Characteristics of red mullet
The red mullet, from its scientific name Mullus barbatus, is a marine fish that frequents sandy, muddy or rocky bottoms, mainly at depths ranging from a few meters to around 100 meters. It feeds mainly on small invertebrates found in the sediment, using its barbels to detect food.
Carolina mounting and trolling
The Carolina rig is one of the most popular rigs for searching for red mullet. A simple rig consisting of a sliding sinker, a bead and a leader with a single hook adapted to the size of the bait used. It allows the bait to move freely, which is particularly effective for wary fish like red mullet.
Trolling is an interesting and effective technique for targeting burrowing fish such as red mullet, particularly in areas with soft bottoms. It is most often used in freshwater, but also works well at sea. Pull-pull fishing aims to imitate the activity of a burrowing fish by lifting clouds of particles from the seabed, attracting red mullet who think a fellow fish is looking for food.
A sinker is pulled along the bottom to lift sediment, creating a cloud of attractive particles. Unlike other sea-fishing techniques, the rod is held in the hand to make regular pulls from 50 cm to 1 metre. Retrieves are made at a regular rate of 20 seconds to 1 minute, keeping the line taut to feel the bites.
This technique makes it possible to cover a large area of the seabed, increasing the chances of locating and attracting fish. By lifting particles, pull-pull fishing plays on the competitive feeding instinct and opportunism of red mullet, which are attracted by the movement of sand and the possibility of finding worms and crustaceans.
The rod should be adapted to active fishing, with good sensitivity to detect bites. You'll also need a reel capable of handling regular retrieves and battles with the fish.
Trolling is a dynamic and effective technique for targeting red mullet in marine areas with soft bottoms. It covers a lot of ground and attracts fish by playing on their natural instincts. It's a method that requires attention and participation, but one that can deliver highly satisfying results for anglers prepared to invest actively in their practice.
