Overview

How to target

Mullet (Thin-lipped)
Species ID: mullet-thin-lipped

Mullet (Thin-lipped)

Thin-lipped mullet frequent clear, gently flowing estuaries, tidal rivers and harbour basins around the UK in late spring to autumn. Look for fish working current seams, under brid...

🌊 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

3 kg

Day vs night

Day 100%
Night 10%
Thin-lipped mullet frequent clear, gently flowing estuaries, tidal rivers and harbour basins around the UK in late spring to autumn. Look for fish working current seams, under bridges, around moorings and along saltmarsh creeks, especially on a rising tide pushing new water and food upstream. Calm or offshore conditions that keep the water clear help hugely, and neap tides reduce weed and make presentation easier. Shore tactics are ultralight: a 7–10 ft light lure rod, 4–8 lb mainline with a long 4–6 lb fluorocarbon leader. Classic approach is a ‘mullet spinner’—a small in-line spinner (size 1–2, 5–10 g) with the treble removed and a size 8–12 single hook 30–60 cm behind on fluorocarbon, tipped with a small piece of harbour rag (maddie) or slim artificial worm. Cast across or slightly uptide and retrieve just fast enough to keep the blade turning so the baited hook tracks through the upper metre of water. A clear bubble/controller float with a 1–1.5 m trace and tiny worm bait, or small estuary flies, also work. Sight-fishing is best: move quietly, wear polarised glasses and keep casts accurate. Early morning and evening in warm months are prime. Handle fish carefully and release promptly—they are slow-growing.

Temperature

10–21°C

Depth range

0.3–6 m

Baits

  • Spinner (Sea Trout) 9.2/10
  • Harbour Rag (Maddies) 8.6/10
  • Ragworm 8.4/10
  • Sinking Pencil 7.2/10

Rigs

  • Bombarda (Casting Float) 9.1/10

    Casts tiny flies or small ragworm baits far with minimal splash. Great for thin-lips in estuary channels and outflows; slow retrieve across the flow draws takes with very little resistance.

  • Float (Sliding) 8.6/10

    Adjustable depth and low resistance suit spooky mullet from marinas and harbour walls. Fish bread flake or small ragworm mid-water; light float and small hook for a natural drift in weak tide.

  • Split Shot Rig 7.9/10

    Freeline bread or isome-style worm with a tiny split shot for stability. Ideal in calm basins and under pontoons where thin-lips cruise; ultra-natural presentation with near-zero resistance.

  • Dropshot 7.3/10

    Ultra-finesse for sighted fish along walls and sluices. Pin a small isome/Gulp worm 20–40 cm above a 3–7 g weight and twitch subtly in the flow; keeps the bait in the taking zone.