I don’t think there is anything more exciting than seeing hundred-plus pound tarpon cartwheeling in the middle of a huge school of mullet, causing thousands to shower mid air. South Florida anglers are blessed with one of mother nature’s most majestic phenomenons - and you don’t even need a boat to get in on the action!
In fact, you may be better off getting sand on your feet and fishing from the shoreline. When everything comes together just right and catch it on the right day, you’ll have to choose between fishing this craziness or simply watching this jaw-dropping organized chaos.
Check out this footage of a recent school coming down the beach with sharks, tarpon and snook right in the surf with tourist and swimmers in awe.
When: Get them while they are here!
The mullet run usually reaches South Florida in early September, depending upon weather patterns. Sometimes it arrives early. Sometimes it arrives late. Sometimes it hardly arrives at all. As the temperatures start to cool in the Carolinas and Georgia, millions of the mullet head south down the coast using safety in numbers as the massive schools head for warmer waters. It is very common for a tropical storm or hurricane to kick start them as well. This year Hurricane Dorian sat off the coast of Florida, pounding the Bahamas. Dorian then made its way north up the US East Coast. It was like a switch was flipped. Just a day later, we had pods of mullet working their way South, seemingly out of nowhere.
As the mullet arrive South, the sexually mature fish will head offshore to spawn in the speedy currents of the gulf stream. The fertilized eggs will get swept into the 3 to 4 knot currents and the cycle will continue all over again next year.
It is never certain when or where these hordes of mullet make that turn to head offshore. And anglers from Palm Beach to the Upper Keys hope against hope that the turn does not occur until after the pods of mullet make it down their way.
But in our experience, the faster the cold fronts come, the faster they make their turn.
If we are lucky the mullet will be running for much of September and October, giving anglers up to two months to enjoy the spectacle. However, Mother Nature chooses not to cooperate some years. The result is the baitfish congregations may turn east sooner than later and start their spawn - leaving anglers disappointed by a less-than-stellar mullet run.
Last year was a good example of a light migration off South Florida. We had maybe two weeks to get our fix in and it was over.
Once the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show is ready to kick-off at the end of October, we know that the run is over and switch gears to other ways to target Tarpon.
Where: It’s easier to find them today!
OK. We’ve established the mullet can be found traveling down the beaches. However, massive schools also duck into the intercostals and bays or go further offshore. Fishing near bridges and piers is a great way to find mullet pouring in with the tide. Snook and tarpon can be heard erupting like bombs under the bridges all night long.
In the days before Social Media, we were forced to sneak onto hotel rooftops or endless recon to find the pods coming down the beaches. Or we would keep tackle shops and piers on speed dial to be the first to get the valuable intel.
But today, with the advent of social media, we have a nearly limitless source of early warning. Plus, we now have drones to help us search smarter not harder. We have intel. You have us! Fisherman love to post pictures of their catches, so follow your favorite hashtags such as #tarpon or #mulletrun and you will get an idea of the where the fish are.
What: The species we love!
For us it is all about the Silver King, that’s right big tarpon! These fish are fat and they are strong!
Check out Captain Tim with this fish that was about 180 pounds!
They will test your angling skills and tackle, but they are not the only predators. Blacktip sharks, spinner sharks, bluefish, snook, redfish, mackerel and barracudas are the majority of the others. What I’m saying is that if you fish it, you are going to get tight!
How: Rig Up For BIG Fish!
The best way to fish the mullet run is to match the hatch, that is fish Live Mullet. Common sense right? So break out your cast nets and be a ready.
When fishing off the beach it is a good idea to hook the mullet in the back so it swims away from you. When on the boat, we nose hook the fish so it trolls properly.
Captain Tim of Twinstigator Charters has caught more big fish from the beach of anyone we know. Check out some of these pics.
He says you have to get the bait to the edges of school. If you were to toss your bait right into the school it is simple a needle in a hay stack.
You’ll see here, the tarpon can be seen on the edges looking for that stray target.
And you’ll see Captain Tim waist deep into big schools trying to get his bait as far as he can for the highest percentage of hooking a big fish.
On his charters he will advise his anglers where to pitch the baits based on boat position and where the fish are blowing up.
He says, the good anglers know how to find the schools with the fish on them. With so many pods pouring down it is important to determine which schools have the fish. You’ll see the tarpon lay on their sides, or violent explosions letting you know someone is home.
His go to rig is 30lb monofilament on a Shimano TLD 15 reel. The key here is capacity. You need something with at least 300 yards of line especially if you are beach fishing. You can fill up a spool with braid as well. 60 pound fluorocarbon and a 7/0 circle good is a great rig. And always circle hooks when using live bait to practice conservation and get healthy releases on all your fish.
As far as artificial, there are many great mullet-like lures on the market. Check out this mullet made by savage lures we saw at iCast this year. Pretty incredible we plan on testing it out. I mean how can that miss?
And if you are fishing mullet offshore, you’ll experience some of the biggest kingfish of your life. I love to slow troll a big silver mullet or put it up on the kite, and you’ll see them sky rocket the baits. Wire leader and a trailing treble hook is needed. This time of the year there are also tons of Spanish Mackeral on their backs as well.
Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel to see us tackle the silver king mono y mono from the beach. And I’ll leave you with some video from the archives just in case you aren’t 100% fired up yet.
Get out there and create some memories!
Tight Lines,
Captain Mike