Mullet fishing in Plymouth

[Baz T]

I was mainly a beach and boat angler, but have changed to carp and pike fishing now, however now that I have the float/feeder rods, floats, small hooks etc, I would like to try for mullet also.
Are they mainly a summer species, or can they be caught all year round. ?

Any specific marks in Plymouth worth a go? I have taken the kids down West Hoe, Devils Point, and Mountbatten so they could catch small pollack/wrasse over the years, but havent really seen any mullet in those areas. The only productive area I ever saw them was in the Dockyard, when I was in the Navy many years ago, and did catch a few then having borrowed some coarse fishing gear.

I know most people probably wont give away their secret or productive mullet marks, but just wanted any pointers in the right direction for in/around Plymouth area (that doesnt entail climbing down sheer rock faces or cliffs ! ha ha)
Thanks

[devondave]

baz you fish up the exe for pike and carp?.....they catch mullet up the exe certainly as far as countess weir i am not sure where to suggest in plymouth as i have never fished for them down there.

newton abbot up behind B&Q in jetty marsh there is carp and mullet! (the carp are rumoured to goto 30lb!) just recently i have seen loads of mullet at kingsbridge too whilst flounder bashing some real bigguns i may have to have a go for them next summer

i would like to get upto exeter and try for a pike (as never caught one) and would always fancy some mullet bashing next summer if you need company :)

cheers

dave

[Baz T]

Hi Dave, I havent tried the Exe for pike or carp yet, just been to the canal twice, blanked once, and on 2nd visit, lost a biggie, and landed one jack. I only started coarse fishing in late August this year, so havent been to many venues as yet I Have heard Tiverton canal is good for pike, mainly jacks, but more prolific than in Exeter canal, though the Exeter canal ones are apparently much bigger. May try some of the places you mentioned, for mullet, and come to think of it I too saw mullet in Kingsbridge, right by the town centre/car park, during the summer when I visited there with missus and was sitting having an icecream by the side of the carpark/estuary. I had forgotten about that, so may give u a shout sometime, and we can try there. I take it u saw the mullet in winter, as u said u were flounder bashing.
Thanks for the reply and info.

[devondave]

baz i saw the mullet there about 3 weeks ago.... i havent been back since because of work ect but i saw them up in the town and down a little further at the stone bridge hopefully someone will come along and give you places to fish in plymouth i just dont know any as i have never fished plymouth

[Brian Rogers]

I used to live in Torpoint some years ago Baz and took some very good Mullet all around this area, but anywhere in the river system you stand a good chance of catching fish and big fish to boot.
The rocks and creeks around HMS Raleigh are superb for the grey ghost's.
Also there is a creek in the river Lhyner which is very good as well, to get to it drive out of Torpoint on the main road as if you are heading for Looe, about two miles on, on the right you will find this creek,drive down a little track and there it is, best time to fish it is about 4 hours after low water and two hours down.
use bread here in the normal way for Mullet.

Good fishing Mate.............

[Baz T]

Thanks for the info Brian. I used to go fishing for flounder at St Johns, just accross from Raleigh (well nearly), do you mean in that area, when u mention the creeks etc around Raleigh?
Will check out the map for that creek u mentioned also. I also remember seeing some mullet at a small jetty by Wilcove, now u mention it when I took my son there years ago looking for small pollack and wrasse.
Thanks.....

[steve devon]

There are plenty in the Tamar creeks and the Plym too. All around the barbican holds fish but gets a bit busy with people walking around so personally I stick to estuaries.

If you want to try outside of Plymouth a little then there are also plenty around the yealm

When you get to a mark, chuck some bread in on the surface and if there are some mullet about, they will usually be nibbling on that bread by the time you have set up!

[Brian Rogers]

The creek Baz that i mentioned is just past Antony (A 374 ) and is known as Wacker quay,
if you can get "google earth" here are the coordinates for both marks as mentioned in previous message,

N 50, 22, 26, 93, W 4, 15, 59, 71.

HMS RALEIGH MARK,,,,,if you were stood on the small pier lookng out over ST Johns lake the creek is on your left.........N 50, 22, 11, 37 W 4, 12, 26, 55,

Use a couple of loaves of bread for groundbait that have been soaking in a bucket of water overnight, in the morning tip out most of the water and scrunch the bread up so that is a sloppy mess, when you get to your mark throw in a few hanfull's before you tackle up, this will give them a chance to see whats on offer.
Bait use fresh loaf and just gently squeeze on a pinch of bread about the size of a ten pence piece,
set your float to fish 6 ins to a foot off the bottom,

with groundbait the old saying goes "little and often" and i will subscribe to that.

Tips;;;;;;;;;
always fish with a landing net.
keep out of site, if you can see them they can see you.
use musclin grease for quick strikes.( when float fishing)
try to land fish away from catching point.( disturbence doesn't help)
use the lightest line you feel confident with ( i use 4lbs BS ).
When using bread if the fish can see the hook they will retreat very quickly.

Good Luck Baz...................

[Baz T]

Steve n Brian, Many thanks for the info on area and tactics, cant wait till spring/summer to give it a go. Brian, I have found Wacker thanks, and the one by Hms Raleigh. How do u get to the one at Raleigh? Tried checking route via google earth/google map. Do u go down mill lane along past the small marina/boat yard, and then past Raleigh on yer right as u head to the jetty. I take it u have to park up at mill lane area and walk down? Looks a good spot, with the river/estuary still accessable at low tide if the google pics are anything to go by..Thanks for the help and advice lads. Much appreciated.

[Brian Rogers]

Yes go down Mill Lane park the car by the football club and then take the small path that leads off to the right, it's not far a couple of hundred yrds.
Also the same mark is a good spot for Flounders using peeler crab and rag.

Good luck Baz, let us know how you get on cheers. Bri.