Mulloway Night Session
Mulloway are nocturnal predators that move into estuaries, river mouths and surf gutters under the cover of darkness to feed on baitfish and crustaceans. Fishing live yellowtail, mullet or tailor under a float or on a running sinker rig at night around bridge pylons, rock walls and tidal outflows is the most productive approach.
Target Species
Fishing Locations
- • Clyde River
- • Murray Mouth
- • Kiah River / Wonboyn Lake
- • Upper Hawkesbury Reaches
- • Wangi Wangi Deep Water
- • Hunter River Estuary
- • Sydney Harbour
- • Encounter Bay
Fishing Tips
- 1
The new moon is your best mulloway calendar — low light triggers bolder feeding behaviour in large fish that are wary and nocturnal by nature.
- 2
Use large live bait (yellowfin bream, mullet, or tailor) hooked lightly through the back, near a rock wall, jetty, or river channel where tidal flow funnels baitfish.
- 3
Set a sensitive rod rest, open the bail arm, and leave a small amount of line free — mulloway are cautious and will drop a bait immediately if they feel resistance before swallowing.
- 4
The two hours around a tide change (particularly the run-out at night) are prime mulloway windows; they move from deep midstream holes onto the edges of channels to intercept prey.
- 5
Use 60–80 lb fluorocarbon leader of 1.5–2 m — large mulloway have rough mouths and will shake violently against rock structures; light leader will not survive this.
Gear Setup
Mulloway
- Rod
- PE1.5–3, 7–8ft spinning; or 10–12ft surf rod for beach
- Reel
- 5000–6000 medium spinning (Shimano Stradic SW, Saragosa)
- Main Line
- PE1.5–3 (15–25lb braid)
- Leader
- 30–50lb fluorocarbon
- Lures / Terminal
- Large soft plastics 5–7 inch (Zman Streakz XL, Slug-Go), large bibbed divers 120–160mm
- Hooks
- Circle hooks 4/0–6/0 with live mullet or tailor for bait
- Drag Setting
- 4–7kg
Night fishing peak; deep holes, bridge pylons, and ocean beaches