Surf fishing for Yellow-Eye Mullet + Video

by Jarrod Day on 11 Jul 2012 When it comes to surf fishing along Victoria’s rugged coast, the highest prized species on is of course the Australian Salmon. During the winter period they are often quite plentiful but can be challenging to locate when the conditions are too calm. Rough weather and big waves are a haven for salmon but when it is calm fishing for yellow eye mullet can be the only option. While they are not often thought of as a popular species to target, mullet can be a good option for anglers to gather to use as fresh bait for other highly prized species.

Finding mullet: Right around the coast, all surf beaches throughout out winter will have schools of mullet swimming beneath the waves.

Anglers who head down to a beach do need to find a deep gutter to find the fish in the same manner as you would do for when fishing salmon.

Once a gutter has been located, finding the mullet is as simple as placing some berley into the water and waiting for them to show up. Often, once a berley trail is established it is common to see schools of these little fish amongst the shore break or sucking off the waters surface.

Berley: Mullet respond extremely well to berley and it doesn’t take much to attract them. Berley can be as simple as placing tuna oil soaked pellets into an onion bag and securing it to a rod holder. The berley bag should be placed onto the sand so that each wave that washes over it washes the berley back into the water. By using this method, the berley will be consistent and you won’t have to do anything apart from occasionally shaking the bag to further the flow.

Rigs and tackle: When it comes to fishing for mullet you don’t have to have the most elite gear. Mullet barely weight 500 grams so reduce your tackle if you want to have a little enjoyment. Basically, a 9ft shore spin rod with 4000 size reel and 10lb braid will suffice. The rig should be a paternoster rig tied from 15lb trace containing two droppers each with a size 3/0 circle of 10 long shank hook. It will also pay to keep the sinker light and best if around a 2 ounce star or bomb. Heavier sinkers can cause the hooks to pull fro the fishes mouth.

Baits: Mullet will take most baits but pipi are by far the pick of the bunch. If you don’t have access to pipi’s, slithers of blue bait or pilchard will suffice.

Technique: After the berley trail is established, anglers can simply casting into the trail. Ideally, you will only need to cast one maybe two meters into the water. With an established berley trail, the fish will push right up to the shore break. Once you have caught your first fish, make note of where your last cast was and keep casting into the same area for continuing success.