How to lure a mulloway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz

Kevin Clark with the result of knowing the target species, picking a reliable spot and putting in the hours. The lure was a Predatek SandViper. ONE of the species high on the bucket list for estuary and surf anglers of temperate Australia is the enigmatic mulloway.

Success with this species – as it is for many other less common angling targets – is perseverance.

Sticking to the task, spending as many hours as necessary and studying the fish’s habits are part of the journey to the desired result.

Some readers may ask, “Catching mulloway is tough enough, why make it more challenging by using lures?”

The answer for many is pure convenience.

While live baiting is perhaps the most popular and certainly a very effective way to snare a big jewfish, the task of obtaining bait then keeping it alive can be as difficult as catching the mulloway itself.

The lure angler carries all their ‘bait’ from home and need not worry about it dying en route to the fishing spot.

There’s no need to allow for hours of bait collecting… rock up, check the sea conditions and start fishing – simple!

Possibly the most difficult aspect of tangling with a mulloway for all anglers, whether bait or lure, is pinpointing a location most likely to produce results.

As in the real-estate game, location, location, location could be the catch cry of the mulloway angler.

When starting out, choose a spot with a proven history of producing frequent captures.

Local tackle shops, fishing columns in regional newspapers if they still exist and, of course, the pages of Bush ‘n Beach Fishing are sources of good information on reliable fishing spots.

When targeting jewies on lures, I have a preference for breakwalls for a variety of reasons.

Man-made rock walls at river mouths have a proven track record for mulloway with decades of history.

Access to those walls is usually quite easy, with parking nearby and a flat walking track along the top of the structure.

Finally, though most importantly, they provide a safer fishing platform than most ocean rocks, especially if fishing in less than ideal weather.

Let’s list a few dot points to help novice mulloway-luring anglers along the path to success. • First and last light are the witching hours for mulloway luring • I prefer to fish the top of a tide and the first half of a run-out, but that may be due more to personal habit than science

• Autumn and winter can be very productive because mulloway will follow spawning schools of mullet, tailor, salmon and luderick into estuaries • Large lures that run shallow with a strong action but not too much water resistance are a sensible choice • Lure colour doesn’t seem to matter to the fish, but bright and fluoro lures can be more easily seen in the wash by the angler • Fish with a friend • Equip yourself with a good head torch, even better footwear and a long-handled gaff or net • Use sharp hooks and strong leaders – a rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover won’t hurt either.

The method is fairly straightforward – cast and retrieve those big lures through the wash or in areas where bait can be seen and keep casting.

There’s no need for fancy twitching or stop start retrieves, the lures’ inbuilt action will trigger a strike from any hunting mulloway.

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ