Cast netting mullet

[cheesecrakr]

I've been working on broadening my abilities so that when the fish aren't biting, I can still come home with some groceries. I have learned to throw a cast net and I want to catch mullet and maybe shrimp if I can. I hear they should be grouping up in pods this time of year in shallow water. My plan is to do this from the deck of my boat. Any pointers before I give it a go? Can I approach them with a trolling motor? Will they let me get close enough to do this? I love smoked mullet, but I would sure prefer to not buy them from the fish market .

[GaryDroze]

If you can work your way into the St Marks Refuge levee canals that connect to creeks east of the lighthouse, the ones with mud bottom are right now about 90% mullet, 10% water. On sunny days, they spook easily, but when the weather is overcast/rainy (like right now), I can just about step on them.

[red_yakker]

There are a few different methods. I like to spot a school by looking for mullet jumping and pelicans diving. One guy gets up on the bow with the net ready to throw, and the driver planes off and runs right into the middle of the school. As soon as the boat comes off plane, stand up and throw the net. You usually have time to get 2 or 3 throws in before the school scatters, but if they are thick, you can get 15 or 20 per throw. I've gotten as many as 30 per throw.
Once they scatter, just give them a few minutes to group back up and do it again.
During the roe run (right now) is the best time for this particular method.
Another good way to catch silver mullet, is to wait til a hard freeze that lasts at least a couple of days. The silver mullet will school up real tight in any creek or river with a freshwater source.

[cheesecrakr]

Thank you! I may have a go at it this weekend if the weather is right. I haven't been out of St. Marks very many times, but I may try those canals if I can locate them. How about the Econfina/Hickory Mound area... does anyone have experience with this in that area? I tried a couple weeks ago around Lanark, but we couldn't find any to speak of and the sun was probably too bright anyway.

[cheesecrakr]

I went today out from Panacea. I didn't have much time to fish, so I went somewhere I was familiar with (still want to check out the canals at S. Marks). I trolled along the docks up towards the 98 bridge and saw nothing. No signs of life in the water at all, other than ducks. So, I pulled in between a couple of docks up to some grass and cast the net and caught 6 decent mullet 16" to 18" or so. That was it, nothing more the rest of the day. No trout or reds either. I guess all this rain has messed things up a little. Still, I'm happy... my first mullet in a net! It was nice and overcast, warm (74 degrees), and the water was 62. I'll give it another shot soon. I'm thinking about chumming a spot for them with laying mash.