Mike Bailey's Midsummer Mullet Madness!
 

Quiet, lonely creeks, peaceful harbours in the early morning mist, tranquil pools in the upper stretches of the tidal river, isolated rocky cliff marks, all build up a picture of Mullet Heaven to the keen  angler.

So often successful Mullet fishing is associated with out of the way places where a careful approach is rewarded with the outwitting of one or more of these shy “grey ghosts.”

However, the start of the summer holidays sees an explosion of visitors to South Devon; even so, there is no need to despair.  Sometimes, even in the most unlikely venues, fish can be taken,  but , as you will read below, there may be some unexpected obstacles to overcome……….

The upper Dart was in party mood.  After a week of drifting blankets of rain to herald the start of the school holidays, a watery sun was peeping out. 

River-Link steamers were plying regularly from Dartmouth, disgorging crowds of happy holiday-makers, and churning the water with their powerful engines.  A steady stream of pleasure boats, dinghies, canoes and ferries, were criss-crossing the river in all directions.  Groups of families were relaxing by the side of the river bank, with some kicking footballs, others chasing around  amongst the trees and bushes.  In the distance, the sound of a jazz band floated across on the warm and gentle breeze together with the delicious smells of cooking steaks.

It was going to be challenging catching fish in these conditions, but I’d chosen an incoming tide where there was already a good depth of water, to give me more chance.  The water, which had been coloured the previous week, was now a nice, clear colour, with all the brown algae washed out.

Mike Bailey - Hon. Sec of Brixham SAC proudly holds a fine specimen Mullet caught from the upper tidal reaches of the River Dart at Totnes amongst hordes of happy holidaymakers and busy river traffic Photo courtesy of Mike Bailey

I picked an area which was relatively “quieter” and where the water was much deeper.  It was also a little way apart from the main mass of people; the conditions looked hopeful, despite all the disturbances. It would be challenging fishing but not impossible.

I had already pre-mixed a large bucket of ground bait of mashed up bread and started by putting in some good sized compacted handfuls very close to the river bank.  I then busied myself with the business of setting up my tackle.

Whilst preoccupied with threading the line through the rod rings I was suddenly aware of a peculiar noise behind me; turning around, I discovered to my horror, two dogs of uncertain pedigree, both with their noses deep in the bucket, busily and greedily hoovering up the ground bait!!

I was about to deliver a verbal volley to the owner of these canine hooligans when a young lady with a beguiling smile and cornflower blue eyes appeared at my shoulder.  “I’m so sorry,” she said, “I hope, they’ve not been a nuisance.  They are always getting into mischief!”

Of course, I muttered something to the effect that I didn’t mind in the least, and the two triumphant miscreants disappeared playfully into the distance, their tails wagging their whole bodies, as they celebrated their unexpected bonus meal.  I looked into the bucket, which was now half-empty! !  Undeterred, I kept putting in ground bait, and prepared to start fishing. 

For a short time there was relative peace and quiet; inevitably, a few holiday-makers stopped to ask what I was fishing for, or to see if I’d caught anything.  Even though some stood right on the edge of the river bank, I was fishing in water that was nearly ten feet deep, so felt that there was every chance of a fish.  Each trot down the river I added some more compacted small balls of ground bait, watching them break up and disappear in a cloud of tiny fragments.

At this moment in time I was suddenly aware of two small children standing nearby; in their hands they had a loaf of bread.  Before I could say a word, they were throwing  pieces of crust into the river, the current taking them towards where I was fishing.  Horrors of horrors, the avian dinner gong had been rung!!! 

Flotillas of ducks and packs of shrieking gulls appeared from every direction, fighting and squawking in a frenetic cacophony of sound, thrashing the water into a foam.  Hitchcock’s “ The Birds”, would give some indication of the suicidal hysteria that this induced.

Appalled, I thought of giving up  as this commotion continued for the next ten minutes.  ..And then, unbelievably in the middle of this mayhem, the float bobbed, dipped and slid away.  A bite!  So surprising, that I didn’t even strike and completely missed it.

The ducks continued to paddle around frantically, anxious not to miss a crumb, but the next drop saw the float slide away, and very shortly afterwards, a beautiful brightly spotted Brown Trout was netted.    A start, but not what I was after. This was quickly returned, but not before a number of spectators had settled down to watch the proceedings.

The ground bait was introduced again and then the bread hook bait; result, - an instant bite.  Another bite missed, and then a few more, but eventually, a fish was hooked.

This was definitely a Mullet; not a large one, but after a short fight, a beautifully conditioned fish of about 1lb was on the bank.  By now, there was a small crowd of visitors sitting behind me, and there was general approval as I carefully returned the fish well away from the swim I was baiting up.

Next came a tiny Bass its tiny fins bristling and a picture of silver perfection:, there are lots of these in the Dart, which is pleasing to see; they are not averse to snapping at a bread bait if it is presented in front of them.

The bites continued with more and more mainly small Mullet, up to about 2lb.  I was aware of a growing gallery of interested people who were fascinated by the free entertainment as they passed the afternoon away.

The tide was rising to the full when the float drew away and held steadily under; often the sign of a better fish, and the strike quickly confirmed this. The clutch shrieked, and I had to put immediate side-strain as a big and powerful fish tore line off, and made towards the moorings of some nearby boats.

Mike Bailey bends his lightweight rod into a powerful River Dart Mullet Photo courtesy of Mike Bailey

Those of you who have fished for and caught large mullet on ultra-light tackle will understand why it is impossible not to be impressed by the power and speed of this species as a sporting fish.  I held the fish really hard, using my finger on the spool to give extra control, just turning the fish as it dived under the nearest boat.

Twice more it headed for the sanctuary of the moorings, but by applying fierce side strain I was able to move it away as it frantically dived towards the river bed.  Like all good Mullet, it kept deep with violent head-shaking plunges that bent my rod over into its full test curve.  This fish was a decent one, and was not going to come in easily; I played it very vigilantly, waiting for the sudden and violent runs which came again and again, but I knew I was winning.  If the hook held the fish was mine.

At that moment I was suddenly aware of a motor cruiser chugging merrily along, right in the path of where I was playing the fish!!  Fortunately, some frantic waving by my gallery of spectators, and the boat came to a courteous halt at a sensible distance, whilst its occupants settled down to watch the fish being played.

Three or four times the fish came near to the net only to dive away again; the doggedness and stamina of this species is quite astonishing but eventually the fish was  completely played out.  Gently, I sank the landing net into the water and drew the fish towards me.  In moments a beautiful specimen fish was on the bank, the hook only just in the top of the lip; and as I went to unhook it the fish kicked and the job was done for me!  The hook had fallen out so lightly was it hooked.

A quick photograph and the fish was carefully returned to the water.  I gave it a few minutes to recover after such a long and brilliant fight, then released it, watching it swim away with increasing speed and power as it sank back into the depths of the river.  This was accompanied by around of applause from my audience!

Mullet on damp 'knotless' landing net photographed and returned alive to the River Dart to fight again another day Photo courtesy of Mike Bailey

A few more fish followed, all of them very small, but despite the difficulties, there had been lots of bites  and I’d had a really good day’s angling.  It was time to go.

The message is quite clear; don’t be put off from fishing in busy harbours and rivers during the peak holiday months.  The fish are there and become accustomed to the noise and movement.  Good fish can be caught if you follow a few simple rules;  find a place where the water is deep, fish very close to the side to minimise the effects of shadows on the water and use tackle which is as light as is possible, keep the ground bait going, and keep concentrating.…

(c) Mike Bailey 8th August 2005