Fishos ready for annual mullet run magic

Fishos across the Mid North Coast are preparing for the annual mullet run which generally takes place between April and May and attracts the attention of commercial fishermen from Eden to Port Macquarie and north to Tweed Heads.

The mullet run usually starts around mid to late April, often landing on the shores of Port Macquarie-Hastings around Anzac Day.

The onset of cooler westerly and south-westerly winds is the trigger but recent heavy rainfall could see mullet on the move earlier than expected.

Read more: Watch Tuncurry fishermen haul in school of mullet

Fishermen will set up their mullet run stations at north Beach, Plomer, Crescent head and Hat Head. To the south of the Hastings, Grants Beach and South Beach at Diamond Head are also popular spots.

But there are rules of engagement. Fishos who get to the beach first - and remain on the beach from 6am until 6pm - get to hold the first shot - or turn at launching their boats during the mullet run.

Fishers who turn up next will hold the second shot.

A single shot will often net several tonne of fish, or roughly 30 boxes. A good shoal equates to roughly 30 tonne. Shooting the net for less than this is not economical in the mullet run game.

Read more: Port Macquarie professional fishermen preparing for annual mullet run

Catches taken during the mullet run are immediately on-sold to fish buyers before the fish are transported to Brisbane processors.

The most valuable resource is mullet roe, with the rest of the fish sold overseas to markets in Europe and Thailand, through fish markets, local co-operatives, supermarkets and bait companies. And nothing goes wasted.

The scales are on-sold for fertiliser while the frames are sold to fishers for trap bait and the fish guts sold to amateurs for bait.

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