How to Fish With Mullet Bait

Live or cut bait mullet are commonly used to catch a variety of fish. These include bluefish, amberjack, Spanish or king mackerel, dolphin, shark, jack crevalle, snook, tarpon, trout and redfish. Mullet bait can be purchased at most bait stores or caught using a cast net. If purchasing your bait, aim for live or fresh rather than frozen. If cast fishing, you know you've caught mullet -- of the Mugilidae family -- if your fish have inverted V-shaped mouths and long, lean bodies. Common mullet to catch are striped or silver.

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh mullet
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Cooler with ice
  • Bait well
  • Fishing hooks with floats
  • Fishing line
  • Fishing pole
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Instructions

    • 1

      Thread your hook through the side of the body of a whole mullet from head to tail. Use this method if you're looking to catch a large fish such as a bluefish, which prey on whole mullet -- coming from behind and biting off the body. With the hook inside from head to tail, it will look as though the mullet is swimming when you tug on your line.

    • 2

      Place a fresh mullet on a cutting board, if you plan to use cut bait for small to medium sized fish. Cut small mullet in half or in smaller "steaks." Fillet large mullet, and then cut the fillets into chunks or strips that fit the size of your hook. Thread mullet chunks securely onto your hook.

    • 3

      Hook live mullet through the top and bottom jaw, if fishing in a strong current. Hook live mullet just behind the first dorsal fin, if surface fishing. They will then swim with their tails skimming the surface, attracting predators. If fishing for mid-depth fish, hook the mullet just in front of the first dorsal fin. If bottom fishing, hook live mullet in the belly just in front of the anal fin. This will sink the mullet down to the bottom, but be careful not to hook through vital organs.

    • 4

      Put your leftover cut bait in a cooler with ice. If keeping live bait, store mullet in a well-aerated bait well.

    • 5

      Cast out your hooked mullet and wait for a bite, paying careful attention to your fishing pole and line.