Fishing Articles by Joe Malat
"Catching Sea Mullet"
We catch two varieties of sea mullet in North Carolina, actually
two different species. The Northern kingfish features a series of wide and
distinct bars on the side of its body, and the spines at the front of the
dorsal (top) fin are very long. The Southern kingfish has the same body shape
but the marks on it's sides are less defined. The Southern is more abundant
in Outer Banks waters, and both species may be mixed together along the beach.
The North Carolina record for sea mullet is 3 1/2 pounds, the average size
is much smaller. A one pound sea mullet is large enough to earn bragging
rights for the lucky angler, and by any stretch of the imagination, they
are not tackle busting giants.
Sea mullet have gone through periods of both scarcity and abundance, but recent
years have been good with excellent numbers and encouraging catches of big
fish. Their popularity is well- deserved.
Sea mullet are an inshore species, an easy target for surf casters. The torpedo-shaped
body has an underslung mouth and pointed nose, a perfect design for rooting
around on the bottom for food such as sand worms and mole crabs. Rarely will
they hit a lure, and most of them are caught on pieces of fresh bait. Bloodworms
and shrimp top the local bait menu, along with small pieces of fresh squid
and mullet. Mole crabs or "sand fleas" are excellent, and you can't beat the
price. Surfcasters can usually dig an adequate supply of sand fleas right at
their feet.
Rigging up to catch them is simple, with the standard, two hook bottom rig
preferred. with this rig, weights can be changed easily to adapt to local surf
conditions, and hook sizes can be adjusted to fit the size of the fish that
are available. Hook size is critical. These fish have small mouths, and you
may miss a lot of bites if your hooks are too large. I like a #2 or #4 long
shank, snelled hook with a small spinner blade and red beads. The spinner helps
to jazz up the presentation by adding some flash and color to the bait, especially
when the water is rough and dirty.
Sea mullet can be caught anywhere, but beaches that are dotted with a series
of sandbars and deep holes, consistently produce most of the fish. A beach
with points bordered by small "pockets" can also hold fish. Outer Banks beaches,
especially Hatteras and Ocracoke, are peppered with beach profiles that match
this description. Certain sections of each island will consistently have the
right combination of holes and sand bars, but the exact location of these "hot-spots" may
vary from week to week. Your best bet for success is to check in with any of
the local tackle shops before heading for the beach.
For surfcasters, a medium weight spinning rod in the 8 to 9 foot range is
a good choice, since a long cast is often not needed. I like a rod with a stiff
tip to facilitate casting from one to four ounces of weight, plus a rig and
bait. Every once in a while the fish will be schooled up at the edge of an
offshore sand bar, and a long cast will be necessary, but I have found this
to be the exception rather than the rule.
Don't overlook the possibility of the fish being literally at your feet. Frequently
these silvery bottom feeders will forage along the edge of the drop-off for
sand fleas and worms. They are a schooling fish, and when they're running,
they are very cooperative.
The one thing I like about sea mullet is they will bite in a variety of conditions.
I've caught them in clear, fairly calm water, and in a rough dirty ocean. However,
it seems they tend to be more cooperative when the surf conditions strike a
compromise between the two extremes.
I can't write an article about catching sea mullet without mentioning the contribution
they can make to an evening meal. Their sweet, firm meat is a real treat. My
family doesn't care to pick bones out of fish, so I fillet just about anything
I catch. We like 'em fried lightly with a dash of lemon pepper seasoning. Just
one taste, and I guarantee that you will instantly know why these little fish
could be a shoo-in to win any popularity contest among North Carolina anglers.
Copyright © 2004 Joe Malat, All Rights Reserved
