Saltwater · Year-round around mangroves and bays; Galapagos fish present all year
Thoburn's Mullet
Mugil thoburni
An eastern Pacific mullet centred on the Galapagos and ranging from the south-eastern Gulf of California to Peru, recognised by its orange eye and long residence in mangrove areas.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Orange eye — the easiest field mark in the eastern Pacific
- Fatty eyelid covers most of the eye
- Small oblique mouth, rear of upper jaw reaching the front rim of the eye
- Space between the eyes convex
- Silvery mullet body, most reliably separated from other Pacific Mugil by the eye colour
Habits
- Schools in shallow bays and mangroves, 0-10 m
- Grazes algae and detritus from sand and mud
- Remains in mangrove areas for long periods around spawning
- Juveniles shelter among mangrove roots
Distribution
Where to find them
- Mangrove lagoon edges on the Pacific mainland
- Shallow sandy bays with grazing schools
- Galapagos and Cocos mangrove shorelines
Where they live
How to catch them
Bread-flake float fishing in mangroves Shore
Rig: Sensitive float, split shot, size 12-16 hook on 4-6 lb leader
Bait/lure: Fresh bread flake
Key tip: Chum sparingly, cast past the school and draw the bait through it; strike at the first dip of the float.
Dough paste at lagoon edges River
Rig: Tiny float or ledger rig, size 12-14 hook
Bait/lure: Flour-and-water dough
Key tip: Fish the mangrove edges where schools graze at high tide; keep tackle light and the strike gentle.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light 6-7 ft spinning rod
- Line: 6-8 lb mainline, 4-6 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Terminal: Size 12-16 fine-wire hooks, small floats, split shot
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod
≈ US$110-170
Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.
Line · Budget
50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)
≈ US$25-40
Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.
Terminal · Budget
Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs
≈ US$25-40
A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.
Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.
Typical size
Common to about 30 cm; maximum reported 29.5 cm TL in FishBase (larger lengths reported by STRI remain unverified)
On the table
Minor local food fish where netted; rarely a deliberate hook target.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Thoburn's Mullet
Build today's plan⚠ Heads-up: Thoburn's Mullet doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.