Sabiki Rigs are very popular for catching baitfish such as threadfin, mojarra, grunts, pinfish, and ballyhoo.
But what about Mullet? Can you catch mullet on a sabiki rig? And if so, how?
Table of Contents
- Can You Catch Mullet On A Sabiki Rig?
- How To Rig A Sabiki Rig
- How To Fish A Sabiki Rig
- Do You Put Bait On A Sabiki Rig?
- What Is The Best Color Sabiki Rig?
- How To Store A Sabiki Rig
- What Else Can You Catch On A Sabiki Rig?
- Final Thoughts
- Related Content
Can You Catch Mullet On A Sabiki Rig?
It is possible to catch mullet on a sabiki rig, although a cast net is much better suited for catching mullet. The advantage of using a sabiki rig is the multiple hooks, where you can experiment with different baits until you find out what works.
Mullet are filter feeders who swim against the current as they feed, skimming food from the water and filtering out the indelible items through their gills.
The wide spectrum of food that mullet eat includes small invertebrates, tiny crustaceans, seaweed, algae, diverse marine vegetation, and other organic items.
They are more inclined to scavenge than hunt and occasionally eat pieces of dead fish and defenseless worms that can’t put up much of a fight.
It is possible to catch mullet on a sabiki rig, especially large schooling mullet that are feeding in semi-dirty water such as mudflats or rivers.
How To Rig A Sabiki Rig
If you want to use a sabiki rig to catch mullet, use a small rig with size #10 hooks. In fact, the smaller the hook, the better!
Most sabiki rigs have a snap swivel on the end of the line, so you can attach a pyramid sinker. Choose a weight in the 1oz – 3oz size range, depending on the current and conditions where you are fishing.
You don’t want a weight that is so heavy you can’t feel a bite…only use enough weight to keep your rig in place.
Attach the sabiki rig to your mainline using another swivel, or a uni-to-uni knot.
How To Fish A Sabiki Rig
Sabiki rigs work best when they are presented vertically, as opposed to cast out and retrieved. This is easiest when positioned in a boat over a school of baitfish, or from an elevated pier or jetty.
Sabiki rigs can also be fish on the bottom, as long as the bottom is free of seaweed, rocks and other hazards that can snag and break the line.
Surf fishermen have been known to use sabiki rigs because tall surf rods (12 feet in length) elevate the line, and a heavyweight anchors it to the bottom.
This allows the line to cut through the water at a 45-degree angle, keeping the hooks in the middle of the water column.
Do You Put Bait On A Sabiki Rig?
Most sabiki rigs come with a translucent or colored piece of paper on the hook, which resembles a lure. However, baiting your sabiki rigs will entice quicker and stronger bites from even the pickiest baitfish.
By baiting a sabiki rig, you can also determine which bait works best for the species of fish you are targeting, like mullet!
The main benefit of using a sabiki rig is that each rig comes with 6-10 evenly spaced hooks. You can easily experiment with different baits to find out what mullet will bite.
For example, you can tip your sabiki rig hooks with bloodworms, fishbites, shrimp, dough balls or even sandfleas.
Remember, keep it small! You only need the tiniest little piece of bait to attract bites from mullet. They are not aggressive, they want to passively smell and taste the bait!
What Is The Best Color Sabiki Rig?
More important than color, is the correct hook size when fishing with a sabiki rig. However, I’ve always had good luck with red/green or translucent colored sabiki rigs.
How To Store A Sabiki Rig
Anyone who has used a sabiki rig will tell you they can be a nightmare of tangled lines, snags and just a mess.
My favorite way to store a sabiki rig is on a piece of a pool noodle. Cut off a small section of pool noodle and insert the first hook. Carefully wrap and wind the rig around the noodle. Its lightweight, safe and inexpensive to make.
What Else Can You Catch On A Sabiki Rig?
Sabiki rigs are ideal for catching small to medium-sized baitfish, including:
- Ballyhoo
- Threadfin
- Menhaden
- Scaled Sardines
- Pilchards
- Anchovies
- Goggle Eye
- Herring
- Ribbonfish
- Croakers
- And other Juvenile Fish
Final Thoughts
If I want to load the boat or cooler with mullet, I’m going to use a cast net instead of a sabiki rig.
However, sometimes that is just not possible. Some piers and jetties do not allow cast nets, or other spots may be too rocky and dangerous to throw a net.
A sabiki rig is a fun way to downsize your tackle and target other species of fish like mullet. The best part of fishing with a sabiki rig is you never know what you will catch!
Growing up in Florida, I’ve been surrounded by saltwater my entire life…and I love sharing my passion with others.
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