WITH the mullet schools moving on, it was one of the last schools of fish that surprised even the fishermen.
As the fish were hauled closer to the beach it was noticed that the mullet were different to all the fish that had been caught earlier in the season.
These mullet were monsters, all weighing around the five kilogram mark.
Even experienced commercial fishers were amazed at the size of the mullet as it generally takes about 30 fish to fill a box – these whoppers went six to the box!
An explanation was offered to me in that the big mullet may well have been washed out of closed waters like Grahamstown Dam in the flood conditions that we have been experiencing over the past few weeks.
In closed waters, where there are no predators and the fish’s entire day is taken up by eating, mullet grow to extraordinary sizes.
I recall an old mate of mine Bill Croft, who worked for the Water Board, reporting a mullet that weighed over 10kg!
Eels and bass also thrive in the dam.
While on the mullet I had a call from a fishing friend on the Tweed who recently watched mullet being hauled on Kirra Beach in Queensland.
The schools will head as far north as Double Island Point.
Now it is the turn of sea bream and luderick to arrive.
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
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