NOW is the time to witness one of the most amazing displays of nature that continues annually along all beaches from the NSW South Coast into Southeast Queensland – the “mullet run”.
Millions of mullet, in prime condition, have spent around three years maturing and fattening in estuary systems including Sydney Harbour, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter River and Port Stephens.
It is out of these systems that mullet pour into the open ocean where they swim northward as part of their annual spawning run.
It is in the open sea that they become most vulnerable to predators including sharks and commercial fishermen. Hugging the coastline in huge schools the fish are followed by packs of sharks – Grey Nurse, Bull Sharks, Bronze Whalers and Great Whites.
This is not the time of year to swim anywhere near a school of mullet.
On a couple of occasions, on Broughton Island and Boat Harbour, I have witnessed Great Whites launch themselves totally out of the water as they attack the mullet.
Amazing scenes as Grey Nurse and Bronzies are prepared to swim in water, less than knee deep, in their attempt to feast on mullet.
Interestingly not all the mullet are sent to market, many are set aside by local commercial fishermen to be salted and sun dried to be used as lobster bait in the coming season.
Take the opportunity to visit Stockton, Boat Harbour, One Mile or Fingal Beaches and watch the commercial fishermen in action.
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARK
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