Mullet
Mugil cephalus (Sea Mullet)
Liza vaigiensis (Diamondscale Mullet)
Aldrichetta forsteri (Yelloweye Mullet)
Liza argentea (Goldspot Mullet)
Valamugil seheli (Bluetail Mullet)
Other Mugilidae
Other Names
Bully mullet, hardgut mullet, hardgut river mullet, mangrove mullet, poddy mullet, river mullet (Sea); diamondscaled mullet, largescale mullet (Diamondscale); Coorong mullet, pilch, Victor Harbour mullet, yellow-eyed mullet (Yelloweye); flat-tail mullet (Goldspot); flicker mullet, jumping mullet, lano mullet, tallegalane, tygum mullet.
Family
Mugilidae (mullets).
Description, Location, Habitat and Harvesting Information
There are around 16 species of Mullet in Australian waters, most with silver bodies covered in large clear scales. Available wild-caught, they are free-swimming, mainly marine fish, that school near the surface in estuaries and close to the coast over soft bottoms. They are mainly caught using haul and beach seines, gillnets, and tunnel, pound and ring nets. About 8 species are sold commercially under the name Mullet, though Sea and Diamondscale Mullets can also be marketed under their separate names. Sea Mullet, distinguished by a transparent gelatinous eyelid, is the largest Australian Mullet. It’s found around the entire coast, moves out to sea from April-July to spawn, and is mainly caught off beaches in Queensland, NSW and WA using set and surround nets. Diamondscale Mullet, distinguished by its silver-olive body and large dark-edged scales, is found around the northern coast from Shark Bay (WA) to the Queensland-NSW border, and is caught mainly off the Queensland coast using beach seines. Yelloweye Mullet occurs mainly around the southern coast from Kalbarri (WA) to Newcastle (NSW) including Tasmania with a Marine Stewardship Council accredited fishery in Lakes and Coorong (SA); Flat-tail Mullet, from Kalbarri (WA) around the southern coast to Cooktown (Qld) including northern Tasmania; and Bluetail Mullet, in northern waters from Noosa (Qld) to Exmouth Gulf (WA).
Season
Available year round; Diamondscale is in limited supply and some species are seasonal.
Size and Weight
Commonly 500g-1.5kg and 30-45cm, though Sea Mullet can grow to 8kg and Goldspot rarely grows larger than 30cm and 1kg.
Price
Low priced, with ocean-run fish higher priced than those caught in estuaries, and Diamondscale higher priced than other Mullets.
Relations
Other Mullets include Bluespot, Broadmouth, Broussonnet's (often confused with Sea Mullet), Diamond, Fantail, Fringelip, Greenback, Hornlip, Kanda, Otomebora, Pinkeye, Popeye, Rock, Roundhead, Sand, Spiegler's and Wartylip. Red Mullet is not a Mullet, but a Goatfish.
To Buy
Usually sold as skinned fillets. In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for pinkish-grey, firm, lustrous, moist flesh without any brown markings or oozing water and with a pleasant fresh sea smell.
To Store
Make sure whole fish is scaled, gilled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly (remove stomach lining and any fat along the stomach wall). Wrap whole fish, or fillets in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months below -18ºC.
To Cook
Average yield is 45%. Has a strong flavour, oily, moist, soft to medium-textured flesh with few bones, which are easily removed. Remove the skin, and fatty tissue underneath, for a milder flavour. Remove the lining of the stomach cavity and scrape away any fat along the cavity wall.
Cooking Methods
Bake, grill, barbecue, smoke, pickle. Works well in fish pastes and pâté.
Goes Well With
Caraway, citrus, cumin, curry, garlic, ginger, herbs (such as coriander, dill, sage, French tarragon, thyme), olive oil, tamarind, tomato, vinegar, wine, and other strong flavours.
Alternatives
Australian Salmon, Eel, Pilchard, Shark Mackerel, Tailor, Trevally.
Imports
None (due to its low price).
Recipes