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Jesse - Outdoors Sales at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Mulloway, commonly known as Jewfish, deriving from 'jewel fish', refers to the Mulloway's very large otoliths (ear bones) that were once collected and used as jewellery. These elusive predators are one of Australia's most sought-after estuarine and surf species. They can be found from the bottom of Western Australia through South Australia up the east coast New South Wales and into Queensland and are considered an excellent table fish with firm, white flesh and few bones. |
Photo Credit: Fisheries Queensland - A comparison of two Mulloway (big) with two Spanish mackerel otoliths (small).
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Growing up to 2m in length, these elusive and powerful fish, known for their blistering long runs and flashes of silver, are prized not only for their impressive size but also for the challenge they present. Whether you're fishing headlands, estuaries, beaches, reefs, or river mouths, catching a mulloway requires patience, timing, and the right approach. |
Matt - Mail Order Assistant Manager at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Tidal Rivers - Look for deep holes, eddy's and points where fish can shelter from current. Concentrate your fishing efforts on the slack tides fishing 1.5 hrs either side of high and low tide changes. Stealth is the key! Use your electric motor to quietly move up to the spot and keep its use at a minimum. At nightime, and if possible, minimise the use of torches or other light sources. Within the structure you're fishing, look for bait schools and actively target that area. Plastics and vibes are effective in fishing deep holes in the estuaries and use lures like the Rapala Shad Rap, Croaker Jewie for targeting larger fish feeding on schools of mullet. Remember to fish as light as possible including leaders, line and jigheads. Headlands - Look for rocky gutters with lots of white water (foam from disturbed water such as waves hitting the rocks), points and holes where fish can shelter from the current and waves. Again, fish the tidal changes and low light times such as dawn and dusk. Try to fish your lures with the waters current. Hardbodies like Croaker Jewie Jewel, Killalure Jewie 150, Rapala X-Rap 14, are great choices around headlands, especially in rough conditions. Soft plastics like jerk shads and paddle tails are great for deeper gutters or calmer conditions. Surf beaches - Jewfish do a lot of feeding on the beaches, look for gutters with consistent white water which they use for cover and to attack their prey. Bait fish use these gutters similar to the way we use roads, they travel in and out of areas using these gutters and Mulloway use them as ambush points. Look for these pockets of water and target them around the tidal changes. Use big plastics with heavy jigheads to maximise casting distance. Always remember to concentrate your fishing around high and low tidal changes. This is more important than moon phases or fishing in the nightime. It is a myth that they can only be caught at night and on certain moon phases. Put an emphasis on the conditions mentioned above and tidal changes to increase your catch rate. |
Ash - Fishing Purchasing Assistant at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Natural bait is highly effective for targeting mulloway, particularly during tide changes or at night, but lures fished slow and deep can be just as deadly in the right conditions. Live Bait - Live bait is often the top choice, offering movement and scent that mulloway find irresistible.
Dead Bait - Fresh, well-presented dead bait can be just as effective, especially in strong current or low-light conditions.
Tip: Keep your bait fresh and match your rig to conditions for best results. Soft Plastics - Paddle Tails & Jerk Shads (4–7"): Great for mimicking baitfish, with enough size to tempt bigger fish. Work well in estuaries and deeper water. Vibes & Soft Vibes - Perfect for deeper structure or fast-moving tides. Their vibration draws strikes when mulloway are sitting deep or less active. Hardbody Minnows & Swimbaits - Ideal for covering ground and finding active fish, especially around drop-offs, rock bars, and bridges. Use a slow, steady retrieve or twitching motion for best results. |
Nigel - Fishing Purchasing Manager at MoTackle & Outdoors
Amie - Digital Marketing Coordinator at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Whether you're soaking baits or working lures, chasing mulloway is all about patience, timing, and persistence. Good luck out there and may your next hook-up be a big one! We share your obsession and our team in the store are always happy to share their knowledge and advice, so don't hesitate to drop by or give us a call. - The team at MoTackle & Outdoors |
