FISHING
A BIRD…A PLANE…NO,
Why do mullet jump?
Nobody really knows
BY CAPT. JACK JACKSON
ILLUSTRATION BY ANTHONY BRATINA
“Why do mullet jump?” is
80
the one question
inevitably asked
of fishing guides in this
area. Many theories
have been put forth
over the years, but
nobody really
knows the
answer.
Having
observed the
“mullet
Olympics”
for the last 27
years, four
common theories
come to
mind. The first
and most logical
is that mullet
are being chased
by hungry predator
species. This explains
the eruptions of hundreds
of mullet into the air
at once. However, it doesn’t
address the more commonly
occurring lackadaisical leap of the
lone fish.
The second theory is that mullet are trying to rid themselves
of parasites, and the belly flopping at the end of a
jump just might be enough to loosen critters such as the
pesky aquatic flea.
Another theory suggests that they jump to fill their
pharyngobranchial organ (an area back of the throat) with
air. The trapped air is believed to help the fish remain active
in water with low oxygen levels.
Then there is the theory about jumping, which was actually
the center of a legal debate. It was stipulated in a Florida
court that mullet was not a fish at all, but a bird! Hogwash,
you say? Read on. In the early 1900s, a bill was enacted making
January and February the open season for mullet fishing
in Florida. Unfortunately, any self-respecting mullet fishermen
of that time (and even to this day) knew that the best
time for big hauls was during the large roe mullet runs of
November and December.
The result of these conflicting time frames led a train of
fishermen before the bench of Judge R. D. McLeod for “fishing
out of season”. Known as both a fair man and also one
concerned about the livelihood of the men, the judge had to
uphold the letter of the law yet find an equitable solution
that would not penalize the fishermen.
During the hearing, it was pointed out to
the judge that mullet had gizzards, and
that this anatomical characteristic
was unique to only mullet
and birds. He therefore
ruled that mullet were
birds of “bad flight
habits” and
released the fishermen.
The ubiquitous
mullet
is found
between the
latitudes 51
degrees
North and
42 degrees
South. There
are about 80
known
species. In the
Indian River
Lagoon, the primary
species are the
striped (also called
black) mullet, and the
rare white mullet.
Serving as an important
food source in Mediterranean Europe
during Roman times, today mullet is a staple
in many restaurants along the Northwest Florida and
Alabama Gulf Coast. It is excellent when smoked. Fried, however,
is the most common preparation.
The key to a meal of tasty mullet is two-fold. Ice the fish
immediately after catching, and then cook it the same day.
The nutty flavored meat loses its freshness quickly and
becomes nearly unpalatable after 24 hours. While sought
heavily for the dinner table, live mullet is the premier bait
for catching snook, trout, tarpon, king mackerel, and most
other sport fish. Considered to be total vegetarians and normally
caught with cast nets, mullet can be caught with hook
and line. Anglers “chum” schools of mullet to the surface by
spreading oatmeal on the water, and then a tiny hook garnished
with a piece of rubber band, imitating the cereal
flakes, tricks the fish into biting.
A Mullet