Flies for mullets

[Armando]

Hey

Two months ago I went bonefishing and while I was poled thrugh the flat looking for them, saw hundreds of mullets the majority had to be 5 to 7 pounds. I thought on an unweighted wooly bugger for those, obviously I had none.
Have you guys fished them, do they fight (something tells me they are great jumpers) what flies do you use?

Thanks

[ikan besar]

If you figure it out, you will be the most popular author the fishing magazines have ever had.

[THE GAME]

I am not sure but I think maybe mullet ar vegatarians.All of the ones I have cut up for bait are full of what looks like algea.I'll be back let me do a little research>>>>>

Well I did a little research and here is the answer to your question.Copied from a fish species page.

OTHER NAMES: Jumping Mullet, Black Mullet
RANGE: All Florida coasts, absent from the Bahamas; not common in the Caribbean.
HABITAT: Most shallow coastal waters, and roams far into fresh water.
DESCRIPTION: Head rounded; small mouth with rubbery lips; forked tail. Color is generally dark above - gray or brown - and white or light gray below. Longitudinal stripes generally quite noticeable.
SIZE: Averages 1-3 pounds, but this is the largest of the Mullets and can grow to at least 10 pounds on rare occasion. World record 6 pounds, 15 ounces.
FOOD VALUE: Excellent, both flesh and roe.
GAME QUALITIES: A zippy, frantic fighter.
TACKLE AND BAITS: A cast net is by far the best bet for catching Black Mullet, with the canepole a distant second. Mullet primarily feed on algae and do not bite in the usual sense. They will, however, take many small baits into their mouths briefly as they forage. Nearly all hook-and-line Mullet fishermen practice their art in freshwater streams or coastal canals. They mostly are canepolers who have the patience to stare at a float for extended periods, staying ready to heave at the slightest movement of the bobber, which indicates that a roaming Mullet is mouthing the bait. And baits are many indeed. They include bits of white plastic worm, real earthworms, corn, dabs of bacon and some other odds and ends. It's possible to catch Mullet by fly casting, but to do it you have to discover a situation in which the fish can be seen mouthing algae or other floating detritus at the surface. A fly of similar color, cast next to the floating stuff, is often taken in. But, like a canepoler, the fly fisherman must be constantly observant and ready to strike as soon as the take occurs; otherwise, the fly will be expelled.

Hope this helps.

[bones]

Ditto The Game. Down here in Texas they are not tablefare, in Florida they smoke them and are quite delicious served with a good sharp Swiss cheese, Sourdough bread, a few slices of Bread-and-Butter pickle, and a glass of Chardonay or real cold beer.

And you are correct,.......they are great jumpers. Once upon a time in my not so distant youth, a friend and I were ripping across Galveston Bay in one of those sleek, over-horsepowered speedboats,............. giant rooster-tail following us. We were showing off to a boatload of sun-bronzed beachbunnies, who were showing off to us....top-less. We musta been doing 50, (or was that the number of empty beercans rattling around on the deck?). One of these mullet decides to launch into the air............ You guessed it......our paths crossed........he hit me dead-center in the chest! You figure the odds!! Thought I'd been slugged by Mohammed Ali himself. Fish scales all over the deck, and the mullet dead as a fencepost.

P.S. Once I did accidentally snag a medium sized mullet, not really much of a battle.

[Armando]

MMM

Looks tough, but take a look at carp and those are something on the fly.
I guess it is a matter of trying lots of different patterns, 'cause I am sure they had to be eating something, don't think they were at the flat sunbathing.
On my next trip, I'll take some buggers and trout flies up to #18 hooks. At least that will kill some time until spoting some bones.

Thanks

[bones]

Where'd you go bonefishing? Any luck?

I went x Isla Morado few years ago with a grocery sack full of newly tied bonefish patterns of all descriptions. Had visions of my first bonefishing trip being a terrific succeess............planned it just right for the moon, morning tides, best time of the year, etc. Sat in bar at Cheeka Lodge for almost a week watching the first hurricane of the season dump a few feet of rain on the Keys. (Didn't have a contingency plan,....i.e., pack up and head to Cape Cod.) Flats too turbid for bones. Did have two mornings to chase some big tarpon with great success.

I want to return to the keys next year, they have the biggest bones around. Ya can't beat the good ol' U.S. of A. for a vacation.......you use good ol' American Greenbacks, you are immensely welcome and the natives speak English, they treat you well and they they want you to come back, and you'll probably not get sick.

[Pucho]

well they are hard to catch but we have cought a few like we get the ballyhoos, both are easy to catch with a drop net, but you know how things are, we like the hard way and all this fishing stuff, with small pieces of bread on a #20 hook at the end of a 4-6 line, only a small split shot sinker, start trowing small pieces of bred and when they start eating trow the hook, it needs some practice, but you will get few, that would be a tough fly to make...lol , the bread fly
Victor
p.s. they taste like crap...lol:D

[Armando]

In my quest for bones I ended up in Cuba a year ago, in an island called Cayo largo, miles and miles of underfished flats, I had lots of bones biggest one a 9 pounder(great for my first time) everything went on great, sunny days, no wind etc, and had a Grand slam caught tarpon (60 pounds and saw two that had to be 150 or more, didn't strike otherwise a heart attack), permit (had a strike on a huge one and bang, off he went) and snook.
" months ago I went to an Island here in Colombia, didn't know exactly if there were flats or no, well there were great flats and lots of bones tailing all around, biggest one a 12 pounder and thats lots of fun, also had a 25 pound tarpon (baby) and several snooks. No permits. Plus the mullets I saw.
But the winds were too strong had lots of trouble, and I think I am a good caster against wind, this one could blow me away.
Back cast was useless also, double hauling wasn't enough...you know.

I'll have in mind that bread special fly.

thanks

[Baran13]

They would throw about a five gallon bucket of fish pellets or grain pellets and then come back the following day and catch them on corn.

[albacized]

Originally posted by Baran13
They would throw about a five gallon bucket of fish pellets or grain pellets and then come back the following day and catch them on corn.

are you sure you weren't watching a show on carp fishing?

[Baran13]

Thats the only reason I remember it because it was so odd. It was on a Espn 2 show. I think it might be reel guys or something like that. It has an older tall host who has a fuller beard.

[Armando]

mmmm corn for sea fishing.....
Don't know about that but I am working anyway on some yellow/white foam on 16 hooks to resemble some bread for those mullets.
Though I am taking some trout tricos, griffin gnats and any other small nymphs to try on the next trip.

By the way carp on the fly is also something to talk about.

[bones]

The anglers may have been baiting an area for catfish. Ya put a few pounds of corn or chicken scratch into a bucket, add water, let it sit in the sun for a few days, and , !Voila! Catfish chum!