What Does Mullet Eat? Things that You Need to Know as an Angler

Mullet have a notorious yet somewhat unappealing reputation as omnivorous scavengers in their wild environment. Although they generally hunt around inshore they can be found at depth levels ranging from 0-120 meters.

The wide variety of locations of mullet, differing water temperatures, and seasonal changes affect their dietary adaptations but usually, these creatures are found in areas with plenty of loose algae, larvae or other treats lurking around inland coves and bays.

Plant Sources

Mullet utilize their spade-like jaws to scrape off the nutritious particles attached to rocks and underwater debris. They typically prefer the finer particles of microalgae or sea lettuce but are normally not fussy eaters.

The decomposed organic material, known as detritus, derived from plants and animals gradually gathers on the seabed where mullet can forage and dine contentedly using their gill rakers and close-set rows of teeth.

Meat Sources

Mullet frequently congregate together around fishing ports or alongside shipping vessels where scraps of meat or other discarded edible morsels may be tossed into the water providing an easy meal for the hungry masses.

Harbours are a particularly perfect gathering place at dawn when the morning catch arrives at the docks for unloading, resulting in a giant feeding frenzy.

Mullet are the only fish with gizzards, a specialized organ in their digestive tract which is also found in crocodiles, chickens, and ducks, exclusively used to grind up plants and other food matter.

Culinary experts recommend that mullet captured for consumption should be caught from cleaner expanses or commercially harvested in farms as they are unfortunately prone to absorbing the flavor of their surroundings, rendering them inedible if caught from polluted waters.

Mullet Bait

It is vital to thoroughly consider the mullet’s natural environment and common diet before attempting to lure them with alternative baits.

Proficient mullet fishers suggest various techniques and baits such as maggots, larvae, small insects and mealworms which are closest to mimicking their familiar diet and can provide a useful alternative to the decomposed creatures or algae sediments that they would usually suck up from the muddy seafloor.

Utilizing simple soft textured foods found in any household kitchen such as pieces of sausage, white bread or cheese are useful baits on a light line and hook. Mullet will happily mouth on any refrigerator leftovers providing they are small enough to fit in between their thick lips.

Fresh bread is distinctly appealing and large groups of adult mullet hoard together to gorge their infamous appetites.

Chumming the water is an age-old technique which can profitably exploit the mullet’s greedy disposition and unknowingly trains the fish over several days to gather and feed in a particular location.

Sprinkling tiny pieces of ‘chum’, such as cat food, oats or even chicken mash mixed with water into the fishing area will conveniently groom the fish.

Using a small mesh bag submerged in the water containing bulk solids of chum allows smaller portions to progressively filter through the sides so that eager fish can be efficiently enticed. 

Although ground baiting is the basic technique for attracting mullet from a distance, it is important to not overfill their stomachs so they are still interested to grab the hook bait.

A simple balance of tasty chum with an equally appealing hook bait such as heavily scented mackerel or other DIY homemade recipe combinations, improves the likelihood of a more successful catch.

Artificial Feeding and Farming​

Grey mullet have been farmed in ponds, reservoirs, and enclosures as food for human consumption and bait for centuries.

Egypt, the Mediterranean, and some southeast Asian countries continue practicing traditional feeding customs while others are experimenting with newer trial farming methods and manufactured feeds.

In aquaculture ponds, chicken manure or cow dung fertilizers are part of the mullet feeding procedure, supplemented with rice, cornmeal, wheat bran or other by-products of cereal grains to reproduce natural food sources.

In polyculture where mullet are raised among other species such as carp or tilapia, manufactured fish food or chicken pellets are popular substitute feeds. Cereal-based feeds are commonly used at the beginning of the growing season and protein-rich feeds are added later for more fruitful breeding.