Big schools off Hillarys south wall... mullet?

So I went for a fish Tuesday arvo and made the trek to the end of the south wall.

On many occassions there was schools of either big mullet (or tailor or herring??) swimming up and down the inside (facing back towards the beach) rock wall, at times they would even swim in a circle, creating a 'ball'.  Sometimes just swimming at a leisurely pace, other times chasing the small bait fish.  They were hugging close to the rock wall.

These schools were at least 5 meters across. We threw twisties, plastics and unweighted mullies into, on top of, infront of, through, behind, underneath, every direction possible, and they were NOT INTERESTED!  I'm telling myself that they're big schools of mullet, but can someone confirm?

These were decent sized fish too! Looked to the naked eye about 40cm+

Anyone else seen/caught them, i just want to know what they are?

 

Cheers,

Alex.


sea-kem's picture

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Mullet.

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:07

Mullet.

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uncle's picture

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yep

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:13

mullet and theres some big buggers

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fatboyholla's picture

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are you allowed to throw net

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:18

are you allowed to throw net those schools

 

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I've seen kids throwing net

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:32

I've seen kids throwing net on the in Ocean Reef marina. They actually speared big bugger ... Def mullet

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fatboyholla's picture

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ive seen people throwing

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:45

ive seen people throwing netts aswell

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snappermiles's picture

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use bread

Thu, 2012-02-09 17:48

compact it around your hook and they will take it unless you have spooked them there are fellas that fish for them all the time using this method

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Mullet

Thu, 2012-02-09 18:53

I have caught mullet using tiny hooks and bread rolled up in tight small balls nowdays I have a dry fly that looks just like a small bread ball and using a very light leader 2kg I have scored a take every now and then. when you do get one to take the bait hang onto your hat they really put up a hell of a fight on the light gear you need to hood them Unfortunatly they can be very frustrating things to try and get to take a hook

sherbert's picture

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Off flatrock saw lots

Thu, 2012-02-09 18:56

All the water was moveing about 10meters across

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Iceman's picture

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Tailor

Thu, 2012-02-09 19:27

Could be tailor - saw a large school down by the ramps a few weeks ago.

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My guess is Buff Bream

Sun, 2012-02-12 20:52

Packs of buff bream roam the rock walls. They're kelp eaters but go nuts over burley. I've caught a couple of them in the past when herring fishing off Hillarys. Even the little ones pull like hell. I would put a tiny bit of prawn on a small hook and cast it in amongst a handful of burley. They aren't good to eat but a challenge to catch.

Check out the article below:

http://www.fishinglessons.com.au/factsheets/factsheet_h2caf_s1e3.html

Dreamtime's picture

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mullet

Sun, 2012-02-12 22:34

mullet for sure, i was down there the other day and used my home made jag hook and got 5 in 5 throws, big fat mullet to, put one straight out as a livey and 10 mins later was doing crazy battle with a 2.5m hammerhead, livin up north teaches ya to use mullet for bait whenever you can! stuff is gold

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thats the second time i read that you are jagging fish

Mon, 2012-02-13 09:37

might want to read the second last line mate

Protecting fish and their habitats

A number of activities are explicitly prohibited in order to

protect fish and their habitats in key environments.

Legal recreational fishing gear methods are defined in

fisheries regulations (see above). Everything else is illegal.

(FRMA Notice Numbers 462, 527, 677, Order 11 of 2007.

FRMR Regulations 144, 145)

In particular you may not:

use fish traps or ‘pots’ of any kind (except lobster pots);

use dredges;

so that fish are enclosed, left stranded, destroyed or wasted;

obstruct any bay, inlet, river, creek or any tidal or inland waters

example, fish poisons) on WA waters;

be in possession of explosives or noxious substances (for

‘jag’ fish with baitless hooks;

use commercial fishing gear of any kind;