Saltwater · Summer and early autumn in the estuaries

Thinlip Mullet

Chelon ramada

The mullet that hunts a lure: famous in British estuaries such as the Thames for taking a worm-baited spinner — behaviour almost no other mullet shows. It also runs far into fresh water in summer. On float-fished bread it is as shy as any mullet, but the slowly retrieved baited spinner awakens something in it that its cousins lack.

Seasons · Peak

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Thinlip Mullet — Photo: Achilles, C.; Day, Francis; Mintern Bros., Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Thin, smooth upper lip — clearly thinner than the thicklip's swollen lip
A dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin — a useful separator
No gold spot anywhere on the gill cover or cheek
Streamlined silvery body with faint lengthwise stripes following the scale rows
Two dorsal fins, the first with four spines, and a forked tail

Habits

Famous in British estuaries such as the Thames for taking a baited spinner — almost alone among mullets
Runs far into fresh water in summer, grazing in the lower river
Grazes algae and detritus, but will follow and nip at a slowly retrieved baited spinner
Schools in estuaries and harbours, wary and easily spooked in clear water
Feeds best on the flood tide, dropping back with the ebb

Distribution

South & West Coasts, England & Wales · United KingdomCommon

Channel & Atlantic Coast, France · FranceCommon

Mediterranean Coast, France · FranceCommon

Mediterranean Coast, Spain · SpainCommon

Adriatic Coast & Po Basin, Italy · ItalyCommon

Polders & North Sea Coast, Netherlands · NetherlandsOccasional

Lakes, Rivers & Coast, Ireland · IrelandOccasional

Where to find them

Estuary channels on the flood tide, e.g. the Thames
Harbour corners and marina pontoons
River mouths and salt-marsh creeks

Where they live

Tidal estuaries and river mouthsHarbour basins and marina pontoonsLower river reaches in summer, running well into fresh water

How to catch them

Baited spinner in the estuary Shore

Rig: Small spinner or spoon with a short hooklink and hook, retrieved slowly and steadily through estuary channels and along quay walls

Bait/lure: A small harbour ragworm on a size 10-12 hook behind the blade

Key tip: Retrieve slowly and steadily — thinlips follow closely and nip; hold the speed and let them hook themselves.

Float fishing with bread and worm Shore

Rig: Long float rod with a small crystal waggler, fished near the surface in harbours and estuaries and fed sparingly with bread crumbs

Bait/lure: Bread flake or small maddie worms on size 12-14 hooks

Key tip: Fish the flood tide as the shoals push in, and stay low — they distrust any shadow on the bank.

Best baits & lures

Small harbour ragworms on a baited spinnerBread flakeTiny pieces of prawn or fish

Techniques for Thinlip Mullet →

Baseline setup

Rod: Long, soft 11-13 ft float rod, plus a light spinning rod for the baited spinner
Line: 4-6 lb mono with 3-4 lb hooklengths
Terminal: Crystal wagglers, size 10-14 hooks, small spinners for baited rigs