Mullet fishing is a section of our sport that can be both enjoyable and exasperating. If you are successful it is extremely enjoyable and rewarding but if the fish are a bit shy on the day you can become rather dejected and may be tempted to give up. DON'T!
It is very unusual for anyone to have a very successful day on their first attempt as mullet are usually very shy feeders and will spit the hook out before you have realised that you have had a bite.
It takes several sessions to get to the situation where you can recognise the smallest change in the activities of your float and be able to strike quick enough to hook the fish.
So please do not give up after your first effort as you will end up loosing out on some very enjoyable fishing trips.
LOCATIONS :
Mullet can be found at most spots around the coast of Cornwall but the
harbours and rivers are normally the most productive. There are a few sewage outfalls left and these are excellent spots to try if you can put up with the smell and floating objects.
METHODS:
It really depends on where you decide to fish but generally float fishing is considered to be the normal method. Having said that I have had some very good sport fishing on the bottom for them.
Bottom fishing can in fact be very successful at Porthcurno. Also it is
possible to use more than one hook thus giving yourself more chance of catching a fish.
Which ever method you use the trace should be around 4lb in strength. This may seem thin but I have found that thicker lines will only reduce the
number of bites. As you will have the clutch of your reel set to allow for the strength of the line you should not have much trouble with line breakage's. I have in fact landed a mullet of 5-6-12 on 4lb line and in Guernsey friends of mine have landed mullet up to 10lb on 4lb line. It all depends on controlling the fish and letting it run when it wants to.
If you decide to fish on the few sewage outfalls left it is advisable to keep your trace set-ups as simple as possible and to avoid the use of too many beads and swivels as these will only increase the local problems. A one ounce weight tied to the line will usually be sufficient if choosing the
paternoster method and tie your hook lengths to loops in the mainline so that you don't need to use swivels.
When fishing on a sewer outfall and floating it is advisable to use a fixed float as again this will help to avoid any tangles. A sliding float can stop sliding after a while.
Anywhere else, a sliding float is the preferred type as you will be able to fish at greater depths and change as the tide moves.
