Here's the tale of a tussle with a feisty Mullet in the Dart as recounted by Mike Bailey, Hon. Sec. of Brixham SA.

 

Mike thought for a while that he was attached to a new record fish, but it turned out rather differently!  Thank you Mike, it's a fascinating insight into the world of the dedicated Mullet angler.

 

Now all we need to do is to persuade Mike to make an exception and take his digital camera with him on one of his Mullet sorties.
 

Although Mike Bailey the author of this interesting story doesn't chase "Pots" he has won several throughout the years for the Mullet fishing at which he is so adept and which gives him so much pleasure

 

To catch a Mullet in the upper reaches of the Devon estuaries, particularly at the beginning of the Mullet season, needs a combination of factors.

 

Firstly, you want warm, calm and settled conditions, and secondly you don't want too much flood water running off the moors, with peaty, acidic water running through the system.  All the conditions were wrong, with a cool and strong south-easterly blowing upstream, so, of course, I decided to give it a go!

 

You also need to be stubborn, obstinate and persevering, because often it is a few solitary fish that have started to move upstream.

 

One look at the water running down the Dart was enough to confirm my worst fears.  The water was tinged with peat and crystal clear.  When it is like this ultra fine gear is needed, so I used a really fine line, (4lb. b.s) and started to bait up some pools.

 

The groundbait dropping through the water could be seen descending in a cloud before settling on the bottom.  The tide was rising so a lightly shotted "chubber" float and bait set just above the bottom was the order of the day.  Bait, of course, was bread flake, which is the most consistent producer of fish in the upper reaches of the river systems.
 

 

After a while it was clear that there wasn't a sign of a fish.  Even the suicidal swans and ducks were nowhere to be seen.  If you fish certain sections of rivers you get to know the patterns, so it is best to move around after the peak periods for catching have passed.

 

In this way and four hours later, I had made three moves with not a flicker of a bite and no suggestion that I was going to be rewarded with anything more than a cold.

 

I was thinking of finishing when the float appeared to move just slightly;  I was furious that I had not reacted, as it HAD to have been a bite, and with bread baits it often pays to strike quickly.  The gods must have smiled on me that day because a fraction of a second later the float sank smoothly away. 

 

A firm strike and the13 foot specimen float rod hooped into its full 2lb. test curve and the clutch hammered off.  This fish bore down deep and then shot off across a wide pool.

 

Fortunately I have fished here many times and know where all the snags are and usually judicious side-strain will move the fish away from distant snags.

 

This Mullet was different.  After ten minutes it had explored the distant edges of the pool, and refused to come anywhere near to the surface; the power of the fish and its ability to hold near the bottom followed by scorching runs, convinced me that I had a monster on the end.
 

 

Patience is the key to playing a big fish on light tackle and eventually there was a golden gleam as the fish started to turn and tire.  However, the power of the fish was truly exceptional and it was nearly twenty minutes before it was safely netted.

 

Yes, it was a magnificent 'thick-lip' in perfect condition, long and lean, and well over N.F.S.A. specimen rating of 4lb.  The reason for the amazing fight was immediately apparent, it had been hooked very neatly in the shoulder, hence its ability to keep so deep within the pool!

 

Gently unhooked, the fish was carefully returned to the water.  Amazingly, after such a long fight, it was still full of life and swam off strongly within seconds.

 

Just the one bite and one fish.  Early season Mulleting can be like that but well worth the wait.

 

The next day fishing in the harbour at Brixham, using Mackerel flesh as bait, I had some nice Golden-grey Mullet up to just under 2lbs. 

 

All we need now is some proper early summer weather.  The fish are there!