7Lb 15oz

[Sunny]

I haven't posted any Mullet reports for ages now....so here are a few to bring you guys up to date on my Mullet adventures; with a headline fish of 7Lb 15oz......its like running out of petrol a 100 yards from the forecourt !!!!

So ...lady luck has her plan for us all.... and an early morning session on Wednesday gave me a share of that luck.

I was plagued by Bass during the session, but managed to winkle out my first Mullet of the day





The Bass kept coming and each time they were beating the slower Mullet. This one gave a cracking run which had me thinking Mullet for a minute





I had a couple of near misses until I finally nailed the fish I came for......but the first run had me doubting I had hooked a Mullet. It ran a full reel-rattling 70 yards plus. I have never had a Mullet run so far in a single burst; and the speed had me convinced it was a Bass in the 4-5Lb range.

I had hooked the fish about 10 yards out and with plenty of open water it seemed that if and when I hooked-up it would be a good clean fight )

So the first run had taken the fish to within feet of a moored boat; which had me thinking chains and broken line....but no she cooperated and kited to the right of the boat... before charging out another 15-20 yards !!!!

I kept looking at the reel and feeling pleased with myself; that I had recently re-loaded it with new line. Then we kind of reached a stalemate, with the fish kiting back and forth just below the surface, but not taking anymore line ...or coming towards me for that matter. Every now and again it would surface roll, showing off a massive tail and allowing me to confirm I had a Mullet...game on. We did this for 15 minutes (I kept checking my watch), until the fish decided to change its tactics and headed for a line of pontoons, at the same time she dived deep; so double hazards to the line, from the pontoon mooring's and any bottom obstructions. I was not feeling confident of the outcome.

At 20 minutes 'in' the fish gave ground and thankfully came clear of the pontoons. I worked her to the top and within 10 yards of me...I thought it was almost over - big mistake. A series of erratic runs had the fish back out where she had run to at the start .... This was just unbelievable. I have never fought a Mullet at such range before ...crazy stuff. Thankfully the ensuing battle to recover the line took only 12 minutes; bringing the total fight to 32 minutes. Even at this point the fish almost stumbled in to the net by accident...she wasn't beaten !!!!

A stocky fish that was exceedingly broad across the body. After a suitable recovery period .... I found a duty cameraman :-)





Next session was Thursday evening. I was chatting to a fellow Mullet angler - talking about tackle - and I mentioned how I use my main rod (17 ft Preston), but vary the standby rod depending on location or just whim :-)

So yesterday I had this in mind when I viewed the rods and my eyes fell on my old Bruce & Walker CFR-12- L ... the classic Compound Taper Match rods - for the younger readers - was the float rod of choice for many olden day anglers

I matched it to a modern Shimano 2500....which I admit seemed a somewhat strange combination. Like putting disc brakes on a Morris Minor !!!!

I guess I could have dug out one of my moth-balled Mitchell 300s, or the flashy 440a Match, or the younger ABU Cardinal 55 (with the first rear drag I owned)....but none are lined so I went for the strange combo instead.

The test of the rod and reel was soon being played out with a nice fish of 5Lb 8oz... The thing that struck me most about the play was how much the combo relied on the reel drag, as apposed to the rod doing much of the work. I guess I'm getting old because I don't recall the rod having so little to bring to the table...or is that I'm being spoiled by the new generation of rods !





After the fight I noticed that my line was so spun by the turning spool that It was ready to make watch-springs...... I should have been back-winding; as I used to have to do... forgot that trick !!!!

I moved on...to a low water mark and changed rods ...to a (rather elaborately titled) Diawa 'Tom Pickering' Whisker Kevlar Connoisseur Waggler.... *pause for breath* 14ft ....balanced out with a Shimano 2500 Stradic. Not that it makes much difference :-) The second fish of the session was soon playing the rod a treat...and amazing coincidence - weighed in again at 5Lb 8oz





This fish was markedly longer than the first and a skinny-minny with a big fat head.....insults aside....this fish was clearly either 'spent' or just not in good health. Certainly compared to its plump chum I had caught earlier. I would have expected a fish this far in to the season to be bumping up its reserves for the coming winter... unless it has worms !!!

In profile the fish had no girth...as the next photo shows. It is no certainty as to weight, were you to reply solely on length. I had a larger fish some weeks ago now (8Lb 6oz) that was also skinny-ish; I would have loved for it to have also been a porky as well )

[Fishing Forum Admin]

cracking report mate

[Mugilido]

Very nice fish, admire the catch, congratulations. Would you be kind enough to comment that as bait utilizastes also set the line so used?, so beginners like me learn. Thanks

[Portland Pirate]

Where did you catch those fish.

I must have missed the original post. Fantastic fish.

[Sunny]

Originally Posted by Mugilido

Very nice fish, admire the catch, congratulations. Would you be kind enough to comment that as bait utilizastes also set the line so used?, so beginners like me learn. Thanks

Bread bait & 4 or 6Lb line.

the rest is just years of frustration

[Sunny]

Originally Posted by Portland Pirate

Where did you catch those fish.

I must have missed the original post. Fantastic fish.

I fish all along the south coast...from Dorset to Sussex; wherever the fish are.
Its find the big ones that is the challenge...flippin gillnetters make finding the bigguns harder every year

[SIMPLE MAN]

great report mate and some cracking fish too well done that man