fascination for, due to the way they can be seen in various numbers cruising around harbours, mariners, jetties, estuaries, creeks, as well as near piers and even though I’ve had times where I could see many, I have never been able to tempt any. I only recently learnt that there are two types of common grey mullet in the UK, the thick-lipped and thin-lipped variety. I had only tried so far for the thick-lipped variety that can be tempted with bread and various baits presented on the bottom, which they can scavenge on. The thin-lipped variety however are less interested in the bread and prefer spinners tipped with a harbour ragworm on the end to follow and grab. No one seems to know why this turns them onto feeding, but when you have the right scenario or window of opportunity, it can be the most effective way of catching vast quantities of grey mullet.

Knowing I hadn’t caught one, my friend Paul Greenacre, who has recently discovered how to catch the thin-lipped variety of mullet consistently, very kindly invited me over to a local estuary of his, to fish in the harbour on kayaks (Paul kindly let me use one for the session). I took the train on a grey day down South to meet Paul at a nearby station. The journey was quick and it wasn’t long until I was in the car with Paul heading to the tackle shop. After quickly getting some supplies including ragworms and Aberdeen hooks to present them on we were underway on the final leg of the journey to the harbour. We arrived on a quiet public slipway to launch on the estuary and after learning the special rig for these mullet; we were soon out in the harbour paddling away on the kayaks.

A fair few boats in the Harbour!

As we started making our way towards a fair few boats parked in the harbour, we saw plentiful swirls: “look at all those mullet” said Paul excitedly. Shaking with excitement myself after getting organised into a good area to start casting around with the spinner and rag, I flicked in for the first time of the day. The blade of the spinner was working beautifully through the water and on Paul’s advice of a slow retrieve I felt very helpful indeed. Just as I was about to lift for a recast I felt a thud and I was briefly into a mullet but unfortunately I didn’t set the hook right. “That was instant” I exclaimed to Paul as he grinned and told me to thread the ragworm up the line slightly to expose more hookpoint to set the hook better. Exactly the same point on the second cast I had another take and was yet again battling a mullet briefly but this time, the headshake of the fish threw the hooks. Amazed by this instant action I quietly pledged to myself that I would set the hook on the next take once and for all. Paul was just beside me and although he had not had a take as of yet, he had interest with mullet following his lure presentation but swirling away last second as he would lift the worm out of the water. I had another flick in and earlier in the retrieve this time I had a nice snatch and was into a mullet. Although it topped quickly, it suddenly woke up and having my drag already set was certainly the correct move as it went off with pure agility and unbelievable acceleration down deep giving a great account for itself. I was on a light mainline so could not afford to give the fish too much stick and after going on a lot of runs and trying to snag me on a nearby rope several times I managed to guide the mullet into the net. This wasn’t a very big fish maybe topping just over a pound or so in weight, but I was so happy to have caught my first mullet and was profoundly thanking Paul as we revived it. We took this quick shot and it was brilliant to see the fish gain back its energy quickly and go back to the depths with a “whoosh”.

First ever Mullet!

As I threaded a new ragworm onto the hook, Paul was now in to a mullet of a similar sort of size and even though he was on a more sensible heavier setup and could give the fish more stick it still stripped line and gave a very nice bend in the rod indeed. Paul efficiently netted the fish after being towed slightly on his kayak and after a good revival for the fish we took another quick shot.

Paul's first of the day

It wasn’t long until Paul was into another fish and this time it was a slightly better fish, which certainly would not give up and during the fight, I meanwhile managed to catch a single little school bass in the channel behind. After what seemed like an arm-aching fight for Paul he was displaying triumphantly another nice mullet for the camera.

Paul's second!

After this, the fish either backed off or learnt to ignore our lures for the time being. We moved out of the estuary to a bit of more open water in a pool, which Paul referred to as “Mullet ally” and for the record Paul has managed large sea trout from this area on his spinning outfits in the past year in the kayak. After paddling about, chatting to Paul and avoiding boats, I eventually had a hit on the drift near a boat parked in the mariner. This was a fish which felt better as it didn’t show instantly and it was a question of keeping in good contact with it in the open water by cupping the spool whilst it stripped line and catching up with it efficiently. Paul drifted over just behind me and saw the fish pop up, “that’s a better fish Tom” he said excitedly as he assembled his net ready as I continued to battle the fish really running me around and shaking its head. After what felt like a long battle the mullet’s head popped up and I calmly guided it into Paul’s waiting net and as we revived it I couldn’t get over how thickset it was, like a chub! “This could go over 3 Paul”, I exclaimed excitedly. Paul handed me a nice weighing bag, which I quickly wet, and we put the fish on the scales. The fish went 4lb 1oz, which to me was a fantastic bonus as I was already happy with what I had caught, and a good personal best thin-lipped mullet. We took a few quick shots and it was yet again good to see the mullet swim off resiliently.

Personal Best Thin Lipped Mullet

We drifted around on the tide for another few hours managing a few more turbo-charged mullet in the pool, we noticed time was getting on and I needed to get a train at 5.37pm, that it was time to gradually make our way back to the slipway. On our way back, we both noticed a few swirls from some mullet near where we had started and with some time left we spread out and presented our spinner and rag cocktail towards a channel between some boats – this was awkward with the tide and therefore was difficult to stay in one good position. It wasn’t long until I noticed Paul was hitting some good mullet with him having two in quick succession. At the worst timing possible one of my reels had gotten into a ‘bird nest’, but with a few mullet I saw swirling about I took my rod which was meant for if I saw any thick lipped mullet and put and tied on my spinner and rag rig for a chance of another thin lipped mullet. It was not long until I felt a thud and although I only saw a small mullet top at first, this fish was certainly determined and absolutely ripped off with my 6lb line and started to tow the kayak in awkward areas; having to paddle away from boats and play this fish on a carp waggler rod, you can imagine the challenge involved here! After being town around a bit longer on the harbour, struggling to keep control of the fish and kayak simultaneously, I managed to eventually guide another nice mullet into the net. This fish was no more than 2lbs but was absolutely spotless and just as I was about to release it, Paul smiled over to me and said how nice this was to end the session on. I agreed and I thought much as we’d both love to carry on that all good things come to an end and we had promised our families that we’d be back for a certain time.

Paul kindly drove me back to the station and we were both grateful that the weather had turned just as we’d gotten back in the car. After saying my thanks I headed back for Winchester. It was a very enjoyable day on the kayaks and thanks goes to Paul for lending one of his kayaks, showing me one of his local spots and for putting me on some fine thin-lipped mullet sport. For those who watch my YouTube Channel and have not seen Paul’s films, why not check them out here.

Tight Lines,

Tom

Mullet, Bass and a Trip to London!

The first trip out on the same weekend after I had the large chub on the third day of the season on the Thursday, my friend Oscar invited me out on his canoe sea fishing on an estuary down South targeting mullet and bass. After a lovely overnight stay at Oscar's grandparents, Oscar and I prepared ragworms, lots of bread and lures for our targets. We arrived at a marina and saw a big singular mullet of at least 4lbs circling around and sifting the bottom of the water. Our excitement levels hit the roof and we went off to launch the canoe as quick as possible. We decided to troll some Rapala plugs on the tail end of the canoe and it wasn't long until we were hitting some nice school bass. After paddling around looking for shoals or singular feeding mullet and not being successful, we carried on the trolling I had an amazing take from obviously a better bass with the rod absolutely arching over. After a decent battle, the fish started to dive down under the boat causing a lot of strain on the line and unfortunately it got away which was huge blow. The rest of the day was enjoyable with a few nice little bass being culprits to our lures, however the fishing in general was frustrating for our target species, the thick lipped mullet and of course the better bass specimens.

Oscar's Lure Outfit

A week or so later, my mum informed me there was a University taster day at one of the Universities she works at part time, the LSE, thinking about my interest in Politics and History I thought it was certainly worth a visit. Knowing I was going to be London I contacted my friend Steve Dedman who had kindly offered me a session on his local river, the Wandle. Unfortunately the day I chose was the hottest, most humid day of the year so far with everywhere being and feeling unbearable. After the taster day I made my way down to Wimbledon from Waterloo and got on a Tram to the location where Steve invited me to fish the Wandle. A short walk from stop, and there was Steve welcoming me in his warm manner. We both agreed that it wasn't easy conditions in the slightest and it was going to be hard going for sure. I was taken to a pretty swim walking upstream and after firing pouch falls of maggots for a few minutes I started running my float through. I was hoping that the presentation achieved would be tripping along the bottom where hopefully a better barbel or chub could see it. After a tiny little roach, bumping a gudgeon and a small chublet we made our way downstream. The outcome was very similar with a chublet or two being culprits to the maggots. After a few minutes at this, Steve suggested that I would go up to the same swim as before and start feeding and running through again hoping possibly a better fish could have come out with the light levels and temperature starting to drop. Sadly, it wasn't to be but a slightly better chublet which pulled the string a fair bit was a result of sorts.

A Chublet Consolation on a Tough Evening after a long day!

Tight Lines,

Tom Aldous