Where’s The Fish? Logo for Where's The Fish?

Overview

How to target

Mullet (Thick-lipped)
Species ID: mullet-thick-lipped

Mullet (Thick-lipped)

Thick-lipped grey mullet favour clear, calm water in harbours, marinas, estuaries and gentle surf bays. Shore fishing is best from late spring to autumn once temps top ~10–12°C. Wo...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: calm 📅 Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Wind

calm

Max weight

6.5 kg

Day vs night

Day 90%
Night 30%
Thick-lipped grey mullet favour clear, calm water in harbours, marinas, estuaries and gentle surf bays. Shore fishing is best from late spring to autumn once temps top ~10–12°C. Work the first of the flood and around high water, targeting harbour walls, moorings, slipways, weed rafts and creek mouths where food washes through. Use stealthy, light tackle: 4–8 lb mainline, 4–6 lb fluorocarbon hooklengths and small hooks (size 8–12). Present bread flake or crust under a waggler or freelined, feeding small balls of mashed bread little and often; allow fish to graze and strike on a steady draw rather than sharp pecks. In estuaries, harbour rag/maddies or small soft peeler crab can score on a light running bomb or short-trace paternoster; on open beaches, keep baits near the surf line with minimal lead. Settled weather and neap tides improve water clarity; a slight ripple can help by dislodging food. Daytime sight-fishing is most consistent, though mullet will visit lit marinas after dark. Handle gently with rubber nets and barbless/small-barb hooks; catch-and-release is widely practised. Check local byelaws for access and bait collection.

Temperature

10–20°C

Depth range

0.2–8 m

Baits

  • Bread (Mullet) 9.5/10
  • Harbour Rag (Maddies) 8.2/10
  • Ragworm 7.6/10
  • Mussel 7/10
  • Prawn / Shrimp 6.8/10

Rigs

  • Float (Sliding) 9.2/10

    Adjusts to depth for harbour/estuary mullet. Present bread flake or tiny rag/Isome on size 8–12 with a long light fluorocarbon snood; a sensitive float shows shy takes in gentle tidal runs.

  • Split Shot Rig 8.8/10

    Freelines bread crust/flake naturally in calm marinas and over weedbeds. Ultra-stealthy with small hooks and light line; ideal for surface-cruising, finicky thick-lipped mullet.

  • Bombarda (Casting Float) 8.2/10

    Casts unweighted bread or worm strips to distant shoals from piers/breakwaters. Fish shallow or surface with a long leader for a natural presentation in clear water.

  • Dropshot 7.8/10

    Target sighted fish with tiny isome or rag slivers; hold bait in the strike zone under pontoons. Great in clear marinas with minimal tide using ultra-light gear to register delicate takes.

  • Running Ledger 7/10

    Light ledger with small olive/grip weight to present bread or maddies near bottom in estuaries. Long fluorocarbon trace for wary mullet grubbing on mudflats or channel edges.